The Myrtoan Sea (also Mirtoan Sea; el, Mυρτώο Πέλαγος, ''Myrtoo Pelagos'' ) is a subdivision of the
Mediterranean Sea that lies between the
Cyclades and
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese (), Peloponnesus (; el, Πελοπόννησος, Pelopónnēsos,(), or Morea is a peninsula and geographic regions of Greece, geographic region in southern Greece. It is connected to the central part of the country by the Isthmu ...
. It is described as the part of the
Aegean Sea south of
Euboea,
Attica, and
Argolis.
Some of the water mass of the
Black Sea reaches the Myrtoan Sea, via transport through the Aegean Sea (Saundry, Hogan & Baum 2011).
The
Saronic Gulf, the gulf of
Athens, lies between the
Corinth Canal and the Myrtoan Sea.
It is said to have been named after the mythical hero
Myrtilus, who was thrown into this sea by an enraged
Pelops. The name has also been connected with that of the maiden Myrto. It is also said to have derived its name from a small island named Myrtus.
References
Citations
Classical sources
*
Horace
Quintus Horatius Flaccus (; 8 December 65 – 27 November 8 BC), known in the English-speaking world as Horace (), was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus (also known as Octavian). The rhetorician Quintilian regarded his ' ...
makes a reference to ''Mare Myrtoum'' in Liber I, Carmen I, line 14 ("Ad Maecenatem"). —
*
Pliny the Elder (iv. 11. s. 18) considers the Myrtoan a part of the Aegean.
*
Strabo
Strabo''Strabo'' (meaning "squinty", as in strabismus) was a term employed by the Romans for anyone whose eyes were distorted or deformed. The father of Pompey was called "Pompeius Strabo". A native of Sicily so clear-sighted that he could see ...
distinguishes between the Myrtoan and Aegean; Strabo wrote that the Aegean terminated at the promontory of Sunium in Attica.
Modern sources
* Peter Saundry, C.Michael Hogan & Steve Baum. 2011
''Sea of Crete''. Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds.M.Pidwirny & C.J.Cleveland. National Council for Science and Environment. Washington DC.
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Marginal seas of the Mediterranean
Aegean Sea
Seas of Greece
Landforms of the South Aegean