'Baltia' is a legendary island in
Roman mythology, said to be in northern Europe. It is mentioned by
Xenophon according to "
Natural History" by
Pliny the Elder. The
Baltic Sea may be named after it. Different researchers placed the legendary island in
Zealand or another island in the
Baltic Sea-
Estonian islands, at
amber rich shores of present day
Lithuania, in the southernmost part of
Scandinavia (today belonging to
Norway and
Sweden) or even on
Helgoland Island in the
North Sea. However, the last two locations are unlikely as places "''upon the shores of which, amber is thrown up by the waves in spring, it being an excretion of the sea in a concrete form; as, also, that the inhabitants use this amber by way of fuel''" as
Pliny the Elder describes the island in ''
Natural History'' (using for the island alternatively the names of Baltia, Basilia and Abalus) because
amber is not found there in large amount.
See also
★
Thule
★
Mythical place
★
Phantom island