Strabo Geography 6.2.11

[11] Of Lipara , then, and Thermessa I have already spoken. As for Strongyle, ¹ it is so called from its shape, and it too is fiery; it falls short in the violence of its flame, but excels in the brightness of its light; and this is where Aeolus lived, it is said. The fourth island is Didyme, ² and it too is named after its shape. Of the remaining islands, Ericussa ³ and Phoenicussa ⁴ have been so called from their plants, and are given over to pasturage of flocks. The seventh is Euonymus, ⁵ which is farthest out in the high sea and is desert; it is so named because it is more to the left than the others, to those who sail from Lipara to Sicily . ⁶ Again, many times flames have been observed running over the surface of the sea round about the islands when some passage had been opened up from the cavities down in the depths of the earth and the fire had forced its way to the outside. Poseidonius says that within his own recollection, ⁷ one morning at daybreak about the time of the summer solstice, the sea between Hiera and Euonymus was seen raised to an enormous height, and by a sustained blast remained puffed up for a considerable time, and then subsided; and when those who had the hardihood to sail up to it saw dead fish driven by the current, and some of the men were stricken ill because of the heat and stench, they took flight; one of the boats, however, approaching more closely, lost some of its occupants and barely escaped to Lipara with the rest, who would at times become senseless like epileptics, and then afterwards would recur to their proper reasoning faculties; and many days later mud was seen forming on the surface of the sea, and in many places flames, smoke, and murky fire broke forth, but later the scum hardened and became as hard as mill-stone; and the governor of Sicily , Titus Flaminius, ⁸ reported the event to the Senate, and the Senate sent a deputation to offer propitiatory sacrifices, both in the islet ⁹ and in Liparae, to the gods both of the underworld and of the Sea. Now, according to the Chorographer, ¹⁰ the distance from Ericodes to Phoenicodes ¹¹ is ten miles, and thence to Didyme thirty, and thence to the northern part of Lipara twenty-nine, and thence to Sicily nineteen, but from Strongyle sixteen. Off Pachynus lie Melita , ¹² whence come the little dogs called Melitaean, and Gaudos, both eighty-eight miles distant from the Cape. Cossura ¹³ lies off Lilybaeum , and off Aspis, ¹⁴ a Carthaginian city whose Latin name is Clupea; it lies midway between the two, and is the aforesaid distance ¹⁵ from either. Aegimurus, ¹⁶ also, and other small islands lie off Sicily and Libya . So much for the islands.

[11] We have noticed the islands of Lipari and Thermessa. As for Strongyle, ¹ it takes its name from its form. ² Like the other two, it is subigneous, but is deficient in the force of the flames which are emitted, while their brightness is greater. It is here they say that Aeolus resided. ³ The fourth is Didyma; this island also is named from its form. ⁴ Of the others, [the fifth and sixth] are Ericussa ⁵ and phoenicussa; ⁶ they are called from the plants which they produce, and are given up to pasture. The seventh [island] is called Euonymus; ⁷ it is the farthest in the sea and barren. It is called Euonymus because it lies the most to the left when you sail from the island of Lipari to Sicily, ⁸ and many times flames of fire have been seen to rise to the surface, and play upon the sea round the islands: these flames rush with violence from the cavities at the bottom of the sea, ⁹ and force for themselves a passage to the open air. Posidonius says, that at a time so recent as to be almost within his recollection, about the summer solstice and at break of day, between Hiera and Euonymus, the sea was observed to be suddenly raised aloft, and to abide some time raised in a compact mass and then to subside. Some ventured to approach that part in their ships; they observed the fish dead and driven by the current, but being distressed by the heat and foul smell, were compelled to turn back. One of the boats which had approached nearest lost some of her crew, and was scarcely able to reach Lipari with the rest, and they had fits like an epileptic person, at one time fainting and giddy, and at another returning to their senses; and many days afterwards a mud or clay was observed rising in the sea, and in many parts the flames issued, and smoke and smoky blazes; afterwards it congealed and became a rock like mill-stones. Titus Flaminius, ¹⁰ who then commanded in Sicily, despatched to the senate [of Rome] a fill account of the phenomenon; the senate sent and offered sacrifices to the infernal and marine divinities both in the little island [which had thus been formed] and the Lipari Islands. Now the chorographer reckons that from Ericodes to Phoenicodes are 10 miles, from thence to Didyma 30, from thence to the northernmost point ¹¹ of Lipari 29, and from thence to Sicily 19, while from Strongyle are 16. ¹² Melita ¹³ lies before ¹⁴ Pachynus; from thence come the little dogs called Maltese; ¹⁵ so does also Gaudus, ¹⁶ both of them are situated about 88 miles distant from that promontory. Cossura ¹⁷ is situated before Cape Lilybaesum, and opposite the Carthaginian city Aspis, which they call [in Latin] Clypea, it is situated in the midst of the space which lies between those two places, and is distant from each the number of miles last given. ¹⁸ Aegimurus also and other little islands lie off Sicily and Africa. So much for the islands.