Cassiterides

• the tin-islands, Cassiterides, now prob. the Scilly Islands, Mel. 3, 6, 2; Plin. 4, 22, 36, § 119; named from the tin found there; v. cassiterum.

CASSITE´RIDES in Britain. The tin-county of Cornwall, with which the Scilly Isles were more or less confused. For details see BRITANNICAE INSULAE pp. 433--435.

(Κασσιτερίδες). Islands in the Western Ocean, where tin was found, supposed to be the Scilly Islands of the moderns, together with a part of Cornwall. The term Cassiterides is derived from the Greek κασσίτερος, “tin.” The tin was obtained by the islanders from the mainland, and afterwards sold to strangers. Solinus (ch. 22) mentions these islands under the name of Silurum Insulae, and Sulpicius Severus (ii. 51), under that of Sylina Insula.

• perhaps Britain, their existence questioned by Herodotus: Hdt. 3.115