The Gymnesians ( Catalan : Illes Gimnesies [?im?n?zi?s] , Spanish : Gimnesias [xim?nesjas] ), or Gymnesic Islands ( Catalan : Illes Gimnesiques ), ^[1] is a collective name given to the two largest (and easternmost) Balearic Islands , Mallorca and Menorca , distinguishing them from the Pityuses ( Catalan : Illes Pitiuses ; Spanish : Pitiusas ), or Pine Islands, Ibiza and Formentera .

Etymology [ edit ]

The word Gymnesian (from the Greek : γυμν?τε? gymnetes ) means 'naked'. The Greeks called the islands Gymnesiae ( Ancient Greek : Γυμν?σιαι ). According to Diodorus Siculus the Greeks called the islands like this because the inhabitants were naked during the summer time. ^[2] The Ancient Greeks recruited the local inhabitants of these islands, the Talaiotics , as slingers . According to some researchers, this does not mean that they fought naked, but that they used much lighter armament than the hoplites .

Name usage [ edit ]

Later the Phoenicians referred to both Mallorca and Menorca as the Baliarides . After the whole archipelago (the Pityuses and Gymnesians ) came under Roman rule, the islands gained the overall Latin name Insulae Baliares or Baleares Insulae ; the collective concept has continued in use in modern languages, hence ultimately the English name Balearic Islands .

References [ edit ]

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

39°48′46″N 3°34′34″E  /  39.81276°N 3.57605°E  / 39.81276; 3.57605

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