Cythera

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Cythera

island, Greece

Also known as: Cerigo, Kíthira, Porphyrusa

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Article History

Modern Greek:: Kíthira

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Cythera, island, southernmost and easternmost of the Ionian Islands, off the southern Peloponnesus (Pelopónnisos). It is an eparkhía (eparchy) of Attiki nomós (department), Greece. A continuation of the Taiyetos Range, the island has a mountainous interior, rising to 1,663 feet (507 metres). The capital, Kíthira (or Khóra), is on the southern coast. Exportation of murex, a purple dye obtained from a species of mollusk, was responsible for the island’s ancient name, Porphyrusa (Greek porphyra, “purple”); but a lack of natural harbours precluded the island from gaining political importance. Cythera was also noted in ancient times for its local cult of ...(100 of 179 words)

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