CERIGO, the ancient Cytlιera (Κύθηρα), one of the Ionian islands, situated at a distance of not less than 150 miles from Zante, but only about 8 miles from Cape Malea on the southern coast of Greece. Its length from N. to S. is nearly 20 miles, and its greatest breadth about 12; its area is 114 square miles. The general character of the surface is rocky and broken; but streams abound, and there are various parts of considerable fertility. Two caves, of imposing dimensions, and adorned with stalactites of great beauty, are the most notable among its natural peculiarities; one is situated at the seaward end of the glen of the Mylopotamus, and the other, named Santa Sophia, about two hours ride from Capsali. Less of the ground is cultivated and more of it is in pasture land than in any other of the seven islands. Some wine and corn are produced, and the quality of the olive oil is good. The honey is still highly prized, as it was in remote antiquity; and a considerable quantity of cheese is manufactured from the milk of the goat. Salt, flax, cotton, and currants are also mentioned among the produce. The people are industrious, and many of them go to seek employment as labourers in the Morea and Asia Minor. Unfortunately the island has hardly a regular harbour on any part of the coast; and from its situation at the meeting as it were of seas, the currents in the neighbourhood are strong, and storms are very frequent. The best anchorage is at San Nicolo, at the middle of the eastern side of the island. The principal village is Capsali, a place of about 1500 inhabitants, at the southern extremity, with a bishop, and several convents and churches; the lesser hamlets are Modari, Potamo, and San Nicolo. There are comparatively few traces of antiquity, and the ...identification of the ancient cities has not been satisfactorily accomplished. The capital bore the same name as the island, and consisted of a maritime and an inland portion, distant from each other about 10 stadia. The site of the upper city is probably at Paleopoli, about three miles from the present port of Avlemona; but no trace can be discovered of the famous shrine of the Venus of Cythera, whose worship had been introduced from Syria, and ultimately spread over Greece. The present inhabitants of the island are very badly educated. The number of priests is out of all proportion to the population, and no fewer than 260 churches or chapels have been counted. Spiridion Vlandi, author of an Italian and Romaic lexicon, published at Venice in 1806, is one of the few Cerigotes who have made appearance in literature. In 1857 the total population was 13,256, the excess of females being 1028; it appears now to number about 10,000. At a very early date Cythera was the seat of a Phoenician settlement, established in connection with the purple fishery of the neighbouring coast. For a time dependent on Argos, it became afterwards an important possession of the Spartans, who annually despatched a governor named the Cytherodices. In the Peloponnesian War, Nicias occupied the island, and in 393 it was captured by Conon the Athenian. By Augustus it was bestowed on Eurycles. Its modern history has been very much the same as that of the other Ionian Islands; but it was subject to Venice for a much shorter period—from 1717 to 1797. See the works referred to under Cephalonia.
CERIGO.TTO, an island of Greece, belonging to the Ionian group, and situated between Cerigo and Crete in 35° 50' N. lat. and 23° 20' E. long. It was anciently known as Aegilia, and is now called by its inhabitants Lius. With an area of about 10 square miles it supports a population of about 300, who are mainly Cretan refugees, and in favourable seasons exports a quantity of good wheat. It was long a favourite resort of Greek pirates.
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