Capital, on S.E. side, of the island Lesbos, now Mitylen. Beautiful in situation ("pulchra", Horace Ep. 1:11, 17, with mountains in the background) and in buildings, and enjoying the Roman citizenship. Paul stopped at it for the night in his return from his third missionary journey; between Assos and Chios. The wind blew probably from N.W., from which the harbor of Mitylene would shelter the ship. He was there on a dark moonless night; a good reason for passing the night there, and waiting daylight for the intricate passages southward to Chios and Samos (Acts 20:14-15). The native land of the poets Sappho and Alcaeus, and Arion the musician.