<Tr> <Td_colspan="14"> Source #2: Servizio Meteorologico (relative humidity and sun data 1961 - 1990) </Td> </Tr> <P> The island was originally inhabited by Ligures Ilvates who gave it the ancient name Ilva . It was well known from very ancient times for its iron resources and its valued mines . The Greeks called it Aethalia (Αιθαλία, "fume") after the fumes of the furnaces for the production of metal . Apollonius of Rhodes mentioned it briefly in his epic poem Argonautica describing that the Argonauts would have rested here during their travels and signs of their visit were still visible in the poet's day, including skin - coloured pebbles that they dried their hands on, and large stones which they used at discus . The text, however, may be unsound and Strabo (5.2. 6) presented 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 ." </P> <P> The island was invaded by the Etruscans and later (after 480 BC) by the Romans . In the middle ages, it was invaded by the Ostrogoths and the Lombards . Then it became a possession of the Republic of Pisa . After the battle of Meloria the Republic of Genova took possession of Elba, but in 1292 it was regained by Pisa . </P> <P> The island was retained for two centuries by the Appiani, Lords of Piombino when Pisa was sold by them to the Visconti of Milan in 1399 . </P>

Where is the isle of elba located why is it an important part of french history