The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1917-10-11
ISLAND OF SERPENTS.
A Tiny Spot That Is Big In History
and In Legend.

A Tiny Spot That Is Big In History
and In Legend.
'1ess than thirty miles east OF
Sulina, the Black sea port, is the
tiny Island of Serpents, around
which cling many fantastic legends
of fascinating interest as we'll as
several historical episodes which at
ore time threatened to become OF
international moment" says a bull
letin issued by the National Geo
graphic society.
ut was to this island that Thetis.
the marine goddess, is supposed to
have carried the ashes Of her SOD
Achilles, hence the temple erected
here in honor of the hero of the
Trojan war. Another legend re-
lates that Thetis snatched the body
of Achilles from the funeral pyre.
that he was restored to life and
that thereafter he lived on the is-
land with Iphigcnia, the daughter
of Agamemnon who had been saved
from sacrifice by the goddess Ar
tennis.
Zone of the most poetic descrip-
tions of the island and its temple is
given by Arrian in the account OF
bis voyage around the Black sea in
the second century Of the Christian
era. He wrote:
cit is related that Thetis gave
this island to Achilles and that he
still inhabits it. His temple and
statue. both of very ancient work
manship, are seen there. No human
being dwells on it. It has only q
few goats which mariners convey to
it as votive offerings. Other offer
ings or sacred gifts are suspended in
honor of Achilles, such az vases,
rings and precious gems.
".Sea brrds, divers and fowl in
Vulnerable frequent the island and
these birds alone have the care OF
the shrine. Every morning they re-
pair to the sea, and, dipping their
wing in the waves, sprinkle the tenn
pie and afterward sweep with their
plumage its sacred pavement
'The name Island Of Serpents
grew out of the fact that numerous
black snakes from four to five fee!
long were discovered here by ma
riners. Many of the reptiles are
said to have fallen in the cisterns
of the island and polluted the wa
ters which are now undrinkable. 1t
is interesting to recall in connec-
ton with the name of the island
that Achilles was often referred to
as the snake born,' and that his
mother Thetis frequently assumed
the form Of a snake.
'The Amazons are supposed to
have attempted to seize this island
on one occasion. but the ghost OF
Achilles appeared and SO terrified
the horses of the female warriors
that the riders were thown and Be-
verely trampled upon. whereupon
the expedition was abandoned.
"This meager rock brought Eng,
land and Russia to the verge Of war.
following the treaty Of peace which
ended the Crimean conflict. The
island was not mentioned in the
terms of the treaty. and when Tur-
key sent a small party to rehght
the lighthouse which had been dark
throughout the struggle Of 1856
Russia attempted to take control
of the beacon, which stands as q
guidepost to the Danube's mouths.
England protested and sent a feet
across the Black sea to enforce her
demands in behalf of her then re-
cent ally, the sultan. Russia after
a brief threat of resistance yielded.
The island passed into Roumanian
hands when that nation threw of
{bo Ottoman shacklea in 1877"