_Modern Greek Names of Places_ (Vol. iv., pp. 470.; Vol. v., p.
14.).--With the utmost deference to so high an authority, on such a
subject, as SIR EMERSON TENNENT, I must deny that Cos, Athens, or
Constantinople have been called by the Greeks, Stanco, Satines, or
Stamboul.
These corruptions have been made by Turks, Venetians, and Englishmen;
and in speaking to barbarians the Greek uses barbarous terms to make
himself intelligible; but in speaking to another Greek, and in writing,
Athens is Athens, Cos is Cos, and Constantinople is ἡ πόλις.
Very few corruptions of names of places have taken place amongst the
Greeks; while every island, peak, and every headland in the Ægean cries
out against Venetian barbarism.
Patræ is Patras in the mouths of Englishmen, and Patrasso with Italians:
the Greeks call it Πατραι, and generally write it Παλαιαι Πατραι.
Corcyra has lost her name, but has received a correct Greek name,
Οἱ Κόρυφοι--the peaks--whether of the citadel or of Mount San
Salvador. This has become Corfu. Ithaca has lost her name and is now
Theaki.
A Greek does not know what place you mean.
I should be obliged if any correspondent can tell me whether Paxo is
mentioned by any classical author. It has a plural termination:
Οι Παξοι εις τοὺς Παξους.