Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1917-02-22
isle OF SERpENTs
FANTASTIC LEGENDS THAT CLING
AROUND SPOT IN BLACK SEA.
Fido-Nisi, Tomb of Achilles, Guards
the SuIina Mouth Of Danube-once
Nearly Caused War Between
Russia and Britain.

Less than 80 miles east of Sulina,
the only important Black sea port re-
naming in the possession Of ROuma-
MIA since Field Marshal Won Macken-
sen captured COnstanza, is the tiny
Island of Serpents, around which cling
many fantastic legends as well as sew
eral historical episodes which at one
time threatened to become Of interna-
tional moment says the National Geo
graphic society bulletin.
Unlike the mOnOtOnous reaches of
reed-covered marshland which stretch
for 80 miles along the ROumanian and
Russian shores to the north and south
of the Sulina mouth of the Danube,
seldom attaining an elevation Of more
than two feet above the level of the
Black sea, the Island Of Serpents, or
F'ido-nisi, thrusts its precipitOus cliffs
above the water to heights ranging
from 80 to 100 feet.
1t is q mere tleck of rock in q sea
whose depth few yards from the
shore Is 70 fathoms. The islet is
scarcely more than mile in circum-
ference, but it has been IL beacon guild
ing ships to the Danube for many cen
turtles, its elevation being in such strik-
ing 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 it most frequent
ly as Leuce, or the White island, ON
account Of the numerous seafowls
which ut certain seasons of the year
swarmed over its cliffs.
I 1t was to this island that Thetis 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. Another legend re
lates that Thetis snatched, the bod,
of Achilles from the funeral pyre, tina
he was restored to life and that there
after he lived on the island witt
;lphigeneia, the daughter OF; Agamem
non, who had been saved from sacri
flee by the goddess Artemis. ".
The name Island of Serpents grew
out of the fact that numerous blacl
ssnakes from four to FIVE feet long we5
discovered here by mariners. Achille
was often referred to as ''the snake
born" and his mother, ThetEs, frequent
ly assumed the form of snake.
The AmazOns are supposed to hav,
attempted to seize this island on on,
occasion, but the ghost of Achilles ap
peured and SO terrified the horses o
I the female warriors that the. rider
were thrown and severely trampled-up
on, whereupOn the expedition wa
, abandoned.
This meager rock brought Englant
and Russia to the verge of war q
years ago, following the treaty o
peace, which ended the Crimean con
flict.
The island was not mentioned In tn
terms Of the treaty and when Turke
sent Il party to relight the lighthouse
which had been dark throughout tn
struggle of 1858 to 1886, Russia at
tempted to take control of the beacon
which stands as guidepost to tn
Danube's mouths.
England protested, and sent a flee
across the Black sea to enforce her d,
mands in behalf of her recent ally, tn
sultan. Russia, after IL brief threat O
resistance, yielded. The island passe
into Roumanan hands when that nj
ton threw off the Ottoman shackles /
1877.