DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9841#0075
XXIV.]
KALE AK'J'E.
57
castle of the Christians of these parts: most of their
wives and families spent a spring and summer (from
March to September) on them during the war. The
places are called "the islands of the Akte53," Akte
being the name of the district on the western coast here-
abouts.
Now the fact that the word akte has gone out of
use in the modern Greek language51 converts this name
into a vestige of antiquity, and enables us to identify
the place, where it is found, with an ancient site. Kale
Akte is mentioned by Stephanus of Byzantium, on the
authority of Eudoxus, as a city of Crete55, but we know
little more of it than its mere name.
The very meaning of the words Kale Akte is a
sufficient assurance that, although situated near the sea
and on a beautiful coast, it did not possess a harbour.
That an excellent port, on the south coast of the island,
should have been called Fair Havens, was perhaps as
natural as that this place should have had the name of
Fair Shore. Nothing but the scantiness of our informa-
tion respecting both the places, and the mistake which
54 The modern word is ymXo! or yiaki, derived from the ancient aiyiaXo's.
tn Crete yvpoyiaXi is very common. Not only have I never heard the word
dx-rij used by a Greek, but I do not find it in any modern Greek lexicon to
which I have access, namely, the AQikov t//s TpaiKiKTjs ra\\iK?}$ re Kai
'l-raXiKys yXioWijs of Spyridon Blante, published at Venice in 1816, and
the Qijaavpos tt/s 'PitifiaiKjjs Kai tt/s t&payKiK>}$ yXwatras (Paris, 1709.) of
Alessio da Somavera, edited by Thomaso da Parigi, (both missionaries.)
The words yta\6st uKpoyiaXid, aKpodaXaao-id, and even aiytaXds itself,
although it certainly cannot be said to be used by the common people, are
all found. I have also searched in vain in the ATAKTA of Koray for any
trace of the word d/cr»(, and therefore conclude that it is utterly lost to the
modern language.
55 Stephanus Byzant. KaXij Aktij', ito'Xis Kptjraf. ES<5oJos i-era'p™
yiis irepiooov 6<rxi dk tu's fieyaKt) Kai/iij. He adds that the gentile names
of its inhabitants were KaXaKTiTiis, KixAociktZtijs, KaXaKTaZos, and KaXo-
o/cxios. By taking what properly belonged to the Sicilian city, we may
increase the number of these forms, from Suidas v. KauctXtos by KaXrtK-
Tiawoe, and from coins (Mionnet, Tom. 1. p. 221.) by KaXrMTuw. Most
of the old terminations of such words are still retained in the language. We
have YopaZos, KaPoua-iauos, Aa*aa»TJ/s, 'Pt£tTijs, &c.
KALE AK'J'E.
57
castle of the Christians of these parts: most of their
wives and families spent a spring and summer (from
March to September) on them during the war. The
places are called "the islands of the Akte53," Akte
being the name of the district on the western coast here-
abouts.
Now the fact that the word akte has gone out of
use in the modern Greek language51 converts this name
into a vestige of antiquity, and enables us to identify
the place, where it is found, with an ancient site. Kale
Akte is mentioned by Stephanus of Byzantium, on the
authority of Eudoxus, as a city of Crete55, but we know
little more of it than its mere name.
The very meaning of the words Kale Akte is a
sufficient assurance that, although situated near the sea
and on a beautiful coast, it did not possess a harbour.
That an excellent port, on the south coast of the island,
should have been called Fair Havens, was perhaps as
natural as that this place should have had the name of
Fair Shore. Nothing but the scantiness of our informa-
tion respecting both the places, and the mistake which
54 The modern word is ymXo! or yiaki, derived from the ancient aiyiaXo's.
tn Crete yvpoyiaXi is very common. Not only have I never heard the word
dx-rij used by a Greek, but I do not find it in any modern Greek lexicon to
which I have access, namely, the AQikov t//s TpaiKiKTjs ra\\iK?}$ re Kai
'l-raXiKys yXioWijs of Spyridon Blante, published at Venice in 1816, and
the Qijaavpos tt/s 'PitifiaiKjjs Kai tt/s t&payKiK>}$ yXwatras (Paris, 1709.) of
Alessio da Somavera, edited by Thomaso da Parigi, (both missionaries.)
The words yta\6st uKpoyiaXid, aKpodaXaao-id, and even aiytaXds itself,
although it certainly cannot be said to be used by the common people, are
all found. I have also searched in vain in the ATAKTA of Koray for any
trace of the word d/cr»(, and therefore conclude that it is utterly lost to the
modern language.
55 Stephanus Byzant. KaXij Aktij', ito'Xis Kptjraf. ES<5oJos i-era'p™
yiis irepiooov 6<rxi dk tu's fieyaKt) Kai/iij. He adds that the gentile names
of its inhabitants were KaXaKTiTiis, KixAociktZtijs, KaXaKTaZos, and KaXo-
o/cxios. By taking what properly belonged to the Sicilian city, we may
increase the number of these forms, from Suidas v. KauctXtos by KaXrtK-
Tiawoe, and from coins (Mionnet, Tom. 1. p. 221.) by KaXrMTuw. Most
of the old terminations of such words are still retained in the language. We
have YopaZos, KaPoua-iauos, Aa*aa»TJ/s, 'Pt£tTijs, &c.