Difference between revisions of "Patmos"

<p> [[Patmos]] ( ''Păt'Mos'' ). &nbsp;Revelation 1:9. A little ragged island in the Ægean Sea, 24 miles west of Asia Minor. It is from 15 to 25 miles in circumference, and is very rocky and barren. The barrenness of the island made it a suitable spot for the banishment of Roman criminals. To it the apostle John was banished by the emperor Domitian, a.d. 95. Its rocky solitude well suited the sublime nature of the Revelation. </p>

<p> ''''' pat´mos ''''' ( Πάτμος , <i> ''''' Pátomos ''''' </i> ; Italian: San Giovanni 501 Patino): A T urkish island of the group Sporades, Southwest of Samos, mentioned once in the Bible, &nbsp;Revelation 1:9 , "I, John ... was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus" (διὰ τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ καί τὴν μαρτυρίαν Ἰησοῦ , <i> ''''' diá ''''' </i> <i> ''''' tón ''''' </i> <i> ''''' lógon ''''' </i> <i> ''''' toú ''''' </i> <i> ''''' theoú ''''' </i> <i> ''''' kaı́ ''''' </i> <i> ''''' tḗn ''''' </i> <i> ''''' marturian ''''' </i> <i> ''''' Iēsoú ''''' </i> ). The island is 10 miles long, and about 6 broad along the northern coast. It is for the most part rocky. The highest part is Mount Elias, which rises to a height of over 800 ft. As in Greece, and in the adjacent mainland of Asia Minor, the land is treeless. Near the city of Patmos there is a good harbor. A famous monastery, Christodulos, was founded on the island in 1088. Near this is a thriving school, attended by students from all parts of the Archipelago. The population of the island numbers 3,000, almost entirely Greek. The ancient capital was on an isthmus between the inlets of La Scala and Merika. Many ruins can still be seen. The huge walls of Cyclopean masonry, similar to those at Tiryns, attest their great age. In Roman times Patmos was one of the many places to which Rome banished her exiles. In 95 AD, according to a tradition preserved by Irenaeus, Eusebius, Jerome and others, John was exiled here - in the 14th year of the reign of Domitian - whence he returned to [[Ephesus]] under [[Nerva]] (96 AD). The cave in which he is said to have seen his visions is still pointed out to the traveler. Only a small part of the once valuable library in the monastery of Christodulos is left. Just 100 years ago (1814) Mr. E.D. Clark purchased here the manuscript of Plato which is now in the Bodleian Library, the celebrated Clarkianus, a parchment written in the year 895, and admittedly the best of all for the 1st of the 2 volumes into which the works of Plato were divided for convenience. Patmos is mentioned by [[Thucydides]] (iii. 33), by Pliny ( <i> NH </i> , iv. 23), and by [[Strabo]] (x.5). See also [[John]] , The Apostle; Revelation Of John . </p> Literature. <p> Tozer, <i> The Islands of the Aegean </i> (1890), 178-95; Walpole, <i> [[Turkey]] </i> (London, 1820), II, 43; E.D. Clark, <i> Travels </i> (London, 1818), VI, 2; Ross, Reisen (Stuttgart, 1840), II; Guerin, <i> Description de l'Ile de Patmos </i> (Paris, 1856). </p>

<p> Pat´mos, a rocky and bare island of the Ægean Sea, about fifteen miles in circumference, and reckoned as one of the Sporades. On account of its stern and desolate character, the island was used, under the Roman Empire, as a place of banishment, which accounts for the exile of John thither 'for the testimony of Jesus' [[[John The Evangelist]]]  He was here favored with those visions which are contained in the Apocalypse, and to which the place owes its Scriptural interest. </p> <p> On approaching the island the coast is found to be high, and to consist of a succession of capes, which form so many ports, some of which are excellent. The only one in use is, however, a deep bay, sheltered by high mountains on every side but one, where it is protected by a projecting cape. The town attached to this port is situated upon a high rocky mountain, rising immediately from the sea; and this, with the Scala below upon the shore, consisting of some shops and houses, forms the only inhabited site of the island. </p> <p> Patmos is deficient of trees, but abounds in flowering plants and shrubs, Walnuts and other fruit trees are grown in the orchards; and the wine of Patmos is the strongest and best flavored of any in the Greek islands. Maize and barley are cultivated, but not in a quantity sufficient for the use of the inhabitants, and for the supply of their own vessels and others which often put in at the great harbor for provisions. The island now bears the names of Patino and Palmosa, and the inhabitants do not exceed 4000 or 5000, many of whom are emigrants from the neighboring continent. </p>