CARPATHUS (Ital. Scarpanto)  , an island about 30 M. south-west of Rhodes, in that part of the Mediterranean which was called, after it, the Carpathian Sea (Carpathium Mare) . It was both in ancient and medieval times closely connected with Rhodes; it was held by noble families under Venetian suzerainty, notably the Cornari from 1306 to 1540, when it finally passed into the possession of the Turks . From its remote position Carpathus has preserved many peculiarities of dress, customs and dialect, the last resembling those of Rhodes and Cyprus . See L . Ross, Reisen auf den gr . Inseln (Halle, 1840•-1845) ; T . Bent, Journal of Hellenic Studies, vi . (1885), p . 235; R . M . Dawkins; Annual of British School at Athens;'ix. and x .