ast, in the district
called by Strabo Ariusia, was known as _vinum Arvisium_. Early in the
7th century B.C. Glaucus of Chios discovered the process of welding iron
([Greek: kollesis]: see J.G. Frazer's _Pausanias_, note on x. 16. 1,
vol. v. pp. 313-314), and the iron stand of a large crater whose parts
were all connected by this process was constructed by him, and preserved
as one of the most interesting relics of antiquity at Delphi. The long
line of Chian sculptors (see GREEK ART) in marble bears witness to the
fame of Chian art. In literature the chief glory of Chios was the school
of epic poets called Homeridae, who helped to create a received text of
Homer and gave the island the reputation of being the poet's birthplace.
The chief town, Chios (pop. 16,000), is on the E. coast. A theatre and a
temple of Athena Poliuchus existed in the ancient city. About 6 m. N. of
the city there is a curious monument of antiquity, commonly called "the
school of Homer"; it is a very ancient sanctuary of Cybele, with an
altar and a figure of the goddess with her two lions, cut out of the
native rock on the summit of a hill. On the west coast there is a
monastery of great wealth with a church founded by Constantine IX.
Monomachus (1042-1054). Starting from the city and encompassing the
island, one passes in succession the promontory Posidium; Cape Phanae,
the southern extremity of Chios, with a harbour and a temple of Apollo;
Notium, probably the south-western point of the island; Laii, opposite
the city of Chios, where the island is narrowest; the town Bolissus (now
Volisso), the home of the Homerid poets; Melaena, the north-western
point; the wine-growing district Ariusia; Cardamyle (now Cardhamili);
the north-eastern promontory was probably named Phlium, and the
mountains that cross the northern part of the island Pelinaeus or
Pellenaeus.

The history of Chios is very obscure. According to Pherecydes, the
original inhabitants were Leleges, while according to other accounts
Thessalian Pelasgi possessed the island before it became an Ionian
state. The name Aethalia, common to Chios and Lemnos in very early
times, suggests the original existence of a homogeneous population in
these and other neighbouring islands. Oenopion, a mythical hero, son
of Dionysus or of Rhadamanthus, was an early king of Chios. His
successor in the fourth generation, Hector, united the island to the
Ionian confederacy (Pausan. vii. 4), thoug