Athos, MOUNT

Terminal peak of the eastermost of 3 peninsulas which jut s. e. from Macedonia; 6,350 ft. high and visible from Troy; called "Holy Mountain" by Greeks and Italians. The peninsula contained 180 monasteries in 11th century. and was a famous seat of learning; it has to-day 935 churches, chapels and oratories. The monastic libraries are rich in illuminated and other MSS. The "holy hermits" were here in the 9th century; in legend they date from Const an tine. They were pillaged when Constantinople was taken by the Latins 1204; regained prosperity under the Palæologi, but have decayed since 14th century. Some of their holdings in Greece were confiscated ab. 1830; others more recently. The inhabitants number ab. 3,000, all men; no female, man or animal, desecrates the sacred hill. Traces of Xerxes' canal acro the isthmus are still visible.