or STALMENE, an island in the Ægean Sea, belonging to Turkey, and situated in N. Lat. 40° E. Long. 25°. Its surface is very rocky, and displays distinct traces of volcanic action. Area about 130 square miles. Its general form is that of an irregular quadrangle, but it presents the outline of two peninsulas connected by a narrow isthmus. The two indentations at the point of junction are the principal harbours, that on the N., St Antonio, affording safe mooring for large ships. A third indentation, the Bay of Kudia, on the S. side of the western peninsula, is also of some importance. The interior of the island is exceedingly barren, with the exception of some small narrow valleys in the S. and W. Where productive, it yields corn, wine, oil, and some fruit.

Lemnos is supposed to have been first peopled by Thracians; and it is recorded that it was subjugated by Midasites, after he had taken the Chersonesus. It is fabled as the spot on which Vulcan fell when Jupiter cast him from Olympus; and its volcanic appearances have given rise to the fiction that there the ejected god established his workshop. An argillo-silicious earth, called Terra leonina, mentioned by Galen, has attained great celebrity as a medicine, and is still much esteemed by Turks and Greeks. Pliny mentions a labyrinth with 150 columns, the remains of which existed in his day.

The Greek Church is the church of the people, a bishop of which resides at Lemnos, the capital (the ancient Myrina). This town stands on the W. coast, and has three Greek churches, a harbour, and a building-clock. It is protected by a citadel. Pop. of the island from 10,000 to 12,000.