Mitylene
Summary
Mitylene was the capital city of the island of Lesbos in the Aegean Sea, where Paul's ship stopped overnight during his voyage from Assos to Miletus.
☩History and Significance
Mitylene (also spelled Mytilene) was the chief town of Lesbos, situated on the southeast coast of the island about twelve miles from the Asian mainland. Built on a peninsula that was once an island, it possessed two excellent harbors and was noted for the beauty of its buildings. The city was the birthplace of the poets Alcaeus and Sappho, and enjoyed the privileges of a Roman free city. Horace called it 'Mitylene pulchra' (beautiful Mitylene), and Cicero praised it as 'in primis nobilis' (exceedingly noble).
☩Paul's Visit
During his return from his third missionary journey, Paul's ship stopped at Mitylene overnight, anchoring either in the large northern harbor or in the roadstead outside. The ship had sailed from Assos—about thirty miles distant—taking advantage of the northerly morning wind common in the Aegean during summer. Since it was dark moon at the time, the captain wisely decided to pass the night at Mitylene before navigating the intricate passages southward to Chios and Samos. The city's harbor provided shelter from the northwest wind that was evidently blowing.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Mitylene," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VI (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Hastings (ed.), "Mitylene," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Mitylene," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).