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Lesvos
Lesbos
(Λέσβος) is a
prefecture of Greece,
part of the
periphery
North Aegean.
It is also
the name of its main
island,
which is also called Mytilene. This is in the
Aegean Sea
near
Turkey.
The second largest island is
Lemnos,
to the northwest.
In modern
Greek, the island's name is Lesvos and its
inhabitants are thus named Lesvonians or Lesviots (rather
than "Lesbians").
Principal
towns on the island are
Mytiline
(the capital), Kalloni, Mithymna, Plomari, Agiassos, Petra.
The island
has been inhabited since the
Bronze Age.
It is first mentioned in
Hittite
records as Lazpa. Other ancient names are: Lassia,
Imerti, Aegira, Issa, Mytonis, and Les-Ba.
Lesbos was
the center of civilization in the
6th century BCE;
as it was home to the poets
Sappho
and
Alcaeus.
In
428 BCE,
Lesbos joined the
Delian League
in an unsuccessful revolt against Athens.
Aristotle
and
Epicurus
lived here once as well.
In
Greek mythology,
"Lesbos" was also the name of the patron god of the island.
Lesbos was son of
Lapithes
and he married
Methymna.
The word
"lesbian" is derived from the island's name. This originates
in the poems of
Sappho
of Lesbos, where love between women was described. Due to
this link, Lesbos has often been the destination of cruises
and other vacations for lesbians; however, Lesbonian
authorities have expressed a dim view of this, with some
cruise ships even being denied permission to dock.
On the south
coast of Lesbos is the pretty coastal town of Plomari, where
it is said that the finest
ouzo
in the world is made to this day in traditional copper
stills.
At the
western tip of the island is the small fishing village of
Sigri, close to which is the world's largest
petrified forest,
estimated to be about twenty million years old.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesbos
Vacancies in
Lesvos
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