POROS

island of the Saronic group, lying close to the Argolis peninsula of the Peloponnese, part of the noms (department) of Attik, Greece. It actually comprises two islands totaling 9 square miles (23 square km), the larger of which is the wooded, limestone island of Kalvria, separated from the village of Galats on the mainland by a narrow channel, or poros, whence the collective name. Between the channel and Kalvria is the small, barren volcanic (trachyte) islet of Pros, an Athenian resort joined to Kalvria by a bridge. Calauria (modern Kalvria) on the central plateau of the larger island was known for a temple of Poseidon (5th century BC), now a ruin, and was the centre of an amphictyony, or joint council, of maritime states. Demosthenes took refuge there, committing suicide to avoid arrest. In 1828 English, French, and Russian plenipotentiaries met on Pros to discuss the future of the Greek state.