 Section 24 of the Natural History, Volume 1. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joyce Martin. The Natural History, Volume 1 by Pliny the Elder, translated by John Bostock and Henry Thomas Riley. Chapter 11. Attica At the narrow neck of the isthmus Helles begins by our people known as Gracia, the first state that presents itself is Attica, anciently called Actae. It touches the isthmus in that part of it which is called Megaris from the colony of Megara, lying on the opposite side to Pagae. These two towns are situated at the spot where the Peloponnesus projects to the greatest distance, being placed one on each side upon the very shoulders of Helles as it were. The Pagaeans as well as the people of Agastina belong to the jurisdiction of Megara. On the coast there is the port of Solchanos, the town of Cytus, and Cremion, the Scaronian Rock six miles in length, Geronia, Megara, and Lucius. Eno and Probalentos also formerly existed here. The ports of Piraeus and Philarum are distant from the isthmus 55 miles, being united to Athens, which lies in the interior by a wall five miles in length. Athens is a free city and needs not a word more from us in its commendation. Of fame it enjoys even more than enough. In Attica there are the fountains of Saphicia, Larine, Calirro, Anacrunos, and the mountains of Brelisus, Aegilus, Icarius, Hymentus, Lycabetus, and the place where Elisus stood. At the distance of 45 miles from the Piraeus is the promontory of Sunium. There is also the promontory of Thorikos, Potamos, Stavria, and Buron, once towns, the borough of Romnus, the place where Marathon stood, and Triassian Plain, the town of Malite, and Oropus upon the confines of Boetia. Chapter 12 Boetia In this country are Anthodon, Alciestus, the free town of Thespai, Labade, and then Thebes, surname Boetian, which does not yield the palm to Athens, even in celebrity. The native land according to the common notion of the two divinities Liber and Hercules. The birthplace of the Muses, too, is pointed out in the grove of Pelican. To this same Thebes also belong the forest of Scytheron and the river Ismenus. Besides these, there are in Barotia the fountains of Eropia, Cimante, Derche, Epichane, Aristhusa, Hippocrine, Aghanipi, and Gargafi. And besides the mountains already mentioned, Mycelosis, Hidalius, and Acontus. The remaining towns between Magara and Thebes are Luterae, Heliatus, Plataeae, Parae, Asplendon, Haile, Fispe, Aethrae, Galissus, and Copae near the river Saphesis. Laramina and Akoa as also Medion, Figon, Aracipia, Corona, and Chironia. The Red Coast and below these are Ossala, Helion, Skolos, Shonos, Petion, Hirae, Myclasios, Arision, Thelion, Oloros, and Tangara. The people of which are free and situate upon the very mouth of the Euripus, a strait formed by the opposite island of Iboa. All these so famous for its capaceous harbor, the Boatians formerly had the name of Hayantes. After then come the Locrians, surnamed Epinamidi, formerly called the Ligues, through whose country the river Saphesis passes in its course to the sea. Their towns are Opus, from which the Opontian Gulf takes its name, and Sinos. Daphnis is the only town of foci situate on the coast. In the interior of Locorus is Elecha, and on the banks of Saphesis, as we have previously stated, Lilea, and facing Delphi, Nemius, and Haianpolis. Again upon the coast of Locrians are Lymina and Theronium, near which last the river Bugaris enters the sea. Also the towns of Naresian, Allope, and Sarpia, and then the Gulf, which receives the name of the Maliac from the people who dwell there, and upon which are the towns of Halcyon, Econia, and Falara. Chapter 13. Doris. Doris comes next, in which are Sphertios, Arrhenion, Boeon, Pindus, and Cytunum. Behind Doris lies Mount Etna. Chapter 14. Fethiodas. Harmonia follows a country which has often changed its name, having been successively called Pelagius Agaros, Helus, Thessilae, and Draupus, always taking its surname from its kings. In this country were born the king whose name was Gracius, and from whom Gracia was so called, and here too was born Helen, from whom the Helans derived their name. The same people Homer has called by three different names, Merminodes, Helanes, and Akai. That portion of these people which inhabit the country adjacent to Doris are called Fethiote. Their towns are Aquinas, at the mouth of the river Spurcius, and at four miles from the narrow pass of Thermophily, Herculaea, which from it takes its surname, Trochene. Here too is Mount Caledronus, and the celebrated towns of Helus, Helos, La Mia, Ficia, and Arne. Chapter 15. Thessilae proper. In Thessilae is Orchomenos, formerly called the Minion, and the towns of Almon by some called Salmon, Atrax, and Palina. The fountain of Hyperia, the towns also of Firae, at the back of which is Piera, extending to Macedonia, Larissa, Gomphi, Thebes of Thessilae, the Grove of Telon, the Gulf of Pagacea, the town of Pagasta, which is afterwards called Demetrius, the plains of Pharasilia, with a free city of similar name, Cranon, and Alitia. The mountains of Philothes are Nymphaeus, once so beautiful for its garden scenery, the work of nature, Huzigunus, Donacia, Burmes, Daphusa, Chimerion, Athamas, and Stefani. In Thessilae there are thirty-four of which the most famous are Cerciti, Olympus, Piraeus, and Osa, opposite to which last are Pliendus and Othris, the abodes of the Lapithae. These mountains look toward the west, Pelion toward the east, all of them forming a curve like an amphitheater, in the interior of which, lying before them, are no less than seventy-five cities. The rivers of Thessilae are the Apidenas, the Phenix, the Endipus, the Anaconus, and the Pamisus. There is also the Fountain of Macias and the Lake of Bobias. The river Penus, too, superior to all others in celebrity, takes its rise near Gulfi and floats down a well-wooded valley between Osa and Olympus, a distance of five hundred stadia being navigable half that distance. The veil, for a distance of five miles through which this river runs, is called by the name of Tempe, being a jugerum and a half-nearly in breath, while on the right and left the mountain chain slips away with the gentle elevation beyond the range of human vision, the foliage imparting its color to the light within. Along this veil glides the Penus, reflecting the green tints as it rolls along its pebbly bed, its banks covered with tufts of verdant herbage, and enlivened by the melodious warblings of the birds. The Penus receives the river Orcus, or rather, I should say, does not receive it but merely carries its waters which swarm on its surface like oil, as Homer says, and then, after a short time, rejects them, refusing to allow the waters of a river devoted to Penus' sufferings and engendered for the furies to mingle with its silvery streams. Chapter 16 Magnesia To cesilate Magnesia joins, in which is the Fountain of Libithra. Its towns are Ilocos, Phermonium, Pyra, Metone, and Olizon. The promontory of Siphius is here situate. We then come to the towns of Castina and Spalathra, the promontory of Aetium, the towns of Malibua, Rhizus and Urmane, the mouth of the Penus, towns of Homolium, Orthe, Vespai, Philana, Thalamisae, Graetun, Crenun, Acarnae, Dolteon, Malitia, Phylase, and Potni. The length of Aperus, Achaea, Attica, and Thessaly is said altogether to amount to 490 miles. The breadth is 287. Chapter 17 Macedonia Macedonia comes next, including 150 nations, and renowned for its two kings and its former empire over the world. It was formerly known by the name of Imanthia. Stretching away toward the nations of Aperus on the west, it lies at the back of Magnesia and Thessaly being itself exposed to the attacks of the Dardani. Peonia and Pelagonia protect its northern parts from the Trebali. Its towns or agai at which place its kings were usually buried, Vareia and in the country called Paeroth from the grove of that name Aginium. Upon the coast are Heraklia, the river Apilus, and the towns of Padina, Alouros, and the river Haleasmon. In the interior are the Alarite, the Valenai, the Falisai, the Saira Hestai, and the Tairisiai. The colony of Pela, the Stobi, a town with the rights of Roman citizens. Next comes Antigonia, Eropus upon the river Axius, and another place of the same name by which the Rodeus flows, Skidira, Eudoria, Maizia, and Gordini, then upon the coast Iknai and the river Axius. Along this frontier the Dardani, the Trieris, and the Paeris, border on Macedonia. Leaving this river there are the nations of Paonia, the Paori, the Aerodensis, the Almanpi, Pelagontes, and the McDonald's. Next come the mountains of Rodeus, Scopius, and Orbius, and lying along the extent of country in front of these mountains. The Arithusi, the Antiochinesus, the Idomensus, the Dobri, the Estreansus, the Alintensus, the Alderis Tensus, the Maureli, the Goreschi, the Lincesti, the Othroni, and the Amantini and Oreste, both of them free peoples. The colonies of Bulis and Dium, the Xylopotei, the Skotusessi, free people, Herlacliacintia, the Timpai, and Tironi. Upon the coast of the Macedonian Gulf there are the towns of Shalastra and more inland Filoros and Leyte, and at the extreme bend of the Gulf Thessalonica, a free city. From this place to Derhachium it is 245 miles. And then Thermi. Upon the Gulf of Thermi are the towns of Diceia, Pidnia, Dera, Scyone, the Promontory of Canisterum, and the towns of Palin and Flegra. In this region also are the mountains, Haipsisaurus, Epitus, Halcyone, and Lemone. The towns of Nessosus, Herxlone, Mendei, and what was formerly called Tidira on the Isthmus of Palene, but now the colony of Cassandria, Arthymus, Aalofaixus, and the Gulf of Missa Berna. The towns of Micella, Ampelos, Tauron, Isignos, and the canal a mile and a half inland, by means of which Xerces, King of the Persians, cut off Mount Athos from the mainland. This mountain projects from the level plain of the adjacent country into the sea, a distance of 75 miles, its circumference at its base being 150 miles in extent. There was formerly upon its summit the town of Acrothion. The present towns are Uranopolis, Palaeorium, Thysus, Ceyloni, and Apollonia, the inhabitants of which have the surname of Macrobi. The town also of Cicera, and then the other side of the Isthmus, after which come Acanthus, Stiagria, Sithone, Heraclea, and the country of Magdonia, that lies below, in which are Cicet, at some distance from the sea, Apollonia and Arithusa. Again upon the coast we have Poseidium, and the bay with the town of Sermoros, Amphipolis, a free town, and the nation of Vistalti. We then come to the river Strymon, which takes its rise in Mount Hamas, and forms the boundary of Macedonia. It is worthy of remark that it first discharges itself into seven lakes before it proceeds onward in its course. Such is Macedonia, which was once the mistress of the world, which once extended her career over Asia, Armenia, Iberia, Albania, Cappadocia, Syria, Egypt, Taurus, and Cacacus, which reduced the hull of the east under her power, and triumphed over the Bakhtri, the Medes, and the Persians. She too it was who proved the conqueror of India, thus treading on the footsteps of Father Liber and of Hercules. And this is the same Macedonia of which our own General Paulus and Melius sold to pillage seventy-two cities in one day. So great the difference in her lot resulting from the actions of two individuals. Chapter 18. Therese, the Aegean Sea. Therese now follows, divided into fifty strategies, and to be reckoned among the most powerful nations of Europe. Among its peoples whom we ought not to admit to name are the Deslante and the Medae, dwelling upon the right bank of the Strymon and joining up to the Bissaltae. Above mentioned, on the left there are the De Gehry and a number of tribes of the Bissai with various names, as far as the river Mestas, which winds around the foot of Mount Pageum, passing among the Lethae, the Diobesai, the Carbalesai, and then the Bressai, the Saphai, and the Odomanti. The territory of the Odressai gives birth to the Hebrews, its banks being inhabited by the Kabbaleti, and the Pyrogeri, the Drugeri, the Kainisi, the Bene, the Corpili, the Baltii, and the Idoni. In the same district are also the Stalaitai, the Parantai, the Delonci, the Thaini, and the Greater Colectae, the Hipsalti. Below Mount Hermes, the Lesser at the foot of Rodrop, between these tribes runs the river Hebrus. We then come to a town at the foot of Rodrop, first called Ponoropolis, afterwards Philippopolis, from the name of its founder. And now, from the peculiarity of its situation Trimontium. To reach the summit of Hermes, you have to travel six miles. The sides of it that look in the opposite direction and slope toward the Easter are inhabited by the Mosi, the Geitai, the Aorci, the Goudai, and the Clarii. Below them are the Ariai Cermontae, also called Ariatai and Schithians, and about the shores of the Yuxin, the Morissini and the Sithoni, the forefathers of the poet Orpheus Dwell. Thus is trance bounded by the Easter on the north, by the Yuxin and the Propontus on the east and the Aegean Sea on the south, on the coast of which, after leaving the Strymon, we come in turn to Apollonia, Ismia, Neopolis, and Dottos. In the interior is the colony of Philippi, distant from Darabacchium, 325 miles. Also, Scutusa, the city of Topperius, the mouth of the river Mistus, Mount Pangeus, Herculia, Ollantos, Aberda, a free city, the people of the Bistones, and their lake. Here was formerly the city of Turida, which struck such terror with its stables of the horses of Diomedes. At the present day we find here Dicea, Ismeron, the place where Parthonians stood, Felicia, and Moronia, formerly called Orthogoria. We then come to Mount Sirium and Zone, and then the place called Doriscus, capable of containing 10,000 men, for it was in bodies of 10,000 that Xerxes here numbered his army. We then come to the mouth of the Hebrews, the port of Stentor, and the free town of Enos, with the tomb there of Paladoras, the region formerly of the Sisonis. From Doriscus there is a winding coast as far as Maserun, Tycos, or the Long Wall, a distance of 122 miles. Around Doriscus flows the river Melaeus, from which the Gulf of Melaeus receives its name. The towns are Saipsela, Bissanthe, and Macron Tycos, already mentioned, so-called because a wall extends from the spot between the two seas. That is to say, from the Propontius to the Gulf of Melaus, thus excluding the Shersonesis, which projects beyond it. The other side of Therese now begins, on the coast of the Eucsene, where river Ishtar discharges itself, and it is in this quarter, perhaps, that Therese possesses the finest cities. Histropolis, namely, founded by the Malesians, Tome and Calatus, formerly called Aservantes. It also had the cities of Herculaea and Bissone, which later was swallowed up by an earthquake. It now has Dianosopolis, formerly called Kruni, which is washed by the river Zyrus. All this country was formerly possessed by the Scythians, surnamed Aerodorus. Their towns were Aphrodiasis, Labistos, Zygare, Rocobae, Eumenia, Parthenopolis, and Gerania, where a nation of Pygmies is said to have dwelt. The barbarians used to call them Cattusi, and entertain a belief that they were put to flight by cranes. Upon the coast, proceeding from Dianosopolis is Odessius, a city of the Malesians, the river Panseus, and the town of Tetranolachius. Mount Hymas, which, with its vast chain, overhangs the Eucsene, had in former times upon its summit the town of Aristium. At the present day, there are upon the coast Mesembria and Ancielium, where the mesa formerly stood. The region of Astis formerly had a town called Anthium. At the present day, Apollonia occupies its site. The rivers here are the Panseus, the Ryros, the Teyrus, and the Orosines. There are also the towns of Thynius Palmedesus, the Valtan, with its lake now known as Dulfium, a colony of veterans, and Phenopolis, near which last is the Bosporus. From the mouth of the Easter to the entrance of the Eucsene, some riders have made to be a distance of 555 miles. A grippa, however, increases the length by 60 miles. The distance, then, to Macaroon-Phaecos, or the long wall previously mentioned, is 150 miles, and from it to the extremity of the Cessornusis 126. On leaving the Bosporus, we come to the gulf of Cessthenus, and to harbors the one called the Old Men's Haven, and the other the Woman's Haven. Next comes the promontory of Cheras Ocerus, upon which is the town of Byzantium, a free state, formerly called Ligos, distant from D'Arachnium, 711 miles, so great being the space of land that intervenes between the Adriatic Sea and the Propontus. We next come to the rivers Bathanius and Phaedraeus, or Batherus, and the towns of Salimbria and Parenthas, which join the mainland by a neck of only 200 feet in width. In the interior are Biza, a citadel of the kings of Thrace, and hated by the Swallows, in consequence of the sacrilegious crime of Turia, the district called Cinesa, and the colony of Flaviopolis, where formerly stood a town called Caela. Then, at a distance of 50 miles from Bazaea, we come to the colony of Apros, distant from Philippi, 180 miles. Upon the coast is the river Erginus, here formerly stood the town of Ganoes, and Lysimachia in the Cresonisus is being now gradually deserted. At this spot there is another Ismus, similar in name to the other, and of about equal width, and in a manner by no means dissimilar. Two cities formerly stood on the shore, one by either side, Pactae on the side of the Propontus, and Cardia on the side of the Gulf of Meles, the later deriving its name from the shape which the land assumes. These, however, were afterwards united with Lysimachia, which stands at a distance of 5 miles from Maclunticos. The Cresonisus formerly had, on the side of the Propontus, the towns of Tiristasis, Cretotes, and Cecia. On the banks of the river Aegos, it now has, at a distance of 22 miles from the colony of Apros, Resistos, which stands opposite to the colony of Pariam. The health spot, also, which separates, as we have already stated, Europe from Asia, by a channel 7 stadia in width, has four cities facing each other, Calipolis, Ancestos in Europe, and Lamsantus, and Adios in Asia. On the Cresonisus there is the promontory of Mastucia, lying opposite to Segum, and on one side of it stands the Sinosima. For so the tomb of Hecuba is called, the naval station of the Achaeans, and the tower, and near it the shrine of Protesialus. On the extreme front of the Chernoceus, which is called Eloium, there is a city of Eleus. Advancing then towards the Gulf of Milos we have the port of Colos, Panormos, and then Cardia, previously mentioned. In this manner is the third great Gulf of Europe bounded. The mountains of Thrace, besides those already mentioned, are Edonas, Gigamoros, Moritos, and Malamphilos. The rivers are the Bargos and the Scrumus, which fell into the Hebrews. The length of Macedonia, Thrace, and the Hellespont have been already mentioned. Some riders, however, make it 720 miles, the breath being 384. What may be called a rock rather than an island, lying between Tinos and Caos, has given its name to the Aegean Sea. It has the name of X, from its strong resemblance to a goat, which is so-called in Greek, and shoots precipitately from out of the middle of the sea. Those who are sailing toward the Isle of Andros from Achaia see the rock on the left, boating no good and warning them of its dangers. Part of the Aegean Sea bears the name of Marotin, being so-called from the small island of Marotis, which is seen as you sail toward Macedonia from Geristus, not far from Carstus in Yuboa. The Romans include all these seas under two names, the Macedonian in whose parts where it touches the coasts of Macedonia or Thrace, and the Grecian where it washes the shores of Greece. The Greeks, however, divide the Ionian Sea into the Sicilian and the Cretan seas after the name of those islands, and they give the name of Icarian to that part which lies between Samos and Myconos. The gulfs which we have already mentioned have given to these seas the rest of their names. Such, then, are the seas and the various nations which are comprehended in the third great gulf of Europe. End of Section 24, Recording by Joyce Martin. Section 25 of the Natural History, Volume 1. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joyce Martin. The Natural History, Volume 1 by Pliny the Elder. Translated by John Bostock and Henry Thomas Riley. Section 25. Chapter 19 The Islands Which Lie Before the Lands Already Mentioned Lying opposite to Thesprodia at a distance of 12 miles from Boothrotus and 50 from Acros Serunia is the island of Corsera, with the city of the same name, the citizens of which are free. Also a town called Cassiope and a temple dedicated to Jupiter Cassius. This island is 97 miles in length, and in Homer has the names of Shleria and Faesia, while Calamacus calls it Drapein. There are some other islands around it, such as Theronos, lying in the direction of Italy, and the two islands of Paxos. In that of Lucadia, both of them 5 miles distant from Corsera. Not far from these, and in front of Corsera, are Aracusa, Maranthe, Elafusa, Malthes, Trachi, Pythionia, Paesia, Taricci, and of Phylacrum, the promontory of Corcria. The rock into which, according to the story which arises no doubt from the similarity of appearance, the ship of Ulysses was changed. Before Lucemia, we find the islands of Saibota, and between Lucadia and Achia, a great number of islands, among which are those called Telabotus and also Tafai. By the natives, those which lie before Lucadia are called by the names of Tafias, Oxi, and Prinoessa, while those that are in front of Etolia are the Akinades. Consisting of Aegealia, Cotonus, Thaetiria, Geoarris, Dionysia, Cernes, Chalsis, Pinara, and Maistus. In front of these, and lying out at sea, are Cephalinia and Zeikathus, both of them free. Cephalinia, formerly known as Malena, lies at a distance of 11 miles from Paxos and is 93 miles in circumference. Its city of same has been leveled to the ground by the Romans, but it still possesses three others. Between this island and Achatia lies the island of Zeikathus, remarkable for its city of the same name and for its singular fertility. It formerly had the name of Hyrie and lies to the south of Cephalina. At a distance of 25 miles, in it there is the famous mountain of Letus. This island is 36 miles in circumference. At a distance of 15 miles from Zeikathus is Ithaca, in which is Mount Neridus. Its circumference in all is 25 miles. 12 miles distance from this island is Araxes, a promontory of the Peloponnesus. Before Ithaca, lying out in the main sea are Asteris and Prote, and before Zeikathus is a distance of 35 miles in the direction of the southeast wind, are the two Strophades. By some known as the Plote. Before Cephalina lies Latoya, before Pylos, the three Saphage, and before Messini, the Onusae, as many in number. In the Asinian Gulf there are the three Tharides and in that of Laconia Thiganusa, Coltan, and Serythra. With the town of that name, the former name of which island was Porphyrus. It is situated five miles from the promontory of Malaya, thus forming a straight, very dangerous to navigation. In the Gulf of Argolis are Petrusa, Hyrene, and Ithaca. Opposite the territory of Hermione, Tipperanus, Apropia, Colonus, and Aristra. Opposite that of Trozen, Caluria, and at a distance of half a mile, Plates, Balbina, Lacina, and Balsedias. Opposite Epidores is Cicrofellos and Pitronosus. Six miles distant from the mainland and at a distance of 15 miles from this last Aegea, a free island, the length of which, as you sail past it, is 18 miles. This island is 20 miles distance from Piraeus, the port of Athens. It is formerly to be called Inoni. Opposite the promontory of Spiraeum, Lai Elusa, and Dendros, the two islands called Criugai, the two Cicci, Celaciusa, Senchirus, and Aspis. As also in the Gulf of Magara, the four Mithrudis. A Gila lies at a distance of 15 miles from Scythera and of 25 from Felaçarna, a city of Crete. Chapter 20 Crete Crete itself lies from east to west, the one side facing the south, the other the north, and is known to fame by the renown of its hundred cities. Dosidus says that it took its name from the nymph Crete, the daughter of Hesperides. Anaxmonder from a king of the Curaites, Philistides of Malus. While Cretes say that it was at first called Aerea, and after that Caritas, and some have been of the opinion that it had the name of Maserun from the serenity of its climate. In breath it nowhere exceeds 50 miles, being widest about the middle. In length, however, it is full 270 miles and 589 in circumference, forming a bend toward the Cretian Sea, which takes its name from it. At its eastern extremity is the promontory of Simonium, facing Rhodes. While toward the west, it throws out that of Creumetopon in the direction of Serene. The more remarkable cities of Crete are Balasarna, Hetea, Sissamon, Pergamon, Sardonia, Minoen, Apteron, Pontometrium, and Fomala, Rithamina, Phenormus, Caetium, Apollonia, Mautium, Herculia, Melitos, and Pelos, Hieropitna, Labina, and Heropolis, and in the interior, Gortina, Feistium, Gnosis, Polyranium, Marina, Lycastus, Cremnus, Lyctus, Diem, Asus, Pylorus, Riteon, Alachos, Ferrari, Hologpiaxus, Lasso, Euthernae, Theropnae, Marathruza, and Talisos, besides some 60 others of which the memory only exists. The mountains are those of Cadistus, Aida, Dictaneus, and Corricus. This island is distant at its promontory of Creumetopon, according to Agrippa, from Ficus, the promontory of Serene, 125 miles, and a Cadistus from Malia to the Polypinesis, 80. From the island of Carpathos at its promontory of Simonium, it lies in a westerly direction at a distance of 60 miles. This last named island is situated between it and Rhodes. The other islands in its vicinity, and lying in front of the Polypinesis, are two islands known as Corsii and the two called Myli. On the north side having Crete on the right and opposite to Cardonia, is Lus, and the two islands known as Berdra. Opposite to Masium, Lysdia, opposite to the promontory of Itanium, Onesia, and Lus, over against Herapidna, Crisa, and Gados. In the same neighborhood also are the Ophiusa, Butoa, and Aredus, and after doubling Creumetopon, we come to the three islands known as Musagoras. Before the promontory of Simonium lie the islands of Focke, the Plate, the Cernides, Nulocos, Armendan, and Zephare. Belonging to Hellas, but still in the Aegean Sea, we have the Licardes, consisting of Scarfia, Corisa, Hucaria, and many others which face Attica, but have no towns upon them and are consequently of little note. Opposite Illusis, however, is the far-famed Salamis. Before it, Cittalia, and at a distance of five miles from Sunium, the island of Helene. At the same distance from this last is Cios, which some of our countrymen have called Sia and the Greeks Hydrusa, an island which has been torn away from Uboa. It was formerly 500 stadia in length, but more recently four-fifths of it, in the direction of Boecia, have been swallowed up by the sea. The only towns it now has left are Aulis and Carthaea. Carisus and Polisia have perished. Varro informs us that from this place there used to come a cloth of very fine texture used for women's dresses. Chapter 21 Uboea Uboea itself has also been rent away from Boecia, the channel of the Uripis, which flows between them, being so narrow as to admit of the opposite shores being united by a bridge. At the south, this island is remarkable for its two promontories, that of Geristus which looks towards Attica, and that of Caperus which faces toward the Hellespont. On the north, it has that of Sinem. In no part does this island extend to a greater breath than 40 miles, while it never contracts to less than two. In length, it runs along the whole coast of Boecia, extending from Attica as far as Thessaly, a distance of 150 miles. In circumference, it measures 365 and is distant from the Hellespont on the side of Caperus, 225 miles. The cities for which it was formerly famous were Pyrrha, Portmose, Nisos, Seryntos, Orinum, Dium, Edipsos, Oca, and Echalia. At present, it is ennobled by those of Calcius, opposite which, on the mainland, is Aulis. Geristus, Eresha, Caristus, Orinum, and Echalia. Here are also the Fountain of Arthusa, the River Lillantis, and the Warm Springs known as Ellopae. It is still better known, however, for the marble of Caristus. This island used formerly to be called Calicondotus and Macris, as we learn from Dionysus and Euphorus. According to Aristides, Macrea also as Calidimus says, Calcius, because Carver was first discovered there. Menecmus says that it was called Abantius, and the poets generally gave it the name of Aesopus. Chapter 22 The Ciclades. Beyond Yboa and out in the Morocian sea are numerous other islands, but those more especially famous are Glauconosis and the Echelia. Off the promontory, too, of Gerestus are the Ciclades lying in a circle around Delos, from which circumstance they derive their name. The first of them is the one called Andros, with a city of the same name, distant from Gerestus 10 miles, and from Seos 39. Marisulus tells us that this island was at first called Coros, and after that Andtandros. Colomatius calls it Lacea, and others again Nonagria, Hydrusa, and Epagris. It is 93 miles in circumference. At a distance of 1 mile from Andros and of 15 from Delos is Tenoes, with a city of the same name. This island is 15 miles at length. Aristotle says that it was formerly called Hydrusa, from the abundance of water found here, while some writers call it Ofiusa. The other islands are Mykonos, with a mountain of Dimastus, distant from Delos 15 miles. Cifnus, formerly called Maropia and Aces, 28 miles in circumference. Serifis, 12 miles in circuit. Cripesthensius. Cifnus, and then by far the most famous among the Cichlids, and lying in the very middle of them, Delos itself, so famous for its temple of Apollo and its extensive commerce. This island long floated on the waves, and as tradition says, was the only one that had never experienced an earthquake down to the time of Embaro. Mocanius, however, has informed us that it has been twice so visited. Aristotle states that the island received its name from the fact of its having so subtly made its appearance on emerging from the sea. Aglasothonis, however, gives it the name of Cynthia and others of Ortigia, Asteria, Lagiia, Chlamydia, Cynthus, and from the circumstance of fire having been first discovered here, Pyripoly. Its circumference is five miles only. Mount Cynthus here raises his head. Next to this island is Rene, which antiquities calls by the name of Celadusa and Caledimas, Artemite, Skyros, which the old riders have stated to be twenty miles in circumference, but Musines, 160. Oliaros and Peros, with a city of the same name distant from Delos, 38 miles, and famous for its marble. It was first called Platia, and after that Minoius, at a distance of seven miles from this last island is Noxus, with a town of the same name. It is 18 miles distant from Delos. This island was formerly called Strongile, then Dia, and then Dionysia, in consequence of the fruitfulness of its vineyards. Others again have called it the Lesser Sicily or Calipolis. It is 75 miles in circumference, half as large again as Peros. Chapter 23 The Sporades. The islands thus far are considered as belonging to the Cyclades. The rest that follow are the Sporades. These are Haleen, Facucia, Nikesia, Sechanusa, Voligandros, and at a distance of 38 miles from Noxus Icaros, which has given its name to the surrounding sea, and is the same number of miles in length, with two cities and a third now no longer in existence. This island used formerly to be called Deloci, Macarres, and Icthiosia. It is situate 50 miles to the northeast of Delos and 35 from the island of Samos. Between Iboa and Andros there is an arm of the sea 10 miles in width and from Icaros to Geriestes is a distance of 112 and a half miles. After we pass these, no regular order can be well observed. The rest must therefore be mentioned indiscriminately. There is the island of Scyros and that of Ios, 18 miles distance from Naxos, and deserving of all veneration for the tomb there of Homer. It is 25 miles in length and was formerly known by the name of Phonis, and also Odea, Olatendros, and Gaara, with a city of the same name, the island being 12 miles in circumference and distant from Andros 62. At a distance of 80 miles from Gaara to Saronos, then Caethus, Talos, noted for its unguents, and by Calamacus called Agathusa, Donusa, Potmos, 30 miles in circumference, the Coriaceae, Levinthus, Lyros, Sinara, Scynius, formerly called Inoeheresia, also called Onus. Caesius, likewise called Astrabi, Simolis, or Ekenusa, and Melos, with a city of that name, which island Aristides called Memblis, Aristotel, Zephyria, Calamacus, Mimolus, Heraclides, Cephas, and Octos. This last is the most circular in form of all these islands. This is the most circular in form of all these islands. After this comes Machia, then Hyper, formerly Potage, or as others have it, Plotage, but now called Amorgos, Paliegos, Phile, and Thera, known as Callistae, when it first sprang from the waves. From this, at a later period, the island of Thericia was torn away, and between the two afterwards arose Ultimate, also called Hera, and Thea, which in our own times came into existence in the vicinity of these islands. Ios is distant from Thera, 25 miles. Next to these follow Lea, Ascania, Anathae, Hippurius, and Ostapalia, a free state. This island is 88 miles in circumference and 125 miles distant from Cadistus, in Crete. From Ostapalia, Palatia is distant 60 miles, and Chaminia, 38, from this last. Then we come to the Isles of Azabithia. Lanis, Tregia, Pharmacusa, Tachyria, Chalicia, Calimna, in which is the town of Cuse, Calimna at a distance of 25 miles from which is Carpathium, which has given its name to the Carpathian Sea. The distance to Rhodes, in the direction of the south-west wind, is 50 miles. From Carpathium to Caesus is 7 miles, and from Caesus to Simonium, the Promontory of Crete, 30. In the Euripus of Euboea, almost at the very mouth of it, are the four islands called Petalai, and at its outlet Atlante. The Cichlids and the Sporades are bounded on the east by the Asiatic shores of the Icarian Sea, on the west by the Attic shores of the Merocian Sea, on the north by the Aegean and on the south by the Cretian and Carpathian Seas, extending 700 miles in length and 200 in breath. The Gulf of Pagesa has in front of it Euthia, Sinatius, Ceros, previously mentioned, and the very further most of the Cichlids and Sporades, Gerontia and Scandila. The Gulf of Thermae, Eresia, Solimnia, Eudemnia, and Nia, which last is sacred to Minerva. Athos has before it four islands, Perpethus, formerly called Huvannus, with a city of that name at a distance from Athos of 9 miles. Sceethus at a distance of 15, and Imbros with a city of the same name at a distance of 88 miles. This last island is distant from Mastusia in the Shersonisus, 25 miles. It is 62 miles in circumference and is washed by the river Elisus. At a distance of 22 miles from it is Lemnos, being distant from Mount Athos, 87. It is 112 miles in circumference and has the cities of Hephaestia and Marina, into the marketplace of which last city Athos throws its shadow at the summer Solstice. The island of Thesos, consisting of a free state, is 6 miles distant from Lemnos. It formerly had the name of Acrea or Ethria. Abdera, on the mainland, is distant from Thesos, 22 miles, Athos, 62. The island of Samothraes, a free state facing the river Hebrews, is the same distance from Thesos, being also 32 miles from Imbros, 22 from Lemnos, and 38 from the coast of Thres. It is 32 miles in circumference and in it rises Mount Soes, 10 miles in height. This island is the most inaccessible of them all. Callimachus mentions it by its ancient name of Dardania. Between the Chessones and Samothraes at a distance of about 15 miles from them both, is the island of Halinosus and beyond it Gethon, Lamponio, and Alephiconisus, and not far from Colos, a port of the Chersinosus, besides some others of no importance. The following names may be also mentioned as those of uninhabited islands in this gulf, of which we have been unable to discover the names. Desticos, Sarnos, Cicirios, Harbrusa, Calathusa, Silia, Draconin, Arinosus, Daethusa, Scopos, Saphiris, Mese, Ancient, Pateronosus, Pateria, Cale, Nerifus, and Polendos. Chapter 24 The Hellspawn of the Lake Meotis The fourth great gulf of Europe begins at the Hellspawn and ends at the entrance of the Meotis, but in order that the several portions of the scene and its coast may be the better known, we must briefly embrace the form of it in one general view. This vast sea, lying in front of Asia, is shut out from Europe by the projection of the shores of the Chersonesis and affects an entrance into those countries by a narrow channel only, of the width, as already mentioned, of seven stadia, thus separating Europe from Asia. The entrance of these straits is called the Hellspawn. Over it, Xerces, the king of the Persians, constructed a bridge of boats across which he led his army. A narrow channel extends that a distance of 86 miles as far as Priapus, a city of Asia, at which Alexander the Great passed over. At this point, the sea becomes wider and after some distance again takes the form of a narrow strait. The wider part is known as the Propontus, the straits as the Thracian Vosporus, being only half a mile in width, and at the place where Darius, the father of Xerces, led his troops across by a bridge. The extremity of this is distant from the Hellspawn, 239 miles. When we come to the vast sea, called the Yuxin, which invades the land as it retreats afar, and the name of which was formerly Oxnus, as the shores bend inwards, this sea with a vast sweep stretches far away, curving on both sides after the manner of a pair of horns, so much so that in shape it bears a distinct resemblance of a Skithian bow. In the middle of the curve it is joined by the mouth of Lake Maotus, which is called the Sumerian Vosporus, and is two miles and a half in width. Between the two Vosporii, the Thracian and the Sumerian, there is a distance in a straight line of 500 miles as Polybius informs us. We learn from Varro and most of the ancient writers that the circumference of the Yuxin is altogether 2,150 miles. But to this number Cornelius Nepos adds 350 more, while Artemidorus makes it 2,919 miles, Agrippa, 2,360, and Mucanus, 2,425. In a similar manner, some writers have fixed the length of the European shores of the sea at 1,478 miles, others again at 1,172. And Varro gives the measurement as follows. From the mouth of the Yuxin to Apollonia, 187 miles, and to Calatus the same distance, thence to the mouth of the Easter, 125 miles, to the Boristines, 250, to the Trusonis, a town of Herakulotai, 325, to Pantecapian, by some called Bosporus, at the very extremity of the shores of Europe, 212 miles, the whole of which added together makes 1,337 miles. Agrippa makes the distance from Byzantium to the river Ishtar, 560 miles, and from thence to Pantecapium, 635. Lake Mautis, which receives the river of Tannis as it flows from the Reifren Mountains and forms the extreme boundary between Europe and Asia, is said to be 1,406 miles in circumference, which, however, some writers state at only 1,125. From the entrance of this lake to the mouth of the Tannis is a straight line. It is generally agreed a distance of 375 miles. The inhabitants of the coasts of this fourth great gulf of Europe, as far as Ishtapolis, have been already mentioned in our account of Thrace. Passing beyond that spot, we come to the mouths of the Ishtar. This river rises in Germany in the heights of Mount Obnova, opposite to Renurcombe, the town of Gaul, and flows for a course of many miles beyond the Alps and through nations innumerable under the name of the Danube. Adding immensely to the volume of its waters at the spot where it first enters, Ilykrium, it assumes the name of Ishtar, and after receiving 60 rivers, nearly one half of which are navigable, rolls into the Xen by six vast channels. The first of these is the mouth of Pius, close to which is the island of Pius itself from which the neighboring channel takes its name. This mouth is swallowed up in a great swamp, 19 miles in length. From the same channel, too, above Ishtapolis, a lake takes its rise, 63 miles in circuit. Its name is Hamirus. The second mouth is called Naraku Stoma. The third, which is near the island of Sermatica, is called Kailan Stoma. The fourth is known as Suda Stoma, which is the island of Kanopan, with its island called Kanopan Diabasis, after which come the Beryon Stoma and the Pysilon Stoma. These mouths are each of them so considerable that for a distance of 40 miles, it is said, the saltiness of the sea is quite overpowered and the water found to be fresh. Chapter 25 Dicea Sermatia On setting out from this spot are Scythian in general, though various races have occupied the adjacent shores. At one spot the Gaitai by the Romans called Dachy and at another the Sarmatia by the Greeks called Sarmate and the Hamaxabi or Orsi, a branch of them. Then again the base-born Scythians and descendants of slaves, or else the Troglodyte and after them the Eleni and the Roxelani, and the Hursinian Forest, as far as the winter quarters of Panonia at Carnantium. And the borders of the Germans are occupied by the Samaritan Azages who inhabit the level country and the plains. While the Dachy whom they have driven as far as the river Puthisius inhabit the mountain and forest ranges. On leaving the river Maris, whether it is that or the Duria or Sarmatia and after them other tribes of the Germans occupy the opposite sides, Agrippa considers the whole of this region from the Easter to the Ocean to be 2,100 miles in length and 4,400 miles in breadth to the river Vistula in the deserts of Samaritia. The name Scythian has extended in every direction even to the Sarmatia and the Germans, but this ancient appellation is now only given to those who dwell beyond those nations and to nearly all the rest of the world. End of Section 25 Recorded by Joyce Martin Section 26 Of The Natural History, Volume 1 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The Natural History, Volume 1 was translated by John Bostock and Henry Thomas Reilly. Section 26 Chapter 26 Scythia Leaving the Easter, we come to the towns of Kremniskos Apolium, the mountains of Makro Kremnus and the famous river Tyra, which gives name to a town on the spot where Ofiusa is said formally to have stood. The Tyragetae inhabit a large island situate in this river, which is distant from Pseudostomos, a mouth of the Easter so-called, 130 miles. We then come to the Axiaceae, who take their name from the river Axiasis and beyond them the Krobuzi, the river Rhodes, the Cigarian Gulf and the port of Ordezos. At a distance of 120 miles from the Tyra is the river Boracthenis with a lake and a people of similar name and also a town in the interior at a distance of 15 miles from the sea. The ancient names of which were Ulbiopolis and Militopolis. Again on the shore is the port of the Achaea and the island of Achilles, famous for the tomb there of that hero, and at a distance of 125 miles from it a peninsula which stretches forth in the shape of a sword in an oblique direction and is called in the name of his place of exercise, Dromos Achileos. The length of this according to Agrippa is 80 miles. The Torian Scythians and the Sarasi occupy all this tract of country. At this spot begins a well-wooded district which is given to the sea that washes its banks the name of the Hylian Sea. Its inhabitants are called Inocadle. Beyond them is the river Pandicapis and the nomadis and the Georgi and after it the Assasinos. Some authors say that the Pandicapis flows into the Boristhenes below Ulbia. Others who are more correct say that it is the Hypanis. So great is the mistake made by those who have placed it in Asia. The sea runs in here and forms a large gulf until there is only an intervening space of 5 miles between it and the Lake Mayotis. It is forming the sea-line of extensive tracts of land and numerous nations. It is known as the Gulf of Carcinities. Here we find the river Paceris, the towns of Navarra and Carcinae and behind it Lake Bujis, which discharges itself by a channel into the sea. This Bujis is separated by a ridge of rocks from Coretus, a gulf in the Lake Mayotis. It receives the rivers Bujis, Geras and Haipakaris. Which approach it from regions that lie in various directions. For the Geras separates the Basilidae from the Nomades. The Haipakaris flows through the Nomades and the Haile, by an artificial channel into Lake Bujis and by its natural one into the Gulf of Coretus. This region bears the name of Scythia Cendice. At the river Carcinitas, Scythia Torica begins, which was once covered by the sea, where we now see level plains extended on every side. Beyond this, the land rises into mountains of great elevation. The peoples here are thirty in number, of which twenty-three dwell in the interior, six of the cities being inhabited by the Orgosinni, the Caracinni, the Lagorani, the Traktari, the Arsalaquite and the Calliordi. The Scythia Torii possess the range of mountains. They are bounded by the Carcinesis and on the east by the Scythian Satarchae. On the shore, after we leave Carcinitas, we find the following towns, Tafre, situate on the very Isthmus of the peninsula, and then Heraclea Carcinesis, to which its freedom has been granted by the Romans. This place was formerly called Megaurice, being the most polished city throughout all these regions, in consequence of its strict preservation A wall five miles in length surrounds it. Next to this comes the Promontory of Parthenium, the city of the Torii, Placia, the Port of the Symboli, and the Promontory of Creumotopon, opposite to Carimbis, a Promontory of Asia, which runs out in the middle of the Uxine, leaving an intervening space between them of one hundred seventy miles, which circumstance it is in a special that gives it to the sea the form of a Scythian bow. After leaving this headland, we come to a great number of harbors and lakes of the Torii. The town of Theodosia is distant from Creumotopon one hundred twenty-five miles, and from Caracinesis one hundred sixty-five. Beyond it there were, in former times, the towns of Scythe, Saphirium, Acre, Nymphaeum, and Dia. Panticapaeum, a city of the Malaysians, by far the strongest of them all, is still in existence. It lies at the entrance of the Bosporus, and is distant from Theodosia eighty-seven miles and a half, and from the town of Scymerium, which lies on the other side of the Strait, as we have previously stated, two miles and a half. Such is the width here of the channel which separates Asia from Europe, and which too, from being generally quite frozen over, allows of a passage on foot. The width of the Scymerian Bosporus is twelve miles and a half. It contains the towns of Hermitium, Mermessium, and in the interior of it, the island of Alipaceae. From the spot called Tafre, at the extremity of the Isthmus to the mouth of the Bosporus, along the line of Lake Meotis, is a distance of two hundred sixty miles. Leaving Tafre, and going along the mainland, we find in the interior, the Alcatee, in whose country the Hypanus has its rise, as also the Noro, in whose district the Boristhenis has its source, the Geloni, the Thysigatee, the Boudini, the Basilidae, and the Agathyrsie, with their azure-colored hair. Above them are the Nomadis, and then a nation of Anthropophagae, or cannibals. On leaving Lake Bougis, above the Lake Meotis, we come to Soromatee and the Asodonis, along the coast, as far as the River Tenaes, and the last of all, in the rear of them, the Aramaspe. We then come to the Rifian Mountains, and the region known by the name of Terraforos, because of the perpetual fall of snow there, the flakes of which resemble feathers. A part of the world which has been condemned by the decree of nature to lie immersed in thick darkness, suited for nothing but the generation of cold, and to be the asylum of the chilling blasts of the northern winds. There dwells, if we choose to believe it, a happy race known as the Hyperborai, a race that lives to an extreme old age and which has been the subject of many marvellous stories. At this spot are supposed to be the hinges upon which the world revolves, and the extreme limits of the revolutions of the stars. Here we find light for six months together, given by the sun in one continuous day, who does not, however, as some ignorant persons have asserted, conceal himself from the vernal equinox to autumn. On the contrary, to these people there is but one rising of the sun for the year, and that at the summer solstice, and but one setting at the winter solstice. This region, warmed by the rays of the sun, is of a most delightful temperature and exempt from every noxious blast. The abodes of the natives are the woods and groves. The gods receive their worship singly and in groups, and every kind of sickness are things utterly unknown. Death comes upon them only when satiated with life. After a career of feasting, in an old age sated with every luxury, they leap from a certain rock there into the sea, and this they deem the most desirable mode of ending existence. Some writers have placed these people not in Europe, but at the very verge of the shores of Asia, because we find there a people called who greatly resemble them and occupy a very similar locality. Other writers, again, have placed them midway between the two suns at the spot where it sets to the antipodes and rises to us. A thing, however, that cannot possibly be in consequence of the vast tract of sea which there intervenes. Those writers who place them nowhere but under a day which lasts for six months state that in the morning they sow, at midday they reap, and in the fruits of the trees and during the night conceal themselves in caves. Nor are we of liberty to entertain any doubts as to the existence of this race. So many authors are there who assert that they were in the habit of sending their first fruits to Delos to present them to Apollo, whom in a special they worship. Virgins used to carry them who for many years were held in high veneration and received the rites of hospitality from the nations that lay on the root, until at last, they were safe. The hyperbarians came to the determination to deposit these offerings upon the frontiers of the people who adjoined them and they, in their turn, were to convey them on to their neighbors and sow from one to the other till they should have arrived at Delos. However, this custom even, in time, fell into disuse. The length of Sarmatia, Scythia, and Taurica, and of the whole of the region which extends from the river Boristhenis 980 miles and it's breadth 717. I am of opinion, however, that in this part of the earth all estimates of measurement are exceedingly doubtful. Chapter 27 The Islands of the Uxine The Islands of the Northern Ocean But now, in conformity with the plan which I originally proposed, the remaining portions of this gulf must be described. As for its seas, we have already made mention of them. It has no islands belonging to Europe that are worthy of mention. In the Uxine there are, at a distance of a mile and a half from the European shore and of fourteen from the mouth of the Strait, the two Sionian islands by some called the Simple Goddess and stated in fabulous story to have run the one against the other. The reason being, the circumstance that they are separated by so short an interval that while to those who enter the Uxine opposite to them in the direction they have the appearance of becoming gradually united into one. On this side of the Ister there is the single island of the Apolloniates eighty miles from the Thracian Bosporus. It was from this place that Master Lucullus brought the Capitoline Apollo. Those islands which are to be found between the mouths of the Ister we have already mentioned. Before the Barasthenus is Achille previously referred to researchers which have been made at the present day placed this island at a distance of one hundred forty miles from the Barasthenus of one hundred twenty from Tyra and a fifty from the island of Pousso. It is about ten miles in circumference. The remaining islands in the Gulf of Carcinitas are Cephalonesos, Rospodusa and Macra. Before we leave the Uxine we must not omit to notice that all the interior seas take their rise in this one as the principal source and not at the Strait of Gades. The reason they give for this supposition is not an improbable one. The fact that the tide is always running out of the Uxine and that there is never any ebb. We must now leave the Uxine to describe the outer portions of Europe. After passing the Rafayan Mountains we have now to follow the shores of the northern ocean on the left until we arrive at Gades. Then a great number of islands are said to exist that have no name. Among which there is one which lies opposite to Scythia mentioned under the name of Raunonia and said to be at a distance of the days sail from the mainland and upon which according to Timaeus amber is thrown up by the waves in the spring season. As to the remaining parts of these shores they are only known from reports of doubtful authority. With reference to the Septentrional or Northern Ocean we have passed the mouth of the river Parapanesis where it washes the Scythian shores the Almachion Sea the word Almachion signifying in the language of those races frozen. Philemon again says that it is called Morimurusa or the Dead Sea by the Cymbry as far as the promontory of Rubaeus beyond which it has the name of the Cronian Sea. Xenophon of Lemsakis tells us that at a distance of three days sail from the shores of Scythia to the coast of the sea and on the coast of the coast of the sea. Some islands called Oone are said to be here the inhabitants of which live on the eggs of birds and oats and others again upon which human beings are produced with the feet of horses thence called hippopodes. Some other islands are also mentioned as those of the Panotia the people of which have ears of such extraordinary size and body which is otherwise left naked. Leaving these however we come to the nation of the Ingevones the first in Germany at which we begin to have some information upon which more implicit reliance can be placed. In their country is an immense mountain range called Sevo not less than those of the Rifian range and which forms an immense gulf along the shore as far as the promontory of the Cymbry the most famous among which is Scandinavia of a magnitude as yet unassertained the only portion of it at all known is inhabited by the nation of the Hileviones who dwell in 500 villages and call it a second world it is generally supposed that the island of Veninga is of not less magnitude some writers state that these regions as far as the river Vistula are inhabited by the Cermati the Venedi and that there is a gulf there known by the name of Silipenus at the mouth of which is the island of Latris after which comes another gulf that of Lagnus which borders on the Cymbry the Cymbrian promontory running out into the sea for a great distance forms a peninsula which bears the name of Kartris passing this coast there are three and twenty islands which have been made known by the Roman arms the most famous of which from the resemblance born by a fruit which grows there spontaneously there are those also called Glaseria by our soldiers from their amber but by the barbarians they are known as Osteravia and Actania Chapter 28 Germany the whole of the shores of this sea as far as the Scaldus a river of Germany is inhabited by nations the dimensions of whose respective territories so immensely do the authors differ who have touched upon this subject the Greek writers and some of our own countrymen have stated the coast of Germany to be 2,500 miles in extent while Agrippa comprising Racia and Noricum in his estimate makes the length to be 686 miles and the breadth 148 the breadth of Racia alone however very nearly exceeds that number of miles and indeed we ought to state that it was only subjugated while as for Germany the whole of it was not thoroughly known to us for many years after his time if I may be allowed to form a conjecture the margin of the coast will be found to be not far short of the estimate of the Greek writers while the distance in a straight line will nearly correspond with that mentioned by Agrippa there are five German races the Vandili parts of whom are the Burgundiones the Verini, the Carini and the Gutonis a second race a portion of whom are the Simbri the Totoni and the tribes of the Chasi the Istavones who join up to the Rhine and to whom the Simbri belong are the third race while the Hermiones forming a fourth dwell in the interior and include the Suevi the Hermendori the Chati and the Cheruski the more famous rivers that flow into the ocean are the Grutalos the Vistulus or Vistula the Albus the Visorgus the Amisius the Rhine and the Mosa in the interior is the long extent of the Hercinian range which in grandeur is inferior to none Chapter 29 96 islands of the Gallic Ocean in the Rhine itself nearly 100 miles in length as also other islands of the Friesi, the Chasi the Frigibones the Sturri and the Morasski which lie between Helium and Flavum these are the names of the mouths into which the Rhine divides itself discharging its waters on the north into the lakes there and on the west into the river Mosa at the middle mouth which lies between these two the river having but a very small channel preserves its own name Chapter 30 Britannia opposite to this coast is the island called Britannia so celebrated in the records of Greece and of our own country it is situate to the northwest and with a large tract of intervening sea lies opposite to Germany, Gall and Spain by far the greater part of Europe its former name was Albion but at a later period all the islands of which we shall now this island is distinct from Ghazoriakum on the coast of the nation of the Morini at the spot where the passage across is the shortest, 50 miles Pytheas and Isidorus say that its circumference is 4,875 miles it is barely 30 years since any extensive knowledge of it was gained by the successes of the Roman arms and even as yet they have not penetrated beyond the vicinity of the Caledonian forest a grippa believes its length is less than 800 miles and its breadth 300 he also thinks that the breadth of hibernia is the same but that its length is less by 200 miles this last island is situate beyond Britannia the passage across being the shortest from the territory of the Solores a distance of 30 miles of the remaining islands none is said to have a greater circumference than 125 miles among these there are the Arcades there are the seven islands Akamode the Hebudes 30 in number and between hibernia and Britannia the islands of Mona, Monapia, Racina Vectis, Limnos and Andros below it are the islands called Samnus and Exantos and opposite scattered in the German sea are those known as the Glazeria but which the Greeks have more recently called the Electrodis from the circumstance of their producing of all that we find mentioned is Thul in which as we have previously stated there is no night at the summer solstice when the sun is passing through the sign of cancer while on the other hand at the winter solstice there is no day some writers are of opinion that this state of things lasts for six whole months together to may as the historian says that an island called Mictus is within six days sail of Britannia in which white lead is found and that the Britannes sail over to it covered with sewed hides there are writers also who make mention of some other islands Scandia namely Dumna, Bergos and greater than all Narragos from which persons embark for Thul at one day's sail from Thul is the frozen ocean which by some is called the Cronian Sea end of section 26 section 27 of the natural history volume 1 this is a Librivox recording all Librivox recordings for more information or to volunteer please visit Librivox.org the natural history volume 1 by Pliny the Elder translated by John Bostock and Henry Thomas Riley section 27 chapter 31 Gallia Belgica the whole of Gaul that is comprehended under the one general name of Comata is divided into three races of people which are more especially kept distinct from each other by the following rivers from the Scaldus to the Sequana it is Belgic Gaul from the Sequana to the Garumna it is Celtic Gaul or Lugdenensis and from the Garumna to the Promontory of the Peranian range it is Aquitainian Gaul formerly called Aromorica Agrippa makes the entire length of the coast of Gaul to be 1800 miles measured from the Rhine to the Peranese and its length from the ocean to the mountains of Gabena and Eura excluding there from Gallia Narbonensis he computes at 420 miles the breadth being 318 beginning at the Scaldus the parts beyond are inhabited by the Tuxandri who are divided into various people with many names after whom come the Minapi the Morini the Oromarsaki which is known as Gesiorachum the Britanni the Ambiani the Bellavazzi the Hasi and more in the interior the Cattus Lughi the Atrabates the Nervi of free people the Feromandui the Sueioconi the Suecionis of free people the Ulmanetes of free people the Tungri the Sinusi who were formally free and the Lingones a federal state the Federal Remy the Mediomatrici the Sequani the Raurici and the Helveti the Roman colonies are Equestris and Rorica the nations of Germany which dwell in this province near the sources of the Rhine are the Nemetes the Trabotsi and the Vangiones and the Peoples whom we have already mentioned as dwelling on the Islands of the Rhine Chapter 32 Gallia Lugdenensis that part of Gaul which is known as Lugdenensis contains the Lexavi the Velocassis the Galeti the Veneti the Abrincatui the Ossissmi and the celebrated river Lageris as also a most remarkable peninsula which extends into the ocean at the extremity of the territory of the Ossissmi which is 625 miles and it's breadth at the neck 125 beyond this are the Nemetes and in the interior are the Edui a federal people the Carnuti a federal people the Boi the Senones the Olerci both those surnamed Eburevises and those called Senomani the Meldi of Free People the Parisi the Carios Velites the Diablinti the Redones the Torones the Atsui and the Sekuisani a Free People in whose territory is the colony of Lugdenen Chapter 33 Gallia Aquitanica in Aquitanica are the Ambalatri the Anagnutes the Pictones the Santoni of Free People the Bittoriges the Aquitani from whom the province derives its name the Sedeboviates the Convene who together form one town the Bigheri the Tarbelli Quattro Signani the Cocosates the Venami the Onobrosates the Belendi and then the Peranian Range below these are the Monesi the Ossidates the Sibilates the Camponi the Bercocatis the Tornates the Consorani the Auski the Elusates the Sotiates the Ossidates Campestres the Sucases the Tarusates the Basabocates the Vasai the Sinates and the Campbell Lectry Aga Sinates joining up to the Pictones are the Bittoriges a Free People again, adjoining the province of Narbonensis are the Ruteni the Cadorsi the Nityobrigues and the Petrocori separated by the River Tarnus from the Tolassani the seas around the coast are the Northern Ocean flowing up to the mouth of the Rhine the Britannic Ocean between the Rhine and the Sequana and between it and the Pyrenees the Gallic Ocean there are many islands belonging to the Veneti which bear the name of Venetica in the Aquatonic Gulf that of Uliaris Chapter 34 Nearer Spain its coast along the Gallic Ocean at the Promontory of the Pyrenees Spain begins more narrow, not only than Gaul but even then itself in its other parts as we have previously mentioned seeing to what an immense extent it is here hemmed in by the ocean on one side and by the Iberian Sea on the other a chain of the Pyrenees extending from due east to southwest the smaller one to the north the larger to the south the first coast that presents itself is that of the Nearer Spain otherwise called Terra Canensis on leaving the Pyrenees and proceeding along the coast we meet with the forest ranges of the Vascones Olarso the towns of the Varduli the Moroski Manosca, Vesperius and the port of Amanus where now stands the colony of Flavio Briga we then come to the district of the Port of Sauga and the port of Victoria of the Yulia Brigensis from which place the sources of the Iberias are distant 40 miles we next come to the port of Blendium the Orgenomeschi a people of the Cantabria Variasueca, their port the country of the Astores the town of Noega and on a peninsula the Pisitsi next to these we have belonging to the jurisdiction of Lucas the Egovari surnamed Namarini the Iodoni the Eretrebe the Celtic Promontory the River Florius and Nello the Celtici surnamed Neri and above them the Tamarisi in whose peninsula are the three alters called Cestiane and dedicated to Augustus the Capori, the town of Noela the Celtici, surnamed Prasimarsi and the Saleni after passing the Saleni belonging to the jurisdiction of the Bricari we have the Heleni the Gravi and the Fortress of Tide all of them deriving their origin from the Greeks also the islands called Sike the famous city of Aborica the river Minius four miles wide at its mouth the Loini, the Suorbi and Augusta a town of the Bricari above whom lies Galatia we then come to the River Limia and which rises in the district of the Pelendones passes near Numansia and through the Aravesi and the Vacae dividing the Vatones from Astoria the Galacy from Lusitania and separating the Torduli from the Bricari the whole of the region here mentioned from the Pyrenees is full of mines of gold, silver, iron and lead both black and white Chapter 35 Lusitania after passing the Dorius we here have the ancient Torduli the Pezzuri the river Vaga the town of Talabrica the town and river of Aminium the towns of Conimbraca Colippo and Ebro-Britium a promontory then advances into the sea in the shape of a large horn by some it has been called Artabrum by others the Great Promontory while many call it the Promontory of Olisipo from the city near it this spot forms a dividing line in the land, the sea and the heavens here ends one side of Spain and when we have doubled the Promontory the front of Spain begins on one side of it lie the North and the Gallic Ocean on the other the West and the Atlantic the length of this Promontory has been estimated by some persons at 60 miles by others at 90 a considerable number of riders estimate the distance from this spot to the Pyrenees at 1250 miles and committing a manifest error place here the nation of the Artabri a nation that never was here four, making a slight change in the name they have placed at this spot the Ero Trebe whom we have previously spoken of as dwelling in front of the Celtic Promontory mistakes have also been made as to the more celebrated rivers from the Minius which we have previously mentioned according to Varo at a distance of 200 miles which others supposed to be situate elsewhere and called Limea by the ancients it was called the river of Oblivion and it has been made the subject of many fabulous stories at a distance of 200 miles from the Daurias is the Tagus the Munda lying between them the Tagus is famous for its golden sands at a distance of 160 miles from it is the sacred Promontory projecting from nearly the very middle of the front of Spain from this spot to the middle of the Pyrenees Varo says is a distance of 1400 miles while to the Anas by which we have mentioned Lusitania as being separated from Betica is 126 miles it being 102 more to Gades the peoples are the Caltisi the Torduli and about the Tagus the Vetones from the river Anas to the sacred Promontory are the Lusitani the cities worthy of mention on the coast are the Tagus are that of Olisipu famous for its mares which can see from the west wind Silesia which is surnamed the imperial city Meroabrica and then the sacred Promontory with the other known by the name of Cuneus and the towns of Osanova, Balsa and Mortilly the whole of this province is divided into three jurisdictions those of Emerita, Pax and Scalabis it contains in all 46 peoples there are five colonies one municipal town of Roman citizens three with the ancient Latin rights and 36 that are tributaries the colonies are those of Agusta Emerita situate on the river Anas Matalinum Pax and Norba surnamed Caesareana to this last place of jurisdiction the people of the Castra Servilia and Castra Cecilia Resort the fifth jurisdiction is that of Scalabis which also has the name of Presidium Yulium Olesipo surnamed Felicitis Yulia is a municipal city whose inhabitants enjoy the rights of Roman citizens the towns in the enjoyment of the ancient Latin rights are Eborra which also has the name of Liberalitas Yulia and Mortilly and Silesia which we have previously mentioned those among the tributaries whom it may not be a miss to mention in addition to those already alluded to among the names of those in Betica are the Agusta Brigensis the Amiensis the Arenditani the Arabresensis the Balsenes the Cesarobresensis the Caparensis the Caurensis the Colarney the Sibilitani the Concordiensis the Elbacore the Interaniensis the Lancienses the Torduli also called Barduli and the Tapori Agrippa states that Lusitania with Astoria and Galatia is 540 miles in length and 536 in breadth the provinces of Spain measured from the two extreme promontories of the Pyrenees along the sea-line of the entire coast are thought to be 3922 miles in circumference while some writers make them to be about 2600 and 3600 the islands in the Atlantic Ocean opposite to Keltiberia are a number of islands by the Greeks called Cassiterides in consequence of their abounding in tin and facing the promontory of the Aratrobe are the six islands of the gods which some persons have called the fortunate islands at the very commencement of Betica and 25 miles from the mouth of the island of Gadis 12 miles long and 3 broad as Polybius states in his writing at its nearest part it is less than 700 feet distance from the mainland while in the remaining portion it is more than 7 miles its circuit is 15 miles and it has on it a city which enjoys the rights of Roman citizens and whose people are called the Agostani of the city of Yulia Gaditana which is a long island 3 miles wide on which the original city of Gadis stood by Ephorus and Philistides it is called Erythia by Timaeus and Silanus Aphrodisius and by the natives the Isle of Juno Timaeus says that the larger island used to be called Cotinusa from the Olives the Romans call it Tartesos the Carthaginians Gadir that word in the Punic language the original ancestors of the Carthaginians were said to have come from the Erythrian or Red Sea in this island Geryon is by some thought to have dwelt whose herds were carried off by Hercules other persons again think that his island is another one opposite to Lusitania and that it was there formally called by that name Chapter 37 the General Measurement of Europe now give the complete measurement of it in order that those who wish to be acquainted with this subject may not feel themselves at a loss Artemidorus and Isidorus have given its length from the Taneus to Gadis as 8214 miles Polybius in his writings has stated the breadth of Europe in a line from Italy to the ocean to be 1150 miles but even in his day its magnitude was but little known the distance of Italy as previously stated as far as the Alps is 1120 miles from which through Lugdonum to the British port of the Marini the direction which Polybius seems to follow is 1168 miles but the better ascertained though greater length is that taken from the Alps through the camp of the legions in Germany in a northwesterly direction to the mouth of the Rhine being 1543 miles we shall now have to speak of Africa and Asia summary towns and nations mentioned noted rivers famous mountains islands people or towns no longer in existence remarkable events narratives and observations Roman authors quoted Cato the censor Master Vero Master Agrippa the late Emperor Augustus Vero Atacinas Vero Higinas El Vetus Mela Pomponius Lysinius Musianus Fabricius Tuscus Ateus Capito Ateus the philologist foreign authors quoted Polybius Hecateus Hellanicus Demastus Eudoxus Dicearchus Temustenis Calamacus Artemidorus Apollodorus Agathiclis Eumacus Timaeus the Sicilian Mercilus Alexander Polyhistore Thucydides Dociades Anaximander Philistides Malotes Dionysius Aristides Caledemus Xenophan Pythias Isidorus Philanidus Xenogorus Astonomas Staphyllus Aristocritas Metrodorus Cleobolus Poseidonius End of section 27