Editing Elba (section)

===Early history===
The island was originally inhabited by [[Ligures]] [[Ilvates]] and was called '''Ilva''' (Ἰλούα). It was well known from very ancient times for its [[iron]] resources and valued mines. The [[Greeks]] also called it '''Aethalia''' (Αἰθαλία or Αἰθάλεια) and '''Aethale''' (Αἰθάλη) from "smoky" (αἰθάλη), after the fumes of the metal producing furnaces.<ref name="Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography">[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0064%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DI%3Aentry+group%3D4%3Aentry%3Dilva-geo Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), Ilva]</ref>

[[Apollonius of Rhodes]] mentions it in his epic poem ''[[Argonautica]]'', describing that the [[Argonauts]] rested here during their travels. He writes that signs of their visit were still visible in his day, including skin-coloured pebbles that they dried their hands on and large stones which they used at discus. [[Strabo]] (5.2.6) presents a slightly different account: "because the scrapings, which the Argonauts formed when they used their [[strigils]], became congealed, the pebbles on the shore remain variegated still to this day."<ref>{{cite book |author=Race, W. H. |title=Apollonius Rhodius: Argonautica |publisher=Loeb Classical Library |date=2008 |volume=II |pages=654–58, 381–3}} See note 95, p. 383 for Strabo quote.</ref> The port which is now called Porto Ferraio, was known in ancient times as the portus Argous (Ἀργῶος λιμήν), because it was believed that the Argonauts landed there on their return voyage.<ref name="Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography"/>

The island was then settled by the [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscans]], who started mining iron at Elba, and later (after 480 BC) by the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]], who called the island Ilva.<ref>{{cite web |title=Elba ISLAND, ITALY |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Elba-island-Italy |website=www.britannica.com |publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica |access-date=29 March 2020}}</ref>