Clauda

Clau'da (Κλαύδη), a small island off the S.W. coast of Crete, which Paul passed on his tempestuous voyage to Rome (Ac 27:16); called also Gaudos by Mela (2, 7) and Pliny (Hist. Nat. 4, 42), Claudus (Κλαῦδος) by Ptolemy (in, 7), and Claudia (Κλαυδία) in the Stadiasmus Maris Magni: it is still called Clauda-nesa, or Gaudonesi, by the Greeks, which the Italians have corrupted into Gozzo of Candia, to distinguish it from another island of the same name (anciently likewise called Claudos) near Malta. It is said to have been the Calypso's isle of mythic fame (Callin. ap. Strabo, p. 299). According to Pococke, it is now inhabited only by some thirty families (East, 2, 347; Prokesch, Denkwird. 1, 598). This otherwise insignificant islet is of great geographical importance in reference to the removal of some of the difficulties connected with Paul's shipwreck at Melita. The position of Clauda is nearly due W. of Cape Matala, on the S. coast of Crete, SEE FAIR HAVENS, and nearly due S. of Phoenice (q.v.). (See Ptol. 3:17, 1; Stadiasm. p. 496, ed. Gail.) The ship was seized by the gale a little way after passing Cape Matala, when on her way from Fair Havens to Phoenice (Ac 27:12-17). The storm came down from the island (κατ᾿ αὐτῆς, v. 14), and there was danger lest the ship should be driven into the African Syrtis (v, 17). It is added that she was driven to Clauda, and ran under the lee of it (v, 16). We see at once that this is in harmony with, and confirmatory of, the arguments derivable from: all the other geographical circumstances of the case (as well as from the etymology of the word Euroclydon, or Euro-Aquilo), which lead us to the conclusion that the gale came from the N.E., or, rather, E.N.E. This island is about seven miles long and three broad. Its W. shore, which trends in a N.W. direction, and is prolonged by "some rocks adjacent," would "afford the advantage of comparatively smooth water for some twelve or fifteen miles" (Adm. Penrose's MS. in Conybeare and Howson's St. Paul, 2, 327) to a ship "caught," as Paul's was, with "a tempestuous wind" from the N.E. Accordingly, under the lee shore of Clauda were taken those skillful precautions of "hoisting in the boat," "undergirding [or frapping] the ship," and making her snug by "lowering the gear;" which kept the ship (q.v.)

from foundering under the pressure of a fortnight's "gale in Adria," and preserved her for the rough remedy of a wreck on the island of Melita (Smith, Voy. and Shipwreck of St. Paul, 2d ed. p. 92, 98, 106, 253). SEE SHIPWRECK.