A relatively large island in the southern Aigean (Aegean) Sea.
Chios is located near the coast of Turkey and is the fifth largest of the Greek islands. The traveler-historian Pausanias (first century CE) referenced the tragic poet Ion by saying the island was named after a son of Poseidon, lord of the sea, and an island Nymph. While the (unnamed) Nymph was in labor with Poseidon's child, snow began to fall and the baby was named Chion (Χιών), which means snow in Greek. Later writers used the snow allegory but sidestepped the Greek god Poseidon by saying Chion was the name of a son of Oenopion, one of the first kings of the island.
Oenopion migrated from the island of Krete (Crete) with his five sons and became sovereign of the island. Oenopion's relationship with the god Dionysos (Dionysus) made Chios synonymous with the cultivation of grapes.
Oenopion became embroiled with the colossal huntsman Orion when Orion wanted to marry Oenopion's daughter, Merope. To prevent the union, Oenopion resorted to treachery and violence. He got Orion drunk and blinded to befuddled giant. Oenopion escaped retaliation with the help of the god Hephaistos (Hephaestus).
Latitude North, Longitude East
38.4107, 26.0485
| References: Pausanias, Description of Greece book 7.48 |