ictis

Ictis is an ancient name associated with the island of St Michael's Mount in Cornwall, England. The earliest known mention of Ictis comes from the writings of the Greek historian Diodorus Siculus in the 1st century BC. He described Ictis as a tidal island where tin was brought from the mainland for trade with merchants. Diodorus stated that during low tide, the island was accessible by a short walk from the mainland, and at high tide, it became an island. This description aligns with the tidal nature of St Michael's Mount, which is connected to the mainland by a causeway at low tide.

The significance of Ictis lies in its historical role as a trading post for tin. Cornwall was a major source of tin in the ancient world, and this metal was highly valued by civilizations around the Mediterranean, particularly the Romans, for its use in bronze production. The trade through Ictis would have been crucial for exporting Cornish tin to distant markets. While the exact location and nature of Ictis have been debated by historians, the prevailing theory identifies it with St Michael's Mount due to the strong geographical parallels with Diodorus's account and the known importance of tin mining in the region. The name "Ictis" itself is thought to be a Greek transliteration of a Celtic name.