The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-06-11
ISLE OF sERPENTs
Roumania's Historic Little Rock
In the Black Sea.
ONCE NEARLY CAUSED A WAR.
After the crinean Treaty Of Peace the
Question of Its Control Brought Eng
land and Russia to the Very Verge Of
Renewed Hostilitles.

Renewed Hostilitles.
Less than thirty miles east of Sulina,
the second important Black sea port
Of Roumania after Constanza, is the
tiny Island of Serpents. around which
cling many fantastic legends of fas-
cinating interest as well as several his.
torical episodes which at one time
threatened to become of international
moment, says the National Geographic
society bulletin.
Unlike the m0notonous reaches Of
reed covered marshland which stretch
for fifty miles along the Roumanian
and Russian shores to the north and
south of the Sulina mouth of the Dan,
ube and seldom attaining an elevation
Of more than two feet above the level
of the Black sea, the Island Of Ser
penis, or Fido-nisi, thrusts its precip-
! itous cliffs above the water to heights
ranging from fifty to hundred feet.
1t Is a mere feck Of rock in sea
whose depth few yards from the
shore is twenty fathoIns.
The islet is scarcely more than mile
in circumference. but, has been a bea-
con guiding ships to the Danube for
many centuries. Its, elevation being In
such striking contrast to the delta land
Of the great river.
In ancient times Fido Nisi had va
riety of names, but Grecian poets and
travellers referred to 1t most frequently
as Leuce, or the White island, on &C.
count OF the numerous sea fowl which
at certain seasons of the year swarmed
over its cliffs.
1t was to this island that Thetis, the
marine goddess, is supposed to have
carried the ashes of her son, Achilles;
hence the temple erected here In honor
of the hero of the Trojan war. An
other legend relates that Thetis snatch
ed the body of Achilles from the funeral
pyre, that he was restored to life and
that thereafter he lived on the island
with Iphigenia, the daughter of Aga
memnon, who had been saved from
sacrifice by the goddess Artemis.
One Of the most poetic descriptions
of the island and its temple is given by
Arrian in the account OF his voyage
around the Black sea In the second
century of the Christian era He
wrote:
1T ia related that Thetis gave this
island to Achilles and that he still IN
habits 1t. His temple and statue both
OF very ancient workmanship. are seen
there. No human being dwells on 1t.
1t has only few goats, which mari
ners convey TO it as votive offerings.
Other offerings or sacred gifts are sus-
pended In honor of Achilles, such as
vases, rings and precious gems.
"Seabirds, divers and fowl innumer-
able frequent the island, and the birds
alone have the care of the shrine
Every morning they repair to the sea
and, dipping their wings in the waves.
sprinkle the temple and aftcrward
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 feet long were
here by mariners. Many
OF the reptiles are said TO have fallen
In the cisterns of the island and pol
luted the waters, which are now I'M
drinkable. Sns,-, g
The Ama2ons are supposed TO have
attempted to seize this island eon one
occasion, but the ghost Of Achilles ap.
pearedi and so terrified the horses Of
the female warriors that the riders
were thrown and severely tramplcd
upon, whereupon the expedition was
sta Eao
This meager rock brought England
and Russia to the verge OF war sixty
years ago, following the treaty of
peace which ended the Crimean con.
tilct. The island was not mentioned
In the terms. of the treaty, and when
Turkey sent small party to relight
The lighthouse. which had been dark
through the struggle of 1856. Rus
STA attempted to take control Of the
beacon which stands as a guidepost |
H.. .