Gymnesian Islands facts for kids

Latin map of the Balearic Islands, with the eastern islands named Gymnesiæ.

Gymnesian Islands (in dark grey)

The Gymnesian Islands (Catalan: Gimnèsies Spanish: Gimnesias) is a special name for two of the largest islands in the Balearic Islands: Mallorca and Menorca. These islands are located in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Spain. They are different from the Pityuses (Catalan: Illes Pitiüses; Spanish: Pitiusas), which include Ibiza and Formentera. Think of the Gymnesians as the "eastern big sisters" of the Balearic group!

What Does "Gymnesian" Mean?

The name "Gymnesian" comes from an ancient Greek word, gymnetes, which means 'naked'. The ancient Greeks called these islands Gymnesiae (Ancient Greek: Γυμνήσιαι). One historian from ancient times, Diodorus Siculus, wrote that the islanders might have been called "naked" because they wore very light clothing during the warm summer months. The Ancient Greeks were impressed by the local people, known as the Talaiotics. These islanders were skilled slingers and were recruited to fight in battles. This doesn't mean they fought without clothes! It simply suggests they used much lighter armor compared to the heavily armed Greek soldiers called hoplites.

How the Islands Got Their Names

Over time, different groups of people gave names to these islands. The Phoenicians, who were ancient traders, referred to both Mallorca and Menorca as the Baliarides. Later, when the entire group of islands, including both the Gymnesians and the Pityuses, became part of the Roman Empire, they received a new Latin name: Insulae Baliares or Baleares Insulae. This Latin name is where we get the modern English name, the Balearic Islands, which is still used today for the whole archipelago.

See also

In Spanish: Islas Gimnesias para niños