ARCHIPELAGO  , a name now applied to any

island-studded sea, but originally the distinctive designation of what is now generally known as the Aegean Sea (Alyaiov iEXayos), its ancient name having been revived . Several etymologies have been proposed: e.g . (I) it is a corruption of the ancient name, Egeopelago; (2) it is from the modern Greek, `Ayto irEXayo, the Holy Sea; (3) it arose at the time of the Latin empire, and means the Sea of the Kingdom (Arch); (4) it is a translation of the Turkish name, Ak Denghiz, Argon Pelagos, the White Sea; (5) it is simply Archipelagus, Italian, arcipelago, the chief sea . For the Grecian Archipelago see AEGEAN SEA . Other archipelagoes are described in their respective places .