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CHAPTER II.

[1] IN the second place, we shall treat of that portion of Liguria situated in the Apennines, between the Keltica¹ already described and Tyrrhenia. There is nothing worth mentioning about it, except that the people dwell in villages, ploughing and digging the intractable land, or rather, as Posidonius expresses it, hewing the rocks.

The third division contains the Tyrrhenians, who dwell next the former, and inhabit the plains extending to the Tiber, which river, as far as its outlet, washes the side towards the east, the opposite side being washed by the Tyrrhenian and Sardinian sea. The Tiber flows from the Apennines, and is swelled by many rivers; it flows partly through Tyrrhenia, dividing it in the first instance from Ombrica,² afterwards from the Sabini and the Latini, who are situated next Rome as far as the sea-coast; so that these countries are bounded in their breadth by the river [Tiber] and the Tyrrhenians, and in their length by each other. They extend upwards towards the Apennines which approach the Adriatic. The first³ are the Ombrici, after these the Sabini, and finally the inhabitants of Latium. They all commence from the river. The country of the Latini extends on one side along the seacoast from Ostia to the city of Sinuessa, on the other it is bounded by the land of the Sabini, (Ostia is the port of Rome, through which the Tiber passes in its course,) it extends in length as far as Campania and the Samnitic mountains. The country of the Sabini lies between the Latini and the Ombrici, it likewise extends to the Samnitic mountains, but approaches nearer to the Apennines inhabited by the Vestini, the Peligni, and the Marsi. The Ombrici lie between the country of the Sabini and Tyrrhenia, but extend beyond the mountains as far as Ariminum,⁴ and Ravenna. The Tyrrheni, commencing from their own sea and the Tiber, extend to the circular chain of mountains which stretches from Liguria to the Adriatic. We will now enter into a detailed account, commencing with these.

[2] The Tyrrheni have now received from the Romans the surname of Etrusci and Tusci. The Greeks thus named them from Tyrrhenus the son of Atys, as they say, who sent hither a colony from Lydia. Atys, who was one of the descendants of Hercules and Omphale, and had two sons, in a time of famine and scarcity determined by lot that Lydus should remain in the country, but that Tyrrhenus, with the greater part of the people, should depart. Arriving here, he named the country after himself, Tyrrhenia, and founded twelve cities, having appointed as their governor Tarcon, from whom the city of Tarquinia [received its name], and who, on account of the sagacity which he had displayed from childhood, was feigned to have been born with hoary hair. Placed originally under one authority, they became flourishing; but it seems that in after-times, their confederation being broken up and each city separated, they yielded to the violence of the neighbouring tribes. Otherwise they would never have abandoned a fertile country for a life of piracy on the sea. roving from one ocean to another; since, when united they were able not only to repel those who assailed them, but to act on the offensive, and undertake long campaigns. After the foundation of Rome, Demaratus arrived here, bringing with him people from Corinth.⁵ He was received at Tarquinia, where he had a son, named Lucumo, by a woman of that country.⁶ Lucumo becoming the friend of Ancus Marcius, king of the Romans, succeeded him on the throne, and assumed the name of Lucius Tarquinius Priscus. Both he and his father did much for the embellishment of Tyrrhenia, the one by means of the numerous artists who had followed him from their native country; the other having the resources of Rome.⁷ It is said that the triumphal costume of the consuls, as well as that of the other magistrates, was introduced from the Tarquinii, with the fasces, axes, trumpets, sacrifices, divination, and music employed by the Romans in their public ceremonies. His son, the second Tarquin, named Superbus, who was driven from his throne, was the last king [of Rome]. Porsena, king of Clusium,⁸ a city of Tyrrhenia, endeavoured to replace him on the throne by force of arms, but not being able he made peace⁹ with the Romans, and departed in a friendly way, with honour and loaded with gifts.

[3] Such are the facts concerning the celebrity of the Tyrrheni, to which may be added the exploits of the Caeretani,¹⁰ who defeated the Galatae after they had taken Rome. Having attacked them as they were departing through the country of the Sabini, they took from them, much against their will, the ransom which the Romans had willingly paid to them; besides this, they took under their protection those who fled to them out of Rome, the sacred fire and the priestesses of Vesta.¹¹ The Romans, influenced by those who then misgoverned the city, seem not to have been properly mindful of this service; for although they conferred on them the rights of citizenship, they did not enrol them amongst the citizens; and further, they inscribed upon the same roll with the Caeretani, others who did not enjoy as great privileges as they did. However, amongst the Greeks this city was highly esteemed both for its bravery and rectitude of conduct; for they refrained from piracy, with favourable opportunities for engaging in it, and dedicated at Delphi the treasure, as it was called, of the Agylllaei; for their country was formerly named Agylla, though now Caerea. It is said to have been founded by Pelasgi from Thessaly. The Lydians, who had taken the name of Tyrrheni, having engaged in war against the Agyllaei, one of them, approaching the wall, inquired the name of the city; when one of the Thessalians from the wall, instead of answering the question, saluted him with χαῖρε.¹² The Tyrrheni received this as an omen, and having taken the city they changed its name. This city, once so flourishing and celebrated, only preserves the traces [of its former greatness]; the neighbouring hot springs, named Caeretana,¹³ being more frequented than it, by the people attracted thither for the sake of their health.

[4] Almost every one is agreed that the Pelasgi were an ancient race spread throughout the whole of Greece, but especially in the country of the Aeolians near to Thessaly. Ephorus, however, says that he considers they were originally Arcadians, who had taken up a warlike mode of life; and having persuaded many others to the same course, imparted their own name to the whole, and became famous both among the Greeks, and in every other country where they chanced to come. Homer informs us that there were colonies of them in Crete, for he makes Ulysses say to Penelope—

Diverse their language is; Achaians some,

And some indigenous are; Cydonians there,

Crest-shaking Dorians, and Pelasgians dwell.¹⁴

Odyssey xix. 175. And that portion of Thessaly between the outlets of the Peneius¹⁵ and the Thermopylae, as far as the mountains of Pindus, is named Pelasgic Argos, the district having formerly belonged to the Pelasgi. The poet himself also gives to Dodonaeman Jupiter, the epithet of Pelasgian:—

Pelasgian, Dodonaean Jove supreme.¹⁶

Iliad xvi. 223. Many have likewise asserted that the nations of the Epirus are Pelasgic, because the dominions of the Pelasgi extended so far. And, as many of the heroes have been named Pelasgi, later writers have applied the same name to the nations over which they were the chiefs. Thus Lesbos¹⁷ has been called Pelasgic, and Homer has called the people bordering on the Cilices in the Troad Pelasgic:—

Hippothous from Larissa, for her soil

Far-famed, the spear-expert Pelasgians brought.¹⁸

Iliad ii. 840 Ephorus, when he supposes that they were a tribe of Arcadians, follows Hesiod, who says,

The sons born of the divine Lycaon, whom formerly Pelasgus begot.

Likewise Aeschylus in his Suppliants, or Danaids, makes their race to be of Argos near Mycenae. Ephorus likewise says that Peloponnesus was named Pelasgia; and Euripides, in the Archelaus, says,

Danaus, who was the father of fifty daughters, having arrived in Argos inhabited¹⁹ the city of Inachus, and made a law that those who had before borne the name of Pelasgiotae throughout Greece should be called Danai.

Anticlides says, that they first colonized about Lemnos and Imbros, and that some of their number passed into Italy with Tyrrhenus, the son of Atys. And the writers on the Athenian Antiquities,²⁰ relate of the Pelasgi, that some of them came to Athens, where, on account of their wanderings, and their settling like birds in any place where they chanced to come, they were called by the Athenians Pelargi.²¹

[5] They say that the greatest length of Tyrrhenia, which is along the coast from Luna to Ostia, is about 2500 stadia; and that its breadth in the direction of the mountains is less than half that number. Then from Luna to Pisa there are more than 400 stadia; from thence to Volaterrae²² 280; thence to Poplonium 270; and from Poplonium to Cossa²³ near 800, or as some say, 600. Polybius, however, says that there are not²⁴ in all 1330.²⁵ Of these Luna is a city and harbour; it is named by the Greeks, the harbour and city of Selene.²⁶ The city is not large, but the harbour²⁷ is very fine and spacious, containing in itself numerous harbours, all of them deep near the shore; it is in fact an arsenal worthy of a nation holding dominion for so long a time over so vast a sea. The harbour is surrounded by lofty mountains,²⁸ from whence you may view the sea²⁹ and Sardinia, and a great part of the coast on either side. Here are quarries of marble, both white and marked with green, so numerous and large, as to furnish tablets and columns of one block; and most of the material for the fine works, both in Rome and the other cities, is furnished from hence. The transport of the marble is easy, as the quarries lie near to the sea, and from the sea they are conveyed by the Tiber. Tyrrhenia likewise supplies most of the straightest and longest planks for building, as they are brought direct from the mountains to the river. Between Luna and Pisa flows the Macra,³⁰ a division which many writers consider the true boundary of Tyrrhenia and Liguria. Pisa was founded by the Pisatae of the Peloponnesus, who went under Nestor to the expedition against Troy, but in their voyage home wandered out of their course, some to Metapontium,³¹ others to the Pisatis; they were, however, all called Pylians. The city lies between the two rivers Arno³² and Aesar,³³ at their point of confluence; the former of which, though very full, descends from Arretium³⁴ not in one body, but divided into three; the second flows down from the Apennines. Where they fall into one current, the shock between them is so great as to raise the water to that height, that people standing on either bank are not able to see each other; so that necessarily the voyage up from the sea is difficult. This voyage is about 20 stadia. There is a tradition, that when these rivers first descended from the mountains they were impeded by the inhabitants of the district, lest falling together they should inundate the country; however, they promised not to inundate it, and they have kept their word. This city appears to have been formerly flourishing, and at the present day it still maintains its name, on account of its fertility, its marble-quarries, and its wood for building ships, which formerly they employed to preserve themselves from danger by sea; for they were more warlike than the Tyrrheni, and were constantly irritated by the Ligurians, troublesome neighbours, who dwelt on the coast. At the present day the wood is mostly employed for building houses in Rome, and in the country villas [of the Romans], which resemble in their gorgeousness Persian palaces.

[6] The country of the Volaterrani³⁵ is washed by the sea. Their city is situated in a deep hollow on the top of a high hill. The wall of the city is built round its summit, which is flat and precipitous on every side. From its base, the ascent upward is fifteen stadia, steep and difficult. Here certain of the Tyrrhenians and of those proscribed by Sulla,³⁶ took their stand, and having organized four bands, sustained a siege for two years, and at last secured articles of truce before surrendering the place. Poplonium is situated on a lofty promontory, which projects into the sea, and forms a chersonesus. It likewise sustained a siege about the same time. This little place is now deserted, with the exception of the temples and a few houses; the sea-port, which is situated at the root of the mountain, is better inhabited, having both a small harbour and ship-sheds. This appears to me the only one of the ancient Tyrrhenian cities situated on the sea; the reason being that this territory affords no harbours. The founders [of the cities] therefore either avoided the sea altogether, or threw up fortifications in order that they might not become the ready prey of those who might sail against them. On the summit [of the cape] there is a look-out for thunnies.³⁷ From this city there is an indistinct and distant view of Sardinia. Cyrnus,³⁸ however, is nearer, being distant from Sardinia about 60 stadia. While Aethalia³⁹ is much nearer to the continent than either, being distant therefrom only 300⁴⁰ stadia, and the same number from Cyrnus. Poplonium is the best starting-place to any of the three mentioned islands. We ourselves observed them from the height of Poplonium, in which place we saw certain mines which had been abandoned, we also saw the craftsmen who work the iron brought from Aethalia; for they cannot reduce it into bars in the furnaces on the island, and it is therefore transferred direct from the mines to the continent. There is another remarkable circumstance, that the exhausted mines of the island in course of time are again refilled similarly to what they say takes place at the platamones⁴¹ in Rhodes, the marble-quarries in Paros, and the salt-mines in India, mentioned by Clitarchus. Eratosthenes was therefore incorrect in saying that from the mainland you could neither see Cyrnus nor Sardinia; and so was Artemidorus in his assertion, that both these places lay in the high sea at a distance of 1200 stadia. For whatever others might, I certainly could never have seen them at such a distance, however carefully I had looked, particularly Cyrnus. Aethalia has a harbour named Argoiis,⁴² derived, as they say, from the [ship] Argo, Jason having sailed hither, seeking the abode of Circe as Medea wished to see that goddess; and that from the sweat scraped off by the Argonauts and hardened, are formed the variegated pebbles now seen on the beach.⁴³ This and similar traditions prove what we before stated, that Homer did not invent them all himself, but, hearing the numerous current stories, he merely transferred the scenes to other localities and exaggerated the distances: as he makes Ulysses wander over the ocean, so does he narrate of Jason, as he too had been renowned for his travels: and the same he likewise relates of Menelaus. This is what we have to say of Aethalia.

[7] Cyrnus is called by the Romans Corsica; it is poorly inhabited, being both rugged and in many parts entirely inaccessible, so that the mountaineers, who live by plunder, are more savage than wild beasts. Whenever any Roman general invades the country, and, penetrating into the wilds, seizes a vast number of slaves, it is a marvel to behold in Rome how savage and bestial they appear. For they either scorn to live, or if they do live, aggravate their purchasers by their apathy and insensibility, causing them to regret the purchase-money, however small.⁴⁴ We must remark, however, that some districts are habitable, and that there are some small cities, for instance Blesino, Charax, Eniconiae, and Vapanes.⁴⁵ The chorographer⁴⁶ says that the length of this island is 160 miles, its breadth 70; that the length of Sardinia is 220, and its breadth 98. According to others, the perimeter of Cyrnus is said to be about 1200⁴⁷ stadia, and of Sardinia 4000. A great portion of this latter is rugged and untranquil; another large portion is fertile in every production, but particularly in wheat. There are many cities, some are considerable, as Caralis⁴⁸ and Sulchi.⁴⁹ There is however an evil, which must be set against the fertility of these places; for during the summer the island is unhealthy, more particularly so in the most fertile districts; in addition to this, it is often ravaged by the mountaineers, whom they call Diagesbes,⁵⁰ who formerly were named Iolaënses. For it is said that Iolaus⁵¹ brought hither certain of the children of Hercules, and established himself amongst the barbarian possessors of the island, who were Tyrrhenians. Afterwards the Phoenicians of Carthage became masters of the island, and, assisted by the inhabitants, carried on war against the Romans; but after the subversion of the Carthaginians, the Romans became masters of the whole. There are four nations of mountaineers, the Parati, Sossinati, Balari, and the Aconites. These people dwell in caverns. Although they have some arable land, they neglect its cultivation, preferring rather to plunder what they find cultivated by others, whether on the island or on the continent, where they make descents, especially upon the Pisatae. The prefects sent [into Sardinia] sometimes resist them, but at other times leave them alone, since it would cost too dear to maintain an army always on foot in an unhealthy place: they have, however, recourse to the arts of stratagem, and taking advantage of the custom of the barbarians, who always hold a great festival for several days after returning from a plundering expedition, they then fall upon them, and capture many. There are rams here which, instead of wool, have hair resembling that of a goat; they are called musmones, and the inhabitants make corselets of their hides. They likewise arm themselves with a pelta and a small sword.

[8] Along the whole coast between Poplonium and Pisa these islands are clearly visible; they are oblong, and all three nearly parallel,⁵² running towards the south and Libya. Aethalia is by far smaller than either of the other two. The chorographer says that the shortest passage from Libya to Sardinia is 300⁵³ miles. After Poplonium is the city of Cossae, situated at a short distance from the sea: there is at the head of the bay a high hill upon which it is built; below it lies the port of Hercules,⁵⁴ and near to it a marsh formed by the sea.⁵⁵ At the summit of the cape which commands the gulf is a lookout for thunnies; for the thunny pursues his course along the coast, from the Atlantic Ocean as far as Sicily, in search not only of acorns, but also of the fish which furnishes the purple dye. As one sails along the coast from Cossae to Ostia there are the towns of Gravisci,⁵⁶ Pyrgi,⁵⁷ Alsium,⁵⁸ and Fregena.⁵⁹ [From Cossae] to Gravisci is a distance of 300 stadia, and between them is the place named Regis-Villa. This is said to have been the royal residence of Maleos the Pelasgian; they report that after he had reigned here for some time, he departed with his Pelasgians to Athens. These were of the same tribe as those who occupied Agylla. From Gravisci to Pyrgi is a little less than 180 stadia, and the sea-port town of the Caeretani is 30 stadia farther. [Pyrgi] contains a temple of Ilethyia⁶⁰ founded by the Pelasgi, and which was formerly rich, but it was plundered by Dionysius the tyrant of the Sicilians, at the time⁶¹ of his voyage to Cyrnus.⁶² From Pyrgi to Ostia is 260 stadia; between the two are Alsium and Fregena. Such is our account of the coast of Tyrrhenia.

[9] In the interior of the country, besides the cities already mentioned, there are Arretium,⁶³ Perusia,⁶⁴ Volsinii,⁶⁵ Sutrium;⁶⁶ and in addition to these are numerous small cities, as Blera,⁶⁷ Ferentinum,⁶⁸ Falerium,⁶⁹ Faliscum,⁷⁰ Nepita,⁷¹ Statonia,⁷² and many others; some of which exist in their original state, others have been colonized by the Romans, or partially ruined by them in their wars, viz. those they frequently waged against the Veii⁷³ and the Fidenae.⁷⁴ Some say that the inhabitants of Falerium are not Tyrrhenians, but Falisci, a distinct nation; others state further, that the Falisci speak a language peculiar to themselves; some again would make it Aequum-Faliscum on the Via Flaminia, lying between Ocricli⁷⁵ and Rome. Below Mount Soracte⁷⁶ is the city of Feronia, having the same name as a certain goddess of the country, highly reverenced by the surrounding people: here is her temple, in which a remarkable ceremony is performed, for those possessed by the divinity pass over a large bed of burning coal and ashes barefoot, unhurt. A great concourse of people assemble to assist at the festival, which is celebrated yearly, and to see the said spectacle. Arretium,⁷⁷ near the mountains, is the most inland city: it is distant from Rome 1200 stadia: from Clusium⁷⁸ [to Rome] is 800 stadia. Near to these [two cities] is Perusia.⁷⁹ The large and numerous lakes add to the fertility of this country,⁸⁰ they are navigable, and stocked with fish and aquatic birds. Large quantities of typha,⁸¹ papyrus, and anthela⁸² are transported to Rome, up the rivers which flow from these lakes to the Tiber. Among these are the lake Ciminius,⁸³ and those near the Volsinii,⁸⁴ and Clusium,⁸⁵ and Sabatus,⁸⁶ which is nearest to Rome and the sea, and the farthest Trasumennus,⁸⁷ near Arretium. Along this is the pass by which armies can proceed from [Cisalpine] Keltica into Tyrrhenia; this is the one followed by Hannibal. There are two; the other leads towards Ariminum across Ombrica, and is preferable as the mountains are considerably lower; however, as this was carefully guarded, Hannibal was compelled to take the more difficult, which he succeeded in forcing after having vanquished Flaminius in a decisive engagement. There are likewise in Tyrrhenia numerous hot springs, which on account of their proximity to Rome, are not less frequented than those of Baiae, which are the most famous of all.

[10] Ombrica lies along the eastern boundary of Tyrrhenia, and commencing from the Apennines, or rather beyond those mountains, [extends] as far as the Adriatic. For commencing from Ravenna, the Ombrici inhabit the neighbouring country together with the cities of Sarsina, Ariminum,⁸⁸ Sena,⁸⁹ † and Marinum. †⁹⁰ To their country likewise belongs the river Esino,⁹¹ Mount Cingulum, [the city of] Sentinum,⁹² the river Metaurus, and the Fanum Fortunae;⁹³ for about these parts are the boundaries which separate ancient Italy and [Cisalpine] Keltica on the side next the Adriatic, although the boundary has frequently been changed by the chief men of the state. First they made the Esino the boundary; afterwards the river Rubicon: the Esino being between Ancona and Sena, and the Rubicon between Ariminum and Ravenna, both of them falling into the Adriatic. At the present day, however, since Italy comprehends the whole country as far as the Alps, we need take no further notice of these limits. All allow that Ombrica⁹⁴ extends as far as Ravenna, as the inhabitants are Ombrici. From Ravenna to Ariminum they say is about 300 stadia. Going from Ariminum to Rome by the Via Flaminia, the whole journey lies through Ombrica as far as the city of Ocricli⁹⁵ and the Tiber, a distance of 1350 stadia. This, consequently, is the length [of Ombrica]; its breadth varies. The cities of considerable magnitude situated on this side the Apennines along the Via Flaminia, are Ocricli on the Tiber, Laroloni,⁹⁶ and Narnia,⁹⁷ through which the Nera⁹⁸ flows. This river discharges itself into the Tiber a little above Ocricli; it is not navigable for large vessels. After these are Carsuli and Mevania,⁹⁹ past which latter the Teneas¹⁰⁰ flows, by which river the merchandise of the plain is transported in small vessels to the Tiber. There are also other cities well populated, rather on account of the route along which they lie, than for their political importance. Such are Forum Flaminium,¹⁰¹ Nuceria¹⁰² where wooden vases are manufactured, and Forum Sempronium.¹⁰³ Going from Ocricli to Ariminum, on the right of the way are Interamna,¹⁰⁴ Spoletium,¹⁰⁵ Asisium,¹⁰⁶ and Camerta, situated in the mountains which bound Picenum. On the other side¹⁰⁷ are Ameria,¹⁰⁸ Tuder,¹⁰⁹ a well-fortified city, Hispellum,¹¹⁰ and Iguvium,¹¹¹ near to the passes of the mountain. The whole of this country is fertile, but rather too mountainous, and producing more rye¹¹² than wheat for the food of the inhabitants. The next district, Sabina, is mountainous, and borders on Tyrrhenia in like manner. The parts of Latium which border on these districts and the Apennines are very rugged. These two nations¹¹³ commence from the Tiber and Tyrrhenia, and extend as far as the Apennines which advance obliquely towards the Adriatic: Ombrica extends, as we have said, beyond as far as the sea. We have now sufficiently described the Ombrici.

Geography. Strabo. Hans Claude Hamilton (Translator), William Falconer (Translator). London. 1854-1857.

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Current edition Perseus

Geography (English) (Strabo. The Geography of Strabo, Vols. 1-3. Hamilton, Hans Claude, translator; Falconer, William, translator. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1854-1857.)

Editions (1)

Γεωγραφικά Perseus (Strabo. Strabonis Geographica, Vols. 1-3. Meineke, August, editor. Leipzig: Teubner. 1877.) — 5.2 focus

[1] δευτέρα δὲ λεγέσθω ἡ Λιγυστικὴ ἡ ἐν αὐτοῖς τοῖς Ἀπεννίνοις ὄρεσι, μεταξὺ ἱδρυμένη τῆς νῦν λεχθείσης Κελτικῆς καὶ τῆς Τυρρηνίας, οὐδὲν ἔχουσα περιηγήσεως ἄξιον, πλὴν ὅτι κωμηδὸν ζῶσι, τραχεῖαν γῆν ἀροῦντες καὶ σκάπτοντες, μᾶλλον δὲ λατομοῦντες, ὥς φησι Ποσειδώνιος. εὐανδρεῖ δʼ ὅμως ἡ χώρα καὶ τὸ στρατιωτικὸν ἐντεῦθεν τὸ πλέον ἐστὶ καὶ τὸ τῶν ἱππικῶν πλῆθος, ἐξ ὧν καὶ ἡ σύγκλητος λαμβάνει τὴν σύνταξιν. τρίτοι δʼ εἰσὶ συνεχεῖς τούτοις οἱ Τυρρηνοί, τὰ πεδία ἔχοντες τὰ μέχρι τοῦ ποταμοῦ τοῦ Τιβέριδος, κλυζόμενοι τὰ μὲν πρὸς ἕω μάλιστα μέρη τῷ ποταμῷ μέχρι τῆς ἐκβολῆς αὐτοῦ, κατὰ δὲ θάτερα τῷ Τυρρηνικῷ καὶ Σαρδῴῳ πελάγει. ῥεῖ δὲ ἐκ τῶν Ἀπεννίνων ὀρῶν ὁ Τίβερις, πληροῦται δʼ ἐκ πολλῶν ποταμῶν, μέρος μέν τι διʼ αὐτῆς φερόμενος τῆς Τυρρηνίας, τὸ δʼ ἐφεξῆς διορίζων ἀπʼ αὐτῆς πρῶτον μὲν τὴν Ὀμβρικήν, εἶτα τοὺς Σαβίνους καὶ Λατίνους τοὺς πρὸς τῇ Ῥώμῃ μέχρι τῆς παραλίας. παραβέβληνται δέ πως τῷ ποταμῷ μὲν καὶ τοῖς Τυρρηνοῖς κατὰ πλάτος, ἀλλήλοις δὲ κατὰ μῆκος· ἀνέχουσι δὲ πρὸς τὰ Ἀπέννινα ὄρη τὰ πλησιάζοντα τῷ Ἀδρίᾳ πρῶτοι μὲν οἱ Ὀμβρικοί, μετὰ δὲ τούτους Σαβῖνοι, τελευταῖοι δʼ οἱ τὴν Λατίνην ἔχοντες, ἀρξάμενοι πάντες ἀπὸ τοῦ ποταμοῦ. ἡ μὲν οὖν τῶν Λατίνων χώρα μεταξὺ κεῖται τῆς τε ἀπὸ τῶν Ὠστίων παραλίας μέχρι πόλεως Σινοέσσης καὶ τῆς Σαβίνης (τὰ δʼ Ὤστια ἐστὶν ἐπίνειον τῆς Ῥώμης, εἰς ὃ ἐκδίδωσιν ὁ Τίβερις παρʼ αὐτὴν ῥυείς), ἐκτείνεται δὲ ἐπὶ μῆκος μέχρι τῆς Καμπανίας καὶ τῶν Σαυνιτικῶν ὀρῶν· ἡ δὲ Σαβίνη μεταξὺ τῶν Λατίνων κεῖται καὶ τῶν Ὀμβρικῶν, ἐκτείνεται δὲ καὶ αὐτὴ πρὸς τὰ Σαυνιτικὰ ὄρη, καὶ μᾶλλον συνάπτει τοῖς Ἀπεννίνοις τοῖς κατὰ Ὀυηστίνους τε καὶ Πελίγνους καὶ Μαρσούς· οἱ δʼ Ὀμβρικοὶ μέσοι μὲν κεῖνται τῆς τε Σαβίνης καὶ τῆς Τυρρηνίας, μέχρι δʼ Ἀριμίνου καὶ Ῥαουέννης προΐασιν, ὑπερβάλλοντες τὰ ὄρη. Τυρρηνοὶ δὲ παύονται ὑπʼ αὐτοῖς τοῖς ὄρεσι τοῖς περικλείουσιν ἐκ τῆς Λιγυστικῆς εἰς τὸν Ἀδρίαν, ἀπὸ τῆς οἰκείας ἀρξάμενοι θαλάττης καὶ τοῦ Τιβέριδος. τὰ καθʼ ἕκαστα δὲ διέξιμεν ἀπʼ αὐτῶν τούτων ἀρξάμενοι.

[2] οἱ Τυρρηνοὶ τοίνυν παρὰ τοῖς Ῥωμαίοις Ἑτροῦσκοι καὶ Τοῦσκοι προσαγορεύονται. οἱ δʼ Ἕλληνες οὕτως ὠνόμασαν αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ τοῦ Τυρρηνοῦ Ἄτυος, ὥς φασι, τοῦ στείλαντος ἐκ Λυδίας ἐποίκους δεῦρο. ἐπὶ γὰρ λιμοῦ καὶ ἀφορίας ὁ Ἄτυς, εἷς τῶν ἀπογόνων Ἡρακλέους καὶ Ὀμφάλης, δυεῖν παίδων ὄντων, κλήρῳ Λυδὸν μὲν κατέσχε, τῷ δὲ Τυρρηνῷ τὸν πλείω συστήσας λαὸν ἐξέστειλεν. ἐλθὼν δὲ τήν τε χώραν ἀφʼ ἑαυτοῦ Τυρρηνίαν ἐκάλεσε καὶ δώδεκα πόλεις ἔκτισεν, οἰκιστὴν ἐπιστήσας Τάρκωνα, ἀφʼ οὗ Ταρκυνία ἡ πόλις, ὃν διὰ τὴν ἐκ παίδων σύνεσιν πολιὸν γεγεννῆσθαι μυθεύουσι. τότε μὲν οὖν ὑφʼ ἑνὶ ἡγεμόνι ταττόμενοι μέγα ἴσχυον, χρόνοις δʼ ὕστερον διαλυθῆναι τὸ σύστημα εἰκὸς καὶ κατὰ πόλεις διασπασθῆναι βίᾳ τῶν πλησιοχώρων εἴξαντας· οὐ γὰρ ἂν χώραν εὐδαίμονα ἀφέντες τῇ θαλάττῃ κατὰ λῃστείαν ἐπέθεντο ἄλλοι πρὸς ἄλλα τραπόμενοι πελάγη, ἐπεί, ὅπου γε συμπνεύσαιεν, ἱκανοὶ ἦσαν οὐκ ἀμύνασθαι μόνον τοὺς ἐπιχειροῦντας αὐτοῖς, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀντεπιχειρεῖν καὶ μακρὰς στρατείας ποιεῖσθαι. μετὰ δὲ τὴν τῆς Ῥώμης κτίσιν Δημάρατος ἀφικνεῖται λαὸν ἄγων ἐκ Κορίνθου, καὶ δεξαμένων αὐτὸν Ταρκυνιτῶν γεννᾷ Λουκούμωνα ἐξ ἐπιχωρίας γυναικός. γενόμενος δὲ Ἄγκῳ Μαρκίῳ τῷ βασιλεῖ τῶν Ῥωμαίων φίλος, ἐβασίλευσεν οὗτος καὶ μετωνομάσθη Λεύκιος Ταρκύνιος Πρίσκος. ἐκόσμησε δʼ οὖν τὴν Τυρρηνίαν καὶ αὐτὸς καὶ ὁ πατὴρ πρότερον, ὁ μὲν εὐπορίᾳ δημιουργῶν τῶν συνακολουθησάντων οἴκοθεν, ὁ δὲ ταῖς ἐκ τῆς Ῥώμης ἀφορμαῖς. λέγεται δὲ καὶ ὁ θριαμβικὸς κόσμος καὶ ὑπατικὸς καὶ ἁπλῶς ὁ τῶν ἀρχόντων ἐκ Ταρκυνίων δεῦρο μετενεχθῆναι καὶ ῥάβδοι καὶ πελέκεις καὶ σάλπιγγες καὶ ἱεροποιίαι καὶ μαντικὴ καὶ μουσική, ὅσῃ δημοσίᾳ χρῶνται Ῥωμαῖοι. τούτου δʼ υἱὸς ἦν ὁ δεύτερος Ταρκύνιος ὁ Σούπερβος, ὅσπερ καὶ τελευταῖος βασιλεύσας ἐξέπεσε. Πορσίνας δʼ, ὁ τῶν Κλουσίνων βασιλεύς, πόλεως Τυρρηνίδος, κατάγειν αὐτὸν ἐπιχειρήσας διʼ ὅπλων, ὡς οὐχ οἷός τε ἦν, καταλυσάμενος τὴν ἔχθραν ἀπῆλθε φίλος μετὰ τιμῆς καὶ δωρεῶν μεγάλων.

[3] περὶ μὲν τῆς ἐπιφανείας τῶν Τυρρηνῶν ταῦτα καὶ ἔτι τὰ τοῖς Καιρετανοῖς πραχθέντα καὶ γὰρ τοὺς ἑλόντας τὴν Ῥώμην Γαλάτας κατεπολέμησαν ἀπιοῦσιν ἐπιθέμενοι κατὰ Σαβίνους, καὶ ἃ παρʼ ἑκόντων ἔλαβον Ῥωμαίων ἐκεῖνοι λάφυρα ἄκοντας ἀφείλοντο· πρὸς δὲ τούτοις τοὺς καταφυγόντας παρʼ αὐτοὺς ἐκ τῆς Ῥώμης ἔσωσαν καὶ τὸ ἀθάνατον πῦρ καὶ τὰς τῆς Ἑστίας ἱερείας. οἱ μὲν οὖν Ῥωμαῖοι διὰ τοὺς τότε φαύλως διοικοῦντας τὴν πόλιν οὐχ ἱκανῶς ἀπομνημονεῦσαι τὴν χάριν αὐτοῖς δοκοῦσι· πολιτείαν γὰρ δόντες οὐκ ἀνέγραψαν εἰς τοὺς πολίτας, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους τοὺς μὴ μετέχοντας τῆς ἰσονομίας εἰς τὰς δέλτους ἐξώριζον τὰς Καιρετανῶν. παρὰ δὲ τοῖς Ἕλλησιν εὐδοκίμησεν ἡ πόλις αὕτη διά τε ἀνδρείαν καὶ δικαιοσύνην· τῶν τε γὰρ λῃστηρίων ἀπέσχετο καίπερ δυναμένη πλεῖστον, καὶ Πυθοῖ τὸν Ἀγυλλαίων καλούμενον ἀνέθηκε θησαυρόν. Ἄγυλλα γὰρ ὠνομάζετο τὸ πρότερον ἡ νῦν Καιρέα, καὶ λέγεται Πελασγῶν κτίσμα τῶν ἐκ Θετταλίας ἀφιγμένων· τῶν δὲ Λυδῶν, οἵπερ Τυρρηνοὶ μετωνομάσθησαν, ἐπιστρατευσάντων τοῖς Ἀγυλλαίοις, προσιὼν τῷ τείχει τις ἐπυνθάνετο τοὔνομα τῆς πόλεως, τῶν δʼ ἀπὸ τοῦ τείχους Θετταλῶν τινος ἀντὶ τοῦ ἀποκρίνασθαι προσαγορεύσαντος αὐτὸν χαῖρε, δεξάμενοι τὸν οἰωνὸν οἱ Τυρρηνοὶ τοῦτον ἁλοῦσαν τὴν πόλιν μετωνόμασαν. ἡ δὲ οὕτω λαμπρὰ καὶ ἐπιφανὴς πόλις νῦν ἴχνη σώζει μόνον, εὐανδρεῖ δʼ αὐτῆς μᾶλλον τὰ πλησίον θερμά, ἃ καλοῦσι Καιρετανά, διὰ τοὺς φοιτῶντας θεραπείας χάριν.

[4] τοὺς δὲ Πελασγούς, ὅτι μὲν ἀρχαῖόν τι φῦλον κατὰ τὴν Ἑλλάδα πᾶσαν ἐπιπολάσαν καὶ μάλιστα παρὰ τοῖς Αἰολεῦσι τοῖς κατὰ Θετταλίαν, ὁμολογοῦσιν ἅπαντες σχεδόν τι. νομίζειν δέ φησιν Ἔφορος τὸ ἀνέκαθεν Ἀρκάδας ὄντας ἑλέσθαι στρατιωτικὸν βίον, εἰς δὲ τὴν αὐτὴν ἀγωγὴν προτρέποντας πολλοὺς ἅπασι τοῦ ὀνόματος μεταδοῦναι καὶ πολλὴν ἐπιφάνειαν κτήσασθαι καὶ παρὰ τοῖς Ἕλλησι καὶ παρὰ τοῖς ἄλλοις, παρʼ ὅσους ποτὲ ἀφιγμένοι τετυχήκασι. καὶ γὰρ τῆς Κρήτης ἔποικοι γεγόνασιν, ὥς φησιν Ὅμηρος· λέγει γοῦν Ὀδυσσεὺς πρὸς Πηνελόπην ἄλλη δʼ ἄλλων γλῶσσα μεμιγμένη· ἐν μὲν Ἀχαιοί, ἐν δʼ Ἐτεόκρητες μεγαλήτορες, ἐν δὲ Κύδωνες, Δωριέες τε τριχάικες, δῖοί τε Πελασγοί. καὶ τὸ Πελασγικὸν Ἄργος ἡ Θετταλία λέγεται, τὸ μεταξὺ τῶν ἐκβολῶν τοῦ Πηνειοῦ καὶ τῶν Θερμοπυλῶν ἕως τῆς ὀρεινῆς τῆς κατὰ Πίνδον, διὰ τὸ ἐπάρξαι τῶν τόπων τούτων τοὺς Πελασγούς. τόν τε Δία τὸν Δωδωναῖον αὐτὸς ὁ ποιητὴς ὀνομάζει Πελασγικόν Ζεῦ ἄνα, Δωδωναῖε, Πελασγικέ. πολλοὶ δὲ καὶ τὰ Ἠπειρωτικὰ ἔθνη Πελασγικὰ εἰρήκασιν, ὡς καὶ μέχρι δεῦρο ἐπαρξάντων· Πελασγούς τε πολλοὺς καὶ τῶν ἡρώων ὄνομα καλέσαντες, οἱ ὕστερον ἀπʼ ἐκείνων πολλὰ τῶν ἐθνῶν ἐπώνυμα πεποιήκασι· καὶ γὰρ τὴν Λέσβον Πελασγίαν εἰρήκασι, καὶ τοῖς ἐν τῇ Τρῳάδι Κίλιξιν Ὅμηρος εἴρηκε τοὺς ὁμόρους Πελασγούς Ἱππόθοος δʼ ἄγε φῦλα Πελασγῶν ἐγχεσιμώρων, τῶν οἳ Λάρισαν ἐριβώλακα ναιετάασκον. τῷ δʼ Ἐφόρῳ τοῦ ἐξ Ἀρκαδίας εἶναι τὸ φῦλον τοῦτο ἦρξεν Ἡσίοδος. φησὶ γάρ υἱεῖς ἐξεγένοντο Λυκάονος ἀντιθέοιο, ὅν ποτε τίκτε Πελασγός. Αἰσχύλος δʼ ἐκ τοῦ περὶ Μυκήνας Ἄργους φησὶν ἐν Ἱκέτισι καὶ Δαναΐσι τὸ γένος αὐτῶν. καὶ τὴν Πελοπόννησον δὲ Πελασγίαν φησὶν Ἔφορος κληθῆναι, καὶ Εὐριπίδης δʼ ἐν Ἀρχελάῳ φησὶν ὅτι Δαναὸς ὁ πεντήκοντα θυγατέρων πατὴρ ἐλθὼν ἐς Ἄργος ᾤκισʼ Ἰνάχου πόλιν, Πελασγιώτας δʼ ὠνομασμένους τὸ πρὶν Δαναοὺς καλεῖσθαι νόμον ἔθηκʼ ἀνʼ Ἑλλάδα. Ἀντικλείδης δὲ πρώτους φησὶν αὐτοὺς τὰ περὶ Λῆμνον καὶ Ἴμβρον κτίσαι, καὶ δὴ τούτων τινὰς καὶ μετὰ Τυρρηνοῦ τοῦ Ἄτυος εἰς τὴν Ἰταλίαν συνᾶραι. καὶ οἱ τὴν Ἀτθίδα συγγράψαντες ἱστοροῦσι περὶ τῶν Πελασγῶν ὡς καὶ Ἀθήνησι γενομένων¹, διὰ δὲ τὸ πλανήτας εἶναι καὶ δίκην ὀρνέων ἐπιφοιτᾶν ἐφʼ οὓς ἔτυχε τόπους Πελαργοὺς ὑπὸ τῶν Ἀττικῶν κληθῆναι.

[5] τῆς δὲ Τυρρηνίας μῆκος μὲν τὸ μέγιστον εἶναί φασι τὴν παραλίαν ἀπὸ Λούνης μέχρι Ὠστίων δισχιλίων που καὶ πεντακοσίων σταδίων, πλάτος δὲ τοῦ ἡμίσους ἔλαττον τὸ πρὸς τοῖς ὄρεσιν. εἰς μὲν οὖν Πίσας ἀπὸ Λούνης πλείους τῶν τετρακοσίων σταδίων εἰσίν, ἐντεῦθεν δʼ εἰς Ὀυολατέρρας διακόσιοι ὀγδοήκοντα, πάλιν δʼ ἐνθένδε εἰς Ποπλώνιον διακόσιοι ἑβδομήκοντα, ἐκ δὲ Ποπλωνίου εἰς Κόσαν ἐγγὺς ὀκτακόσιοι, οἱ δὲ ἑξακόσιοι φασί Πολύβιος δʼ οὐκ εὖ καὶ τοὺς πάντας χιλίους τριακοσίους τριάκοντα λέγει. τούτων δʼ ἡ μὲν Λοῦνα πόλις ἐστὶ καὶ λιμήν, καλοῦσι δʼ οἱ Ἕλληνες Σελήνης λιμένα καὶ πόλιν. ἡ μὲν οὖν πόλις οὐ μεγάλη, ὁ δὲ λιμὴν μέγιστός τε καὶ κάλλιστος, ἐν αὑτῷ περιέχων πλείους λιμένας ἀγχιβαθεῖς πάντας, οἷον ἂν γένοιτο ὁρμητήριον θαλαττοκρατησάντων ἀνθρώπων τοσαύτης μὲν θαλάττης τοσοῦτον δὲ χρόνον. περικλείεται δʼ ὁ λιμὴν ὄρεσιν ὑψηλοῖς, ἀφʼ ὧν τὰ πελάγη κατοπτεύεται καὶ ἡ Σαρδὼ καὶ τῆς ᾐόνος ἑκατέρωθεν πολὺ μέρος. μέταλλα δὲ λίθου λευκοῦ τε καὶ ποικίλου γλαυκίζοντος τοσαῦτά τʼ ἐστὶ καὶ τηλικαῦτα, μονολίθους ἐκδιδόντα πλάκας καὶ στύλους, ὥστε τὰ πλεῖστα τῶν ἐκπρεπῶν ἔργων τῶν ἐν τῇ Ῥώμῃ καὶ ταῖς ἄλλαις πόλεσιν ἐντεῦθεν ἔχειν τὴν χορηγίαν· καὶ γὰρ εὐεξάγωγός ἐστιν ἡ λίθος, τῶν μετάλλων ὑπερκειμένων τῆς θαλάττης πλησίον, ἐκ δὲ τῆς θαλάττης διαδεχομένου τοῦ Τιβέριος τὴν κομιδήν· καὶ τὴν ξυλείαν τὴν εἰς τὰς οἰκοδομὰς σελμάτων εὐθυτάτων καὶ εὐμηκεστάτων ἡ Τυρρηνία χορηγεῖ τὴν πλείστην, τῷ ποταμῷ κατάγουσα ἐκ τῶν ὀρῶν εὐθύς. πρὸς δὲ τοῖς ὄρεσι τοῖς ὑπερκειμένοις τῆς Λούνης ἐστὶ πόλις Λοῦκα. μεταξὺ δὲ Λούνης καὶ Πίσης ὁ Μάκρας ἐστὶ * χωρίον, ᾧ πέρατι τῆς Τυρρηνίας καὶ τῆς Λιγυστικῆς κέχρηνται τῶν συγγραφέων πολλοί. ἡ δὲ Πῖσα κτίσμα μέν ἐστι τῶν ἐν Πελοποννήσῳ Πισατῶν, οἳ μετὰ Νέστορος ἐπὶ Ἴλιον στρατεύσαντες κατὰ τὸν ἀνάπλουν ἐπλανήθησαν, οἱ μὲν εἰς τὸ Μεταπόντιον οἱ δʼ εἰς τὴν Πισᾶτιν, ἅπαντες Πύλιοι καλούμενοι. δυεῖν δὲ ποταμῶν κεῖται μεταξὺ κατʼ αὐτὴν τὴν συμβολήν, Ἄρνου τε καὶ Αὔσαρος, ὧν ὁ μὲν ἐξ Ἀρρητίου φέρεται πολύς, οὐχὶ πᾶς, ἀλλὰ τριχῆ σχισθείς, ὁ δʼ ἐκ τῶν Ἀπεννίνων ὀρῶν· συμπεσόντες δʼ εἰς ἓν ῥεῖθρον μετεωρίζουσιν ἀλλήλους ταῖς ἀντικοπαῖς ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον ὥστε τοὺς ἐπὶ τῶν ᾐόνων ἑστῶτας ἀμφοτέρων μηδέτερον ὑπὸ θατέρου καθορᾶσθαι, ὥστʼ ἀνάγκη δυσανάπλωτα ἐκ θαλάττης εἶναι· στάδιοι δʼ εἰσὶ τοῦ ἀνάπλου περὶ εἴκοσι. μυθεύουσι δʼ, ὅτε πρῶτον ἐκ τῶν ὀρῶν οἱ ποταμοὶ κατεφέροντο οὗτοι, κωλυομένους ὑπὸ τῶν ἐπιχωρίων μὴ συμπεσόντες εἰς ἓν κατακλύζοιεν τὴν χώραν, ὑποσχέσθαι μὴ κατακλύσειν, καὶ φυλάξαι τὴν πίστιν. δοκεῖ δʼ ἡ πόλις εὐτυχῆσαί ποτε, καὶ νῦν οὐκ ἀδοξεῖ διά τε εὐκαρπίαν καὶ τὰ λιθουργεῖα καὶ τὴν ὕλην τὴν ναυπηγήσιμον, ᾗ τὸ μὲν παλαιὸν ἐχρῶντο πρὸς τοὺς κατὰ θάλατταν κινδύνους· καὶ γὰρ μαχιμώτεροι Τυρρηνῶν ὑπῆρξαν, καὶ παρώξυναν αὐτοὺς οἱ Λίγυες πονηροὶ γείτονες παρὰ πλευρὰν ὄντες· νῦν δὲ τὸ πλέον εἰς τὰς οἰκοδομὰς ἀναλίσκεται τὰς ἐν Ῥώμῃ κἀν ταῖς ἐπαύλεσι βασίλεια κατασκευαζομένων Περσικά.

[6] τῶν δὲ Ὀυολατερρανῶν ἡ μὲν χώρα κλύζεται τῇ θαλάττῃ, τὸ δὲ κτίσμα ἐν φάραγγι βαθείᾳ λόφος ἐστὶν ὑψηλὸς περίκρημνος πάντη τὴν κορυφὴν ἐπίπεδος, ἐφʼ ᾗ ἵδρυται τὸ τεῖχος τῆς πόλεως. ἡ δʼ ἐπʼ αὐτὴν ἀνάβασις πεντεκαίδεκα σταδίων ἐστὶν ἀπὸ τῆς βάσεως, ὀξεῖα πᾶσα καὶ χαλεπή. ἐνταῦθα συνέστησαν τινὲς τῶν Τυρρηνῶν καὶ τῶν προγεγραμμένων ὑπὸ Σύλλα· πληρώσαντες δὲ τέτταρα τάγματα στρατιᾶς διετῆ χρόνον ἐπολιορκήθησαν, εἶθʼ ὑπόσπονδοι παρεχώρησαν τοῦ τόπου. τὸ δὲ Ποπλώνιον ἐπʼ ἄκρας ὑψηλῆς ἵδρυται κατερρωγυίας εἰς τὴν θάλατταν καὶ χερρονησιζούσης, πολιορκίαν καὶ αὐτὸ δεδεγμένον περὶ τοὺς αὐτοὺς καιρούς. τὸ μὲν οὖν πολίχνιον πᾶν ἔρημόν ἐστι πλὴν τῶν ἱερῶν καὶ κατοικιῶν ὀλίγων, τὸ δʼ ἐπίνειον οἰκεῖται βέλτιον, πρὸς τῇ ῥίζῃ τοῦ ὄρους λιμένιον ἔχον καὶ νεωσοίκους δύο· καὶ δοκεῖ μοι μόνη τῶν Τυρρηνίδων τῶν παλαιῶν αὕτη πόλεων ἐπʼ αὐτῇ τῇ θαλάττῃ ἱδρῦσθαι· αἴτιον δʼ ἐστὶ τὸ τῆς χώρας ἀλίμενον· διόπερ παντάπασιν ἔφευγον οἱ κτίσται τὴν θάλατταν ἢ προεβάλλοντο ἐρύματα πρὸ αὐτῆς, ὥστε μὴ λάφυρον ἕτοιμον ἐκκεῖσθαι τοῖς ἐπιπλεύσασιν. ἔστι δὲ καὶ θυννοσκοπεῖον ὑπὸ τῇ ἄκρᾳ. κατοπτεύεται δʼ ἀπὸ τῆς πόλεως πόρρωθεν μὲν καὶ μόλις ἡ Σαρδώ, ἐγγυτέρω δʼ ἡ Κύρνος ἑξήκοντά πως διέχουσα τῆς Σαρδόνος σταδίους, πολὺ δὲ μᾶλλον τούτων ἡ Αἰθαλία, ἣ προσεχεστέρα τῇ ἠπείρῳ ἐστὶν ὅσον τριακοσίους διέχουσα σταδίους, ὅσους καὶ τῆς Κύρνου διέχει. ἄριστον δʼ ἀφετήριον τοῦτο τὸ χωρίον ἐστὶν ἐπὶ τὰς τρεῖς τὰς λεχθείσας νήσους. εἴδομεν δὲ καὶ ταύτας ἡμεῖς ἀναβάντες ἐπὶ τὸ Ποπλώνιον καὶ μέταλλά τινα ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ ἐκλελειμμένα. εἴδομεν δὲ καὶ τοὺς ἐργαζομένους τὸν σίδηρον τὸν ἐκ τῆς Αἰθαλίας κομιζόμενον· οὐ γὰρ δύναται συλλιπαίνεσθαι καμινευόμενος ἐν τῇ νήσῳ, κομίζεται δʼ εὐθὺς ἐκ τῶν μετάλλων εἰς τὴν ἤπειρον. τοῦτό τε δὴ παράδοξον ἡ νῆσος ἔχει καὶ τὸ τὰ ὀρύγματα ἀναπληροῦσθαι πάλιν τῷ χρόνῳ τὰ μεταλλευθέντα, καθάπερ τοὺς πλαταμῶνάς φασι τοὺς ἐν Ῥόδῳ καὶ τὴν ἐν Πάρῳ πέτραν τὴν μάρμαρον καὶ τὰς ἐν Ἰνδοῖς ἅλας, ἅς φησι Κλείταρχος. οὔτʼ οὖν Ἐρατοσθένης ὀρθῶς ὁ φήσας μὴ καθορᾶσθαι μήτε τὴν Κύρνον ἐκ τῆς ἠπείρου μήτε τὴν Σαρδόνα, οὔτʼ Ἀρτεμίδωρος ὁ φήσας ἐν χιλίοις εἶναι καὶ διακοσίοις σταδίοις πελαγίας ἀμφοτέρας. καὶ γὰρ εἴ τισιν, ἡμῖν γε οὐκ ἂν ὑπῆρξαν ὁραταὶ ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον ἐφʼ ὅσον σαφεῖς ἑωρῶντο, καὶ μάλιστα ἡ Κύρνος. ἔστι δὲ κατὰ τὴν Αἰθαλίαν λιμὴν Ἀργῷος ἀπὸ τῆς Ἀργοῦς, ὥς φασιν. ἐκεῖσε γὰρ πλεῦσαι τὴν τῆς Κίρκης οἴκησιν ζητοῦντα τὸν Ἰάσονα, τῆς Μηδείας ἐθελούσης ἰδεῖν τὴν θεάν· καὶ δὴ καὶ τῶν ἀποστλεγγισμάτων παγέντων, ἃ ἐποίουν οἱ Ἀργοναῦται, διαμένειν ἔτι καὶ νῦν διαποικίλους τὰς ἐπὶ τῆς ᾐόνος ψήφους. αἱ δὲ τοιαῦται μυθοποιίαι τεκμήρια τῶν λεγομένων ὑφʼ ἡμῶν εἰσίν, ὅτι οὐ πάντα Ὅμηρος αὐτὸς ἔπλαττεν, ἀλλʼ ἀκούων θρυλουμένων τῶν τοιούτων πολλῶν αὐτὸς προσετίθει μήκη διαστημάτων καὶ ἐκτοπισμῶν· καὶ καθάπερ τὸν Ὀδυσσέα εἰς τὸν ὠκεανὸν ἐξέβαλε, παραπλησίως καὶ τὸν Ἰάσονα, γενομένης καὶ τούτῳ πλάνης τινὸς κἀκείνῳ, καθάπερ καὶ Μενελάῳ. περὶ μὲν οὖν τῆς Αἰθαλίας τοσαῦτα.

[7] ̔η δὲ Κύρνος ὑπὸ τῶν Ῥωμαίων καλεῖται Κορσίκα. οἰκεῖται δὲ φαύλως τραχεῖά τε οὖσα καὶ τοῖς πλείστοις μέρεσι δύσβατος τελέως ὥστε τοὺς κατέχοντας τὰ ὄρη καὶ ἀπὸ λῃστηρίων ζῶντας ἀγριωτέρους εἶναι θηρίων. ὁπόταν γοῦν ὁρμήσωσιν οἱ τῶν Ῥωμαίων στρατηγοὶ καὶ προσπεσόντες τοῖς ἐρύμασι πολὺ πλῆθος ἕλωσι, τῶν ἀνδραπόδων ὁρᾶν ἔστιν ἐν τῇ Ῥώμῃ καὶ θαυμάζειν ὅσον ἐμφαίνεται τὸ θηριῶδες καὶ τὸ βοσκηματῶδες ἐν αὐτοῖς· ἢ γὰρ οὐχ ὑπομένουσι ζῆν ἢ ζῶντες ἀπαθείᾳ καὶ ἀναισθησίᾳ τοὺς ὠνησαμένους ἐπιτρίβουσιν, ὥστε καίπερ τὸ τυχὸν καταβαλοῦσιν ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν ὅμως μεταμέλειν. ἔστι δʼ ὅμως οἰκήσιμά τινα μέρη καὶ πολίσματά που Βλησίνων τε καὶ Χάραξ καὶ Ἐνικονίαι καὶ Ὀυάπανες. μῆκος δὲ τῆς νήσου φησὶν ὁ χωρογράφος μίλια ἑκατὸν ἑξήκοντα, πλάτος δὲ ἑβδομήκοντα· Σαρδόνος δὲ μῆκος διακόσια εἴκοσι, πλάτος δὲ ἐνενήκοντα ὀκτώ. κατʼ ἄλλους δὲ Κύρνου μὲν περίμετρος περὶ τριςχιλίους λέγεται καὶ διακοσίους σταδίους, τῆς δὲ Σαρδόνος καὶ τετρακισχιλίους. ἔστι δὲ αὐτῆς τὸ πολὺ μέρος τραχὺ καὶ οὐκ εἰρηναῖον, πολὺ δὲ καὶ χώραν ἔχον εὐδαίμονα τοῖς πᾶσι, σίτῳ δὲ καὶ διαφερόντως. πόλεις δʼ εἰσὶ μὲν πλείους, ἀξιόλογοι δὲ Κάραλις καὶ Σοῦλχοι. τῇ δʼ ἀρετῇ τῶν τόπων ἀντιτάττεταί τις καὶ μοχθηρία· νοσερὰ γὰρ ἡ νῆσος τοῦ θέρους καὶ μάλιστα ἐν τοῖς εὐκαρποῦσι χωρίοις· τὰ δʼ αὐτὰ ταῦτα καὶ πορθεῖται συνεχῶς ὑπὸ τῶν ὀρείων οἳ καλοῦνται Διαγησβεῖς, Ἰολαεῖς πρότερον ὀνομαζόμενοι. λέγεται γὰρ Ἰόλαος ἄγων τῶν παίδων τινὰς τοῦ Ἡρακλέους ἐλθεῖν δεῦρο καὶ συνοικῆσαι τοῖς τὴν νῆσον ἔχουσι βαρβάροις· Τυρρηνοὶ δʼ ἦσαν· ὕστερον δὲ Φοίνικες ἐπεκράτησαν οἱ ἐκ Καρχηδόνος, καὶ μετὰ τούτων Ῥωμαίοις ἐπολέμουν· καταλυθέντων δὲ ἐκείνων πάνθʼ ὑπὸ Ῥωμαίοις ὑπῆρξε. τέτταρα δʼ ἐστὶ τῶν ὀρείων ἔθνη, Πάρατοι Σοσσινάτοι Βάλαροι Ἀκώνιτες, ἐν σπηλαίοις οἰκοῦντες, εἰ δέ τινα ἔχουσι γῆν σπόριμον, οὐδὲ ταύτην ἐπιμελῶς σπείροντες, ἀλλὰ τὰς τῶν ἐργαζομένων καθαρπάζοντες, τοῦτο μὲν τῶν αὐτόθι τοῦτο δʼ ἐπιπλέοντες τοῖς ἐν τῇ περαίᾳ, Πισάταις μάλιστα. οἱ δὲ πεμπόμενοι στρατηγοὶ τὰ μὲν ἀντέχουσι, πρὸς ἃ δʼ ἀπαυδῶσιν, ἐπειδὰν μὴ λυσιτελῇ τρέφειν συνεχῶς ἐν τόποις νοσεροῖς στρατόπεδον. λείπεται δὲ στρατηγεῖν τέχνας τινάς· καὶ δὴ τηρήσαντες ἔθος τι τῶν βαρβάρων (πανηγυρίζουσι γὰρ ἐπὶ πλείους ἡμέρας ἀπὸ τῆς λεηλασίας), ἐπιτίθενται τότε καὶ χειροῦνται πολλούς. γίνονται δʼ ἐνταῦθα οἱ τρίχα φύοντες αἰγείαν ἀντʼ ἐρέας κριοί, καλούμενοι δὲ μούσμωνες, ὧν ταῖς δοραῖς θωρακίζονται. χρῶνται δὲ πέλτῃ καὶ ξιφιδίῳ.

[8] Ἀπὸ πάσης δὲ τῆς μεταξὺ Ποπλωνίου καὶ Πίσης ἱκανῶς αἱ νῆσοι κατοπτεύονται· ἐπιμήκεις δʼ εἰσὶ καὶ παράλληλοι σχεδὸν αἱ τρεῖς ἐπὶ νότον καὶ Λιβύην τετραμμέναι· πολὺ μέντοι τῷ μεγέθει λείπεται τῶν ἄλλων ἡ Αἰθαλία. ἀπό τε τῆς Λιβύης τὸ ἐγγυτάτω δίαρμά φησιν ὁ χωρογράφος εἰς τὴν Σαρδὼ μίλια τριακόσια. μετὰ δὲ τὸ Ποπλώνιον Κόσαι πόλις μικρὸν ὑπὲρ τῆς θαλάττης· ἔστι δʼ ἐν κόλπῳ βουνὸς ὑψηλός, ἐφʼ οὗ τὸ κτίσμα· ὑπόκειται δʼ Ἡρακλέους λιμὴν καὶ πλησίον λιμνοθάλαττα καὶ παρὰ τὴν ἄκραν τὴν ὑπὲρ τοῦ κόλπου θυννοσκοπεῖον. ἀκολουθεῖ γὰρ ὁ θύννος οὐ τῇ βαλάνῳ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῇ πορφύρᾳ παρὰ γῆν, ἀρξάμενος ἀπὸ τῆς ἔξω θαλάττης μέχρι καὶ Σικελίας. ἀπὸ δὲ τῶν Κοσῶν εἰς Ὤστια παραπλέουσι πολίχνιά ἐστι Γραουίσκοι καὶ Πύργοι καὶ Ἄλσιον καὶ Φρεγῆνα. εἰς μὲν δὴ Γραουίσκους στάδιοι τριακόσιοι, ἐν δὲ τῷ μεταξὺ τόπος ἐστὶ καλούμενος Ῥηγισουίλλα· ἱστόρηται δὲ γενέσθαι τοῦτο βασίλειον Μάλεω τοῦ Πελασγοῦ, ὅν φασι δυναστεύσαντα ἐν τοῖς τόποις μετὰ τῶν συνοίκων Πελασγῶν ἀπελθεῖν ἐνθένδε εἰς Ἀθήνας· τούτου δʼ εἰσὶ τοῦ φύλου καὶ οἱ τὴν Ἄγυλλαν κατεσχηκότες. ἀπὸ δὲ Γραουίσκων εἰς Πύργους μικρὸν ἐλάττους τῶν ἑκατὸν ὀγδοήκοντα, ἔστι δʼ ἐπίνειον τῶν Καιρετανῶν ἀπὸ τριάκοντα σταδίων. ἔχει δὲ Εἰληθυίας ἱερόν, Πελασγῶν ἵδρυμα, πλούσιόν ποτε γενόμενον· ἐσύλησε δʼ αὐτὸ Διονύσιος ὁ τῶν Σικελιωτῶν τύραννος κατὰ τὸν πλοῦν τὸν ἐπὶ Κύρνον. ἀπὸ δὲ τῶν Πύργων εἰς Ὤστια διακόσιοι ἑξήκοντα· ἐν δὲ τῷ μεταξὺ τὸ Ἄλσιον καὶ ἡ Φρεγῆνα. περὶ μὲν τῆς παραλίας τῆς Τυρρηνικῆς ταῦτα.

[9] Ἐν δὲ τῇ μεσογαίᾳ πόλεις πρὸς ταῖς εἰρημέναις Ἀρρήτιόν τε καὶ Περουσία καὶ Ὀυολσίνιοι καὶ Σούτριον· πρὸς δὲ ταύταις πολίχναι συχναί, Βλήρα τε καὶ Φερεντῖνον καὶ Φαλέριοι καὶ Φαλίσκον καὶ Νεπήτα καὶ Στατωνία καὶ ἄλλαι πλείους, αἱ μὲν ἐξ ἀρχῆς συνεστῶσαι, τινὲς δὲ τῶν Ῥωμαίων οἰκισάντων ἢ ταπεινωσάντων, καθάπερ τοὺς Ὀυηίους πολεμήσαντας πολλάκις καὶ τὰς Φιδήνας. ἔνιοι δʼ οὐ Τυρρηνούς φασι τοὺς Φαλερίους ἀλλὰ Φαλίσκους, ἴδιον ἔθνος· τινὲς δὲ καὶ τοὺς Φαλίσκους πόλιν ἰδιόγλωσσον· οἱ δὲ Αἰκουουμφαλίσκον λέγουσιν ἐπὶ τῇ Φλαμινίᾳ ὁδῷ κείμενον μεταξὺ Ὀκρίκλων καὶ Ῥώμης. ὑπὸ δὲ τῷ Σωράκτῳ ὄρει Φερωνία πόλις ἐστίν, ὁμώνυμος ἐπιχωρίᾳ τινὶ δαίμονι τιμωμένῃ σφόδρα ὑπὸ τῶν περιοίκων, ἧς τέμενός ἐστιν ἐν τῷ τόπῳ θαυμαστὴν ἱεροποιίαν ἔχον· γυμνοῖς γὰρ ποσὶ διεξίασιν ἀνθρακιὰν καὶ σποδιὰν μεγάλην οἱ κατεχόμενοι ὑπὸ τῆς δαίμονος ταύτης ἀπαθεῖς, καὶ συνέρχεται πλῆθος ἀνθρώπων ἅμα τῆς τε πανηγύρεως χάριν, ἣ συντελεῖται κατʼ ἔτος, καὶ τῆς λεχθείσης θέας. μάλιστα δʼ ἐστὶν ἐν μεσογαίᾳ τὸ Ἀρρήτιον πρὸς τοῖς ὄρεσιν. ἀπέχει γοῦν τῆς Ῥώμης χιλίους καὶ διακοσίους σταδίους, τὸ δὲ Κλούσιον ὀκτακοσίους· ἐγγὺς δὲ τούτων ἐστὶ καὶ ἡ Περουσία. προσλαμβάνουσι δὲ πρὸς τὴν εὐδαιμονίαν τῆς χώρας καὶ λίμναι μεγάλαι τε καὶ πολλαὶ οὖσαι· καὶ γὰρ πλέονται καὶ τρέφουσιν ὄψον πολὺ καὶ τῶν πτηνῶν τὰ λιμναῖα· τύφη τε καὶ πάπυρος ἀνθήλη τε πολλὴ κατακομίζεται ποταμοῖς εἰς τὴν Ῥώμην, οὓς ἐκδιδόασιν αἱ λίμναι μέχρι τοῦ Τιβέρεως· ὧν ἐστιν ἥ τε Κιμινία καὶ ἡ περὶ Ὀυολσινίους καὶ ἡ περὶ Κλούσιον καὶ ἡ ἐγγυτάτω τῆς Ῥώμης καὶ τῆς θαλάττης Σαβάτα· ἀπωτάτω δὲ καὶ δὴ πρὸς Ἀρρητίῳ ἡ Τρασουμέννα, καθʼ ἣν αἱ ἐκ τῆς Κελτικῆς εἰς τὴν Τυρρηνίαν εἰσβολαὶ στρατοπέδοις, αἷσπερ καὶ Ἀννίβας ἐχρήσατο, δυεῖν οὐσῶν, ταύτης τε καὶ τῆς ἐπʼ Ἀριμίνου διὰ τῆς Ὀμβρικῆς. βελτίων μὲν οὖν ἡ ἐπʼ Ἀριμίνου· ταπεινοῦται γὰρ ἐνταῦθα ἱκανῶς τὰ ὄρη· φρουρουμένων δὲ τῶν παρόδων τούτων ἐπιμελῶς, ἠναγκάσθη τὴν χαλεπωτέραν ἑλέσθαι, καὶ ἐκράτησεν ὅμως νικήσας μάχας μεγάλας Φλαμίνιον. πολλὴ δὲ καὶ τῶν θερμῶν ὑδάτων ἀφθονία κατὰ τὴν Τυρρηνίαν²· οὐχ ἧττον δʼ εὐανδρεῖ τῶν ἐν Βαΐαις, ἃ διωνόμασται πολὺ πάντων μάλιστα.

[10] τῇ δὲ Τυρρηνίᾳ παραβέβληται κατὰ τὸ πρὸς ἕω μέρος ἡ Ὀμβρική, τὴν ἀρχὴν ἀπὸ τῶν Ἀπεννίνων λαβοῦσα, καὶ ἔτι περαιτέρω μέχρι τοῦ Ἀδρίου. ἀπὸ γὰρ δὴ Ῥαουέννης ἀρξάμενοι κατέχουσιν οὗτοι τὰ πλησίον καὶ ἐφεξῆς Σάρσιναν Ἀρίμινον Σήναν καὶ Μάρινον. αὐτοῦ δʼ ἐστὶ καὶ ὁ Αἶσις ποταμὸς καὶ τὸ Κίγγουλον ὄρος καὶ Σεντῖνον καὶ Μέταυρος ποταμὸς καὶ τὸ ἱερὸν τῆς Τύχης. περὶ γὰρ τούτους τοὺς τόπους ἐστὶ τὰ ὅρια τῆς Ἰταλίας τῆς πρότερον καὶ τῆς Κελτικῆς κατὰ τὸ πρὸς τῇ θαλάττῃ ταύτῃ μέρος, καίπερ μετατιθέντων πολλάκις τῶν ἡγεμόνων. πρότερον μέν γε τὸν Αἶσιν ἐποιοῦντο ὅριον, πάλιν δὲ τὸν Ῥουβίκωνα ποταμόν. ἔστι δʼ ὁ μὲν Αἶσις μεταξὺ Ἀγκῶνος καὶ Σήνας, ὁ δὲ Ῥουβίκων μεταξὺ Ἀριμίνου καὶ Ῥαουέννης, ἄμφω δʼ ἐκπίπτουσιν εἰς τὸν Ἀδρίαν. νυνὶ δὲ συμπάσης τῆς μέχρι Ἄλπεων ἀποδειχθείσης Ἰταλίας, τούτους μὲν τοὺς ὅρους ἐᾶν δεῖ, τὴν δʼ Ὀμβρικὴν καθʼ αὑτὴν οὐδὲν ἧττον μέχρι καὶ Ῥαουέννης ὁμολογοῦσιν ἅπαντες διατείνειν· οἰκεῖται γὰρ ὑπὸ τούτων. εἰς μὲν δὴ Ἀρίμινον ἐνθένδε περὶ τριακοσίους φασίν, ἐκ δὲ Ἀριμίνου τὴν ἐπὶ Ῥώμης ἰόντι κατὰ τὴν Φλαμινίαν ὁδὸν διὰ τῆς Ὀμβρικῆς ἅπασα ἡ ὁδός ἐστι μέχρι Ὀκρίκλων καὶ τοῦ Τιβέρεως σταδίων πεντήκοντα καὶ τριακοσίων ἐπὶ τοῖς χιλίοις. τοῦτο μὲν δὴ μῆκος, τὸ δὲ πλάτος ἀνώμαλόν ἐστι. πόλεις δʼ εἰσὶν αἱ ἐντὸς τῶν Ἀπεννίνων ὀρῶν ἄξιαι λόγου κατʼ αὐτὴν μὲν τὴν Φλαμινίαν ὁδὸν οἵ τε Ὀκρίκλοι πρὸς τῷ Τιβέρει καὶ * λαρολονι καὶ Ναρνία, διʼ ἧς ῥεῖ ὁ Νὰρ ποταμός, συμβάλλων τῷ Τιβέρει μικρὸν ὑπὲρ Ὀκρίκλων, πλωτὸς οὐ μεγάλοις σκάφεσιν· εἶτα Κάρσουλοι καὶ Μηουανία, παρʼ ἣν ῥεῖ ὁ Τενέας, καὶ οὗτος ἐλάττοσι σκάφεσι κατάγων ἐπὶ τὸν Τίβεριν τὰ ἐκ τοῦ πεδίου. καὶ ἄλλαι δʼ εἰσὶ κατοικίαι διὰ τὴν ὁδὸν πληθυνόμεναι μᾶλλον ἢ διὰ πολιτικὸν σύστημα, Φόρον Φλαμίνιον καὶ Νουκερία ἡ τὰ ξύλινα ἀγγεῖα ἐργαζομένη καὶ Φόρον Σεμπρώνιον. ἐν δεξιᾷ δὲ τῆς ὁδοῦ βαδίζοντι ἐκ τῶν Ὀκρίκλων εἰς Ἀρίμινον Ἰντέραμνά ἐστι καὶ Σπολήτιον καὶ Αἴσιον καὶ Καμέρτης, ἐν αὐτοῖς τοῖς ὁρίζουσι τὴν Πικεντίνην ὄρεσι. κατὰ δὲ θάτερα μέρη Ἀμερία τε καὶ Τοῦδερ εὐερκὴς πόλις, καὶ Εἰσπέλλον καὶ Ἰγούιον, πλησίον τοῦτο ἤδη τῶν ὑπερβολῶν τοῦ ὄρους. ἅπασα δʼ εὐδαίμων ἡ χώρα, μικρῷ δʼ ὀρειοτέρα, ζειᾷ μᾶλλον ἢ πυρῷ τοὺς ἀνθρώπους τρέφουσα· ὀρεινὴ δὲ καὶ ἡ Σαβίνη ἐφεξῆς οὖσα ταύτῃ, παραβεβλημένη τὸν αὐτὸν τρόπον ὅνπερ αὕτη τῇ Τυρρηνικῇ· καὶ τῆς Λατίνης δὲ ὅσα πλησιάζει τούτοις τε καὶ τοῖς Ἀπεννίνοις ὄρεσι τραχύτερά ἐστιν. ἄρχεται μὲν οὖν τὰ δύο ἔθνη ταῦτα ἀπὸ τοῦ Τιβέρεως καὶ τῆς Τυρρηνίας, ἐκτείνεται δὲ ἐπὶ τὰ Ἀπέννινα ὄρη πρὸς τῷ Ἀδρίᾳ λοξὰ παρεμβάλλοντα, ἡ δὲ Ὀμβρικὴ καὶ παραλλάττουσα, ὡς εἴρηται, μέχρι τῆς θαλάττης. περὶ μὲν οὖν τῶν Ὀμβρικῶν ἱκανῶς εἴρηται.

Notes on the current edition

Geography

1. Gallia Cispadana.

2. ̓ομβικὴ, now Ombria.

3. Or nearest to the Adriatic.

4. Rimini.

5. Larcher calculates that it was about the year of Rome 91, or 663 years before the Christian era, that Demaratus, flying from the tyranny of Cypselus at Corinth, established himself in Tyrrhenia.

6. Strabo here mentions only one son of Demaratus, to whom he gives the name of Lucumo; in this latter statement he is supported by Dionysius Halicarnassus. Livy also mentions a young citizen of Clusium named Lucumo. But there is reason to believe that these three writers were deceived by the writers whom they followed. It seems to be incontestable that Lucumo was the designation of the chief of each of the twelve cities of Etruria.

7. Dionysius Halicarnassus relates that after a brisk war the cities of Etruria submitted to Tarquinius Priscus, and that the Romans permitted him to accept this foreign royalty, and still hold the throne of Rome. No historian that we are aware of, with the exception of Strabo, mentions the benefits received by Etruria from that prince.

8. Chiusi.

9. B. C. 508.

10. The people of Cerveteri.

11. This is also related by Livy and Valerius Maximus.

12. A Grecian form of salutation, equivalent to our good-morning.

13. Craeri, according to Holstenius, the Bagni di Sasso, Cluvi considered it Bagni di Stigliano.

14.

And there is a different language of different men mixed together; there are in it Achaians, and magnanimous Eteocretans, and Cydonians, and crest-shaking Dorians, and divine Pelasgians.

Odyssey xix. 175.

15. The Salambria, Costum.

16. Iliad xvi. 223.

17. Metelino.

18.

Hippothous led the tribes of the spear-skilled Pelasgians, of those who inhabited fertile Larissa.

Iliad ii. 840

19. We have followed the example of the French translators in reading ᾤκησεν with all MSS. Groskurd and Kramer adopt the views of Xylander and Siebenkees in substituting ᾤκισεν.

20. οἱ τὴν?̓ατθίδα συγγράψαντες.?̓ατθὶς was a title given to their works by many authors who wrote on Athenian Antiquities, as Philochorus, Androtion, Amelesagoras, Hellanicus, etc.

21. Or Storks.

22. Volterra.

23. Ruins near Ansedonia.

24. Coray here reads αὐκ. Kramer considers the passage corrupt.

25. The French translation here gives 1460, and a note by Gosselin.

26. σελήνη, the moon.

27. The bay of Spezia.

28. The mountains of Carrara.

29. The Mediterranean.

30. Other writers mention a river Macra, but none of them, as it appears, a district in Italy bearing that name. Kramer supposes that Strabo wrote ποτάμιον, and not χωοͅίον, the reading of all MSS.

31. Near the mouth of the river Basiento.

32. The ancient Arnus.

33. Corresponding to the present Serchio, which discharges itself into the sea, and not into the Arno. The time when this change of direction took place is not recorded, but traces of the ancient name and course of the river remain in the Osari, which, after flowing a short distance through a marshy district, falls into the sea between the Serchio and Arno.

34. Arezzo.

35. Volterra.

36. Eighty-one years B. C.

37. This was a regular business. A man was posted on a high place, from which he could see the shoals coming, and make a sign to the fishermen.

38. Corsica.

39. The island of Elba.

40. The French translation has 200 in text, while it states in a note that all manuscripts give 300, and continues to discuss the real distance at some length. Kramer says, in a note, that MS. Vatic. No. 482, has 200.

41. πλαταμῶνας is here adopted is preference to any attempt at translation. It is probable they were quarries of the cream-coloured limestone of the island.

42. Porto Ferrajo.

43. Gosselin supposes that the crystals of iron, abundant in the island of Elba, are here alluded to.

44. The testimony of Diodorus is just to the contrary. The Corsican slaves appear better fitted than any others for performing useful services; their physical constitution being peculiarly adapted thereto. Diodor. Sic. 1. v. § 13.

45. None of these names are found in Ptolemy’s description of Corsica. Diodorus Siculus has names somewhat similar.

46. It is uncertain to whom Strabo here alludes. The French translators are of opinion that he alludes to the chart of Agrippa.

47. The French translators read with their manuscript 1394, πεοͅὶ τοͅις χιλίος, κ. τ. λ., about 3200.

48. Cagliari.

49. Cluvier is of opinion that the modern Palma di Solo corresponds to Sulchi.

50. Some manuscripts read Diagebres.

51. The nephew of Hercules, being the son of Iphiclus, his brother.

52. That is, Corsica and Sardinia run in a line north and south, and Elba lies to one side; the παοͅάλληλοι σχεδὸν αί τπεῖς is an example showing how happily a circumstance may be expressed in Greek, while no amount of labour will adapt an English equivalent.

53. The real distance, according to Gosselin, is 115 miles.

54. Porto Ercole

55. The Stagno d’Orbitello.

56. Situated in the marshy plain commanded by the heights of Corneto, between the Mignone and the Marta.

57. This town stood on the site of the present S. Severa, at the mouth of the Rio-Castrica.

58. The ancient Alsium occupied the site of the place now called Statua; below it are the vestiges of the Portus Alsiensis, at the embouchure of the Rio-Cupino, a little to the east of Palo.

59. Torre Macarese.

60. The Roman Lucina, in later times identical with Diana.

61. About the year 384 before the Christian era.

62. Corsica.

63. Arezzo.

64. Perugia.

65. Bolsena.

66. Sutri.

67. Bieda.

68. The French translation understands this to be the modern Ferenti, near Viterbo.

69. Sta. Maria di Falari.

70. Probably another name for Falerium.

71. Nepi.

72. Castro, or Farnese, near Lake Mezzano.

73. This ancient city was probably situated near the Isola Farnesia, about the place where Storta now stands.

74. Fidenae was situated on the left bank of the Tiber, near its confluence with the Anio, now the Teverone, 40 stadia from Rome. The ruins are near the villages Giubileo and Serpentina.

75. Hodie Otricoli: the ancient town was situated nearer the Tiber than the modern.

76. Monte di S. Silvestro.

77. Arezzo.

78. Chiusi.

79. Perugia.

80. Tyrrhenia.

81. An aquatic plant, perhaps the Typha of Linnaeus, used in making lamp-wicks, and for other purposes to which tow was applied.

82. The downy substance growing on the flowering reed.

83. The Lago di Vico or di Ronciglione.

84. Lago di Bolsena.

85. Now only marshes.

86. Lago di Bracciano.

87. All MSS. are corrupt at this word. It is now called Lago di Perugia.

88. Rimini.

89. Sinigaglia.

90. Apparently an interpolation; vide Kramer’s edition, vol. i. p. 358, n.

91. The Aesis.

92. Sentina.

93. Fano.

94. Umbria.

95. Otricoli.

96. No such city as this is mentioned in any other writer; the word as it now stands is evidently corrupt.

97. Narni

98. The ancient Nar.

99. Bevagna.

100. Mevania stood at the junction of the Tinia (now Timia) and the Topino.

101. Forfiamma, or Ponte-Centesimo, or the village of Vescia.

102. Nocera Camellaria.

103. Fossembruno.

104. Terni.

105. Spoleto.

106. Between Spoleto and Camerino.

107. The left side of the Via Flaminia.

108. Amelia.

109. Todi.

110. Hispello.

111. Eugubbio, or Gubbio, where the celebrated inscriptions were found in 1440.

112. ζειὰ.

113. Sabinaand Latium.

Strabo Geography 5.2

Hans Claude Hamilton (Translator), William Falconer (Translator)

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