(Mitylene), in Ancient Geography, a large triangular island in the Aegean Sea, is situate about 7 miles from the coast of Mysia, at the mouth of the Gulf of Adramyttium, between N. Lat. 38° 58' and 39° 24'. It has three chief promontories.—Arpennum on the N., Malea (Zeitoun Bouroum) on the S.E., and Sigrium (Sigri) on the W. On the S.W. coast, two creeks stretching far inland form two spacious harbours,—the Portus Hieraus (Port Hiero), and the Euripus Pyrrhaeus (Port Caloni). The island is in general hilly, and has three principal mountains,—Ordyminus in the W., Lepethymnus in the N., and Olympus in the S. In ancient times it was famed for its delightful climate and wholesome wines, for its agates and variegated marble. It had six principal cities,—Methymna, Mitylene, Arista, Antissa, Eressus, and Pyrrha. Each of these constituted an independent government, and had its own distinct territories. The first two, the one on the N. and the other on the E. shore, facing the mainland, are by far the most important in the history of the island. According to tradition, Lesbos was successively peopled by Pelasgians, Ionians, and Eleans, under their leader Lesbos, who gave his name to the island. In the Peloponnesian war, the Lesbians joined the Lacedemonians; and as a punishment all their lands, except those of Methymna, who had not acted in concert with the other cities, were seized by the Athenians. Soon after the battle of Pharsalia, it became a Roman province. It was the birthplace of the musicians Terpander and Arion, and the philosophers Pittacus and Cratippus. Its chief glory, however, was derived from the lyric poetry of Alcaeus and Sappho.