Gymnesian Islands

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The collective name of the Gymnesian Islands (Catalan: Illes Gimnèsies; Spanish: Islas Gimnesias) distinguishes the two largest (and eastern-most) Balearic islands (Majorca and Minorca), from the Pine Islands (Catalan Illes Pitiüses; Spanish Islas Pitiusas: Ibiza and Formentera).

[edit] Etymology

The word Gymnesian (from the Greek γυμνήτες gymnetes) means "naked". The Ancient Greeks recruited the local inhabitants of these islands, the Talayotics, as slingers. This does not mean that they fought naked, but that they used much lighter armament than the hoplites.

[edit] Name usage

Later the Phoenicians referred to both Majorca and Minorca as the Baliarides. After the whole archipelago (the Pitiusas and Gymnesias) came under Roman rule, the islands gained the overall Latin name insulae baliares or Baleares insulae; and the collective concept has continued in use in modern languages, hence ultimately the English name "Balearic islands".

In recent years the Catalan terms Illes Gimnesias and Illes Pitiuses have come back to use in academic and scientific circles, because of the use of Greek-language sources for neologisms.

[edit] References

  • Strabo Geography Book III, Chapter 2
  • Belenguer, E. Història de les illes Balears. Barcelona: Edicions 62, 2004. 525 p. ISBN 84-297-5506-3 (volume I)
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