Candia

Sources from old books

1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator.

CANDIA VVHICH POPE BONIFACE of MONTIS-FERRAT, sold unto the VENETIANS. (Book Candia) WEE are come at length to the last Table of Europe, in which Mercator doth delineate and paint foorth Candia, with some small Ilands neere Greece. Ptolemy calls it Crete which is an Iland in the Mediterranean Sea. It is now commonly called Candy. On the North the Aegean Sea doth beare upon it: on the South the Lybian and Aegyptian Seas: on the West the Hadriatick Sea: on the East the Carpathian Sea. The forme of it is long: on the East the Promontory Samonium shooteth forth, on the West there is the Promontory Criu Metopum: on the North there is a third Promontory, which Stra. lib. 10. calleth •imarus, now it is called Capo Chesis. The length is 270. miles, the breadth 5•. The compasse of it 588. The Country is every where rugged and Mountainous, but it yeeldeth good store of Corne and Grasse. The soyle is very fruitfull, and there are abundance of trees. Pliny also witnesseth that whatsoever groweth in Creete, is better than any of the same kinde that groweth otherwheres. It beareth Vines, Olives, Oranges, Figges, Lemmons, Cittrons. Malmesie is made onely in this Country, and so is transported from thence to Venice, and other parts of the world. This Wine as Bellonius witnesseth, the ancients did call Pramium. But Volaterranus thinketh that those wines which they called Arvisia, are now called Malvisia or Malmesie, by the addition of one letter, and he addeth that those kindes of Vines, were brought out of Arvisium, a Promontory of the Iland Chios, into Creete, whence they were heretofore called Arvisian Wines. It beareth also and produceth Honey, Waxe, Cheese, Saffron, store of Gum and Bitony, peculiar onely to Creete. In the whole Iland there is neither Wolfe, Foxe, Serpent, or any harmefull creature except Spiders. In regard whereof the Flockes and Heards of Cattell doe feede securely and safely in the Meddowes, especially Sheepe, which they call Striphoceri. But it produceth divers living creatures. And Authors doe report of Creete. That it hath no Owles, and that they dye if they bee brought into this Iland. Iupiter did first governe this Iland, then Radamarth, afterward Minos and the Graecians. The Romanes power over it began from Metellus, who was therefore calld Creticus. Afterward the Constantinopolitans did possesse it. Baldwin Earle of Flanders, and Emperour of Constanti•ople gave it to the Marquesse of Montis-ferrat, who sold it to the Venetians in the yeere 1194. for a great summe of gold: and so it is still under their Empire. Ancient Writers doe report that it had heretofore an hundred famous Citties, and Pliny mentioneth aabout 40. The most noted City is Gnossos, where Minos had his Palace, whence came the Gnossian Bow, and the Gnossian Dart•. Cortina followeth, whence came the Cortynian habit, as Claudian saith in his Booke of the rape of Proserpine.

Crispatur gemino vestis Cortynia cinctu. Her Cortynian Garment thenWith a double Girdle was girt in.

And also Phestos. Proxima Gnossiaco jam quondam Phaestia regno. Also Cidon whence the Cydonian Bow, and Cydonian Horne. Also Dictinna, Ma•ne•hala, Licastos, Lictos, Holopixos, and others. But now as Bellonius witnesseth, it hath onely three Citties of any note, which are Candy, heretofore Matium, the chiefe Citty of the whole Iland, from whence the Iland is denominated. The second Citty next to Candy, is Canca, heretofore Gidon. The third is Rhetimo, which the ancients called Rhetim•a. This latter hath an inconvenient Haven, but Canca and Candy have convenient Havens. There are no Navigable Rivers in the whole Iland. Yet there are many great Rivers in which Beanes doe grow of their owne accord. On the Northerne shore there are M••••otamus, S•asinus, Cladilis, Epicidanus, Giffo, Divotro: on the West there is Na••ul•ar: on the South Limens. Crete hath great store of a kinde of Fish as bigge as Mullets on the Coast which are called Sca•us, being very rare in other Countries, which ancient Writers doe often mention, and the Romanes did account them great dainties, and a very dainty Dish. The chiefest Mountaines are three, Ida, which the Inhabitants call Psilori: Leuci which Pliny calleth Cadissi, now de Madara: and Dicta which is now called Sethia. They are so high, that all the Winter time they are covered with Snow, but yet Cypresse trees doe grow here and there among the Cliffes. The Mountaine Ida is the highest of them all. It beholdeth the Sunne before the Sunne riseth, for as Lucretius saith.

—Idaeis fama est è montibus altisDispersos igneis orienti limine cerni. They say the Idaean Mountaines are so high,That ere Sunne rise, the Sunne we may espie,Whose scattered beames within the Easterne skiesAre seene before the Sunne it selfe doe rise.

It hath abundance of rare Hearbes and Plants, which Bellonius lib. 1. cap. 7. doth reckon up. Many do mention the Labyrinth in Crete which was built by Daedalus, of which as also of the Italian Labyrinth Plin. lib. 36. cap. 13. witnesseth that there is now nothing remaining. Wonderfull therefore is the stupidnesse and ignorance of the Inhabitants, who doe still shew at the foote of the Mountaine Ida, a new Labyrinth in stead of that old one: but it is no wonder that the Cretensians should Cretissare, that is, should be Lyars. For the Inhabitants whether by the influence of the Heavens, the quality of the soyle, or their owne disposition, are naturally given to evill. They were heretofore Lyars, deceitfull, greedy, covetous, and gluttonous Drinkers, idle, and not adicted to any trade or course of life, but much given to drinking and Banqueting. But now, as Bellonius reporteth by the instinct of nature▪ they delight from their child-hood in the Scythian Bow, and therein doe follow their ancient custome. For they report that they heretofore adored Diana: and therefore they exceeded the Turkes themselves for shooting, also they are nimble and stout in Sea-fights. For the Cretensians were the first that were strong in Shipping and Bowes, whereby it is to be understood that they were the first Graecians that followed these studies. For as the Philosopher hath it Cap. 8. Lib. 2. Politick. This Iland naturally belongeth to the Principality of Greece, and is better seated than any other. For it lyeth in the Sea over against Greece. And one part of it lyeth but a little distant from Pel •••n•sus the other part lyeth not farre from a part of Asia which is above 〈…〉▪ and not farre from Rodes. Wherefore King Min•s was governour of the Sea, and held other Ilands in subjection: and upon others which had been long uninhabited he planted Colonies. There were these Bishopricks in it. The Archbishop of Crete or Candy under whom are these Suffragan Bishops; Kirokensis, •r•h•densis, Cerap•rensis▪ •••inensis▪ Mil••••amiensis, Ar•ensis, •alamoniensis, Agrensis, Rissamensis. The Archbishop Atridensis, under whom are •asensis, Sc••ulensis, Napr•nens•s Ma•gar••ensis. The Archbishop ol••niensis, who hath these Suffragans under him, •elenensis, Sudensis, M•n•vasiensis, •a•isiensis, Mar••••itaniensis. The Archbishop V•spreniensis, under whom are these Suffragan Bishops, Vephiliensis, Matrehensis, Cersonensis. And so much concerning Cand•a: there are some Ilands yet to bee described▪ which lye round about Greece.

C•rfu which Ptolemy calls Cor•ira is a faire Iland, being strong both by Land and Sea. It is 2. miles distant from Epi•us, where the Sea is straitest, but where it is broadest 20. miles. It is 97. paces in length, as Pliny witnesseth. The Climate is very temperate and gentle: so that there are whole woods of Citterne Trees, Orange Trees, and those kindes of fruits. The soyle is fruitfull, having abundance of Vines, Olives, Apples, and other sorts of fruits, here is also great store of Honey. Put it hath no good Corne in regard of the Southerne windes, which dryes it so much, that it withers before it come to Maturity and ••penes•e. It is now subject to the Venetians, who defended it valiantly against the fury of the Turkes. It hath a Citty of the same name. The Inhabitants are Graecians.

Z••••t•us commonly called Zante. Pliny placeth it betweene Cephale••a and A•ha•a. It is 36. miles in compasse. This Iland bringeth forth great store of Corne, but especially Raisons, Wine, and Oyle, out of which the Inhabitants doe yeerely make 15000•. Crow•••. They are Graecians and subject to the Venetians. It hath a Towne of the same name, with a Castle seated on a Mountaine, which hangeth over the Sea: it is full of Woods, and it is much commended for the wholesomnesse of the ayre, the fruitfulnesse and the fertility of the soyle. The Mountaine it selfe is called Elatos.

Milo is an Iland which was anciently called Melos, which is in the Cretian Sea. The compasse of it is 80. miles. It hath fruitfull Fields, which doe yeeld Corne and Oyle, but little Wine. In this Iland a Mine of Silver is also found, and the Onix stone.

Naxus is an Iland which Sophianus and others call Nissia. It is 80. miles in compasse. And it is reckoned among the fruitfull Iles. It hath great store of Wine, and there is a kinde of Marble found in it, which the Graecians and Pliny doe call a Carbell, having spots like a Serpent. The stone also Smirillus wherewith Glasiers cut their Glasse, which Pliny calls Smiris is found here. Some thinke that there are veynes of Gold here, which are not found out by reason of the Inhabitants sloth and idlenesse. Here is also a kinde of Waspe, which if it sting any one, he dyeth presently afterward: also here are great store of Bats. It was heretofore subject to Iohn Quirinus a noble Venetian. Afterward to Duke Iob Crispus, whom Selinus the Turkish Emperour drove hence. But now it is inhabited by Turkes and Iewes.

Santorini, or Santorino, or Therosia, which is an Iland in the Aegean Sea, according to Strabo and Ptolemy, hath the figure and forme of an horned Moone, although it had another shape before it was burned, and that the Sea devided it into two parts, betweene which some Rockes doe lye. It is fruitfull and hath convenient Havens. The Inhabitants live by fishing. And it is subject to the Turke.

Scarpanto was heretofore called Carpathus, or according to Homer, Cra••thus. Hence the Carpathian Sea. It is situate in the middle between Crete and Rhodes. The compasse of it is 60. miles, or as some will have it 70 miles. It is rugged and full of Mountaines, in which there are Mines of Marble. It had heretofore foure Citties, and therefore it was called Tetrapolis, as Eustathius hath it upon Homer. It hath many Havens which are not very great, nor safe. The Inhabitants speake Greeke, and doe embrace the Graecian Religion: but they are subject to the Venetians.

But let so much suffice concerning Europe. Now we enter upon the other parts of the world, and first of Affrick, which in our devision is next to Europe.

1685. Geographia universalis: the present state of the whole world by Pierre Duval.

The Isle of Candia.

Candia formerly Crete, is one of the greatest Islands of the Mediterranean Sea, with the Title of Kingdom, at the entrance of the Archipelago, in the sight of Europe, of Asia and Africa: Upon the consideration of so advantageous a Situation, Aristotle was perswaded that it might be made the Seat of the universal Empire. It is above two hundred Miles in length, about forty five or fifty in breadth: It has had full a hundred Cities, tho' it has now more than four, which be any thing eminent. It was renowned in antiquity for its excellent Archers, for the Ship called the Bull, which served to carry away the Beautiful Europa, for the Amours of Pasiphae, for those of Ariadne, for the Cruelty of the Minotaur, for the Birth, Abode and Funeral of Jupiter, for the Judgements of Minos, for the Labyrinth, whereof the invention is attributed to Daedalus. Its ancient Inhabitants said, that most of the Gods were born in their Countrey: But little Credit is to be giv'n to people who have always passed for great Lyars. Except the Sfaciotes, who pass for Bravos, the Candiots have the reputation of flying from Toyl, of trustiing in the goodness of their Soyl, which furnishes them with Malmsies, Wine, several good Fruits and other Commodities. Mount Ida is its highest Mountain, from its peak or top both Seas may easily be seen. Several Plains and Valleys are fertile in Candy; but few are watred otherwise than with Torrents. The Cretes were so succesful in Navigation, that they rendred themselves Masters of the Seas under Minos one of their Kings. This Prince made Laws for them, and that they might be the better established, feigned he had concerted them, during the space of nine years, with Jupiter. Afterwards this Island was governed by a Republick, and towards the time of Pompey the Great was subdued by the Romans. The Emperours of Constantinople were also Masters of it; after which it was given to Boniface, Prince of Monferrat, who sold it to the Venetians in the year 1194. The Turks seeing this Island in the midst of their Dominions, thought it was for their conveniency to dislodge the Venetians from thence; which they accordingly did in the year 1669. after a War of four and twenty years.

This Island is divided into four Territories, which bear the Names of so many principal Cities. Candia which is Capital thereof, and the Metropolitan, Canea, Rettimo and Sittia. The principal Fortresses of the Island are upon the Coast, either in Islands or Peninsula's, the Grabuses, Suda and Spinalonga which remained to the Venetians by the last peace between the Republick and the Port.

The City of Candia is in the Northern part of the Island, in an advantageous Situation, as strong by Art as by Nature, the Venetians did all that was humanly possible, before they yielded it to the Infidels. The Christian Princes for the most part sent Succours thither, by which means it sustained the efforts of a Siege the most memorable that ever was recorded in any History.