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CHAPTER IV.

[1] AFTER having commenced with the nations about the Alps, and the Apennine mountains which are near to these, we proceeded from thence and passed through that portion of the hither country lying between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Apennine mountains, which incline towards the Adriatic, as far as the Samnites and the Campani. We will now return again, and describe the mountaineers, and those who dwell at the foot of the mountains; whether on the coast of the Adriatic, or in the interior. Thus, we must recommence from the boundaries of Keltica.¹

[2] After the cities of the Ombrici, which are comprised between Ariminum² and Ancona, comes Picenum. The Picentini proceeded originally from the land of the Sabini. A woodpecker led the way for their chieftains, and from this bird they have taken their name, it being called in their language Picus, and is regarded as sacred to Mars. They inhabit the plains extending from the mountains to the sea; the length of their country considerably exceeds its breadth; the soil is every where good, but better fitted for the cultivation of fruits than grain. Its breadth, from the mountains to the sea varies in different parts. But its length; from the river Aesis³ to Castrum,⁴ sailing round the coast, is 800 stadia. Of its cities, Ancona is of Grecian origin, having been founded by the Syracusans who fled from the tyranny of Dionysius. It is situated upon a cape, which bending round towards the north forms a harbour; and it abounds in wine and wheat. Near to it is the city of Auxumon,⁵ at a little distance from the sea. After it are Septempeda,⁶ Pneuentia,⁷ Potentia,⁸ and Firmum Picenum,⁹ with its port of Castellum.¹⁰ Beyond, is the temple of Cupra,¹¹ built and dedicated by the Tyrrheni to Juno, who is named by them Cupra; and after it the river Tronto,¹² with a city of the same name.¹³ Beyond this is Castrum Novum,¹⁴ and the river Piomba,¹⁵ flowing from the city of Adria,¹⁶ and having [at its mouth] the naval station of Adria, which bears the same name as itself. In the interior is [the city of Adria] itself and Asculum Picenum,¹⁷ a very strong position, upon which is built a wall: the mountains which surround it are not accessible to armies.¹⁸ Above Picenum are the Vestini,¹⁹ the Marsi,²⁰ the Peligni,²¹ the Marucini,²² and the Frentani,²³ a Samnitic nation possessing the hill-country, and extending almost to the sea. All these nations are small, but extremely brave, and have frequently given the Romans proofs of their valour, first as enemies, afterwards as allies; and finally, having demanded the liberty and rights of citizens, and being denied, they revolted and kindled the Marsian war.²⁴ They decreed that Corfinium,²⁵ the metropolis of the Peligni, should be the capital for all the Italians instead of Rome: made it their place d’armes, and new-named it Italica. Then, having convoked deputies from all the people friendly to their design, they created consuls²⁶ and pretors, and maintained the war for two²⁷ years, until they had obtained the rights for which they struggled. The war was named the Marsian²⁸ war, because that nation commenced the insurrection, and particularly on account of Pompaedius.²⁹ These nations live generally in villages, nevertheless they are possessed of certain cities, some of which are at some little distance from the sea, as Corfinium, Sulmo,³⁰ Maruvium,³¹ and Teatea³² the metropolis of the Marrucini. Others are on the coast, as Aternum³³ on the Picentine boundary, so named from the river [Aternus], which separates the Vestini from the Marrucini. This river flows from the territory of Amiternum and through the Vestini, leaving on its right the Marrucini, who lie above the Peligni, [at the place where the river] is crossed by a bridge. The city, which bears the same name, (viz. Aternum,) belongs to the Vestini, but its port is used in common both by the Peligni and the Marrucini. The bridge I have mentioned is about 24 stadia from Corfinium. After Aternum is Orton,³⁴ a naval arsenal of the Frentani, and Buca,³⁵ which belongs to the same people, and is conterminous with the Apulian Teanum.³⁶ † Ortonium³⁷ is situated in the territory of the Frentani. It is rocky, and inhabited by banditti, who construct their dwellings of the wrecks of ships, and lead otherwise a savage life. † Between Orton and Aternum is the river Sagrus,³⁸ which separates the Frentani from the Peligni. From Picenum to the Apuli, named by the Greeks the Daunii,³⁹ sailing round the coast, is a distance of about 490⁴⁰ stadia.

[3] Next in order after Latium is Campania, which extends along the [Tyrrhenian] Sea; above it is Samnium, in the interior, extending as far as the Frentani and Daunii; and beyond are the Daunii, and the other nations as far as the Strait of Sicily. We shall in the first place speak of Campania. From Sinuessa⁴¹ to Misenum⁴² the coast forms a vast gulf; beyond this is another gulf still larger, which they name the Crater.⁴³ It is enclosed by the two promontories of Misenum and the Athenaeum.⁴⁴ It is along the shores of these [two gulfs] that the whole of Campania is situated. This plain is fertile above all others, and entirely surrounded by fruitful hills and the mountains of the Samnites and Osci. Antiochus says that this country was formerly inhabited by the Opici, and that these were called Ausones. Polybius appears to consider these as two people, for he says that the Opici and Ausones inhabit the country around the Crater.⁴⁵ Others, however, state that it was originally inhabited by Opici and Ausones, but was afterwards seized on by a nation of the Osci, who were driven out by the Cumaei, and these again by the Tyrrheni. Thus the possession of the plain was much disputed on account of its great fertility. [They add that the Tyrrheni] built there twelve cities, and named the metropolis Capua. But luxury having made them effeminate, in the same way that they had formerly been driven from the banks of the Po, they were now forced to abandon this country to the Samnites; who in their turn fell before the Romans. One proof of the fertility of this country is, that it produces the finest corn. I allude to the grain from which a groat is made superior to all kinds of rice, and to almost all other farinacious food. They say that some of the plains are cropped all the year round; twice with rye, the third time with panic, and occasionally a fourth time with vegetables. It is likewise from hence that the Romans procure their finest wines, the Falernian, the Statanian, and the Calenian. That of Surrentum⁴⁶ is now esteemed equal to these, it having been lately discovered that it can be kept to ripen. In addition to this, the whole country round Venafrum, bordering on the plains, is rich in olives.

[4] The maritime cities [of Campania], after Sinuessa, are Liternum,⁴⁷ where is the sepulchral monument of the first of the two Scipios, surnamed Africanus; it was here that he passed the last days of his life, having abandoned public affairs in disgust at the intrigues of certain opponents. A river of the same name⁴⁸ flows by this city. In like manner the Vulturnus bears the same name as the city⁴⁹ founded on it, which comes next in order: this river flows through Venafrum⁵⁰ and the midst of Campania. After these [cities] comes Cumae,⁵¹ the most ancient settlement⁵² of the Chalcidenses and Cumaeans, for it is the oldest of all [the Greek cities] in Sicily or Italy. The leaders of the expedition, Hippocles the Cumaean and Megasthenes of Chalcis, having mutually agreed that one of the nations should have the management of the colony, and the other the honour of conferring upon it its own name. Hence at the present day it is named Cumae, while at the same time it is said to have been founded by the Chalcidenses. At first this city was highly prosperous, as well as the Phlegraean⁵³ plain, which mythology has made the scene of the adventures of the giants, for no other reason, as it appears, than because the fertility of the country had given rise to battles for its possession. Afterwards, however, the Campanians becoming masters⁵⁴ of the city, inflicted much injustice on the inhabitants, and even violated their wives. Still, however, there remain numerous traces of the Grecian taste, their temples, and their laws. Some are of opinion that Cumae was so called from τὰ κύματα, the waves, the sea-coast near it being rocky and exposed. These people have excellent fisheries. On the shores of this gulf there is a scrubby forest, extending over numerous acres of parched and sandy land. This they call the Gallinarian⁵⁵ wood. It was there that the admirals of Sextus Pompeius assembled their gangs of pirates, at the time when he drew Sicily into revolt.⁵⁶

[5] Near to Cumae is the promontory of Misenum,⁵⁷ and between them is the Acherusian Lake,⁵⁸ which is a muddy estuary of the sea. Having doubled Misenum, you come to a harbour at the very foot of the promontory. After this the shore runs inland, forming a deeply indented bay, on which are Baïae and the hot springs, much used, both as a fashionable watering-place, and for the cure of diseases. Contiguous to Baïae is the Lucrine Lake,⁵⁹ and within this the Lake Avernus,⁶⁰ which converts into a peninsula the land stretching from the maritime district, situated between it and Cumae, as far as Cape Misenum, for there is only an isthmus of a few stadia, across which a subterraneous road is cut [from the head of the gulf of Avernus] to Cumae and the sea [shore] on which it stands. Former writers, mingling fable with history, have applied to Avernus the expressions of Homer in his Invocation of Departed Spirits,⁶¹ and relate that here formerly was an oracle of the dead,⁶² and that it was to this place that Ulysses came. However, this gulf of Avernus is deep even near the shore, with an excellent entrance, and is both as to its size and nature a harbour; but it is not used, on account of the Lucrine Gulf which lies before it, and is both large and somewhat shallow. The Avernus is surrounded with steep hills which encompass the whole of it, with the exception of the entrance. These hills, now so beautifully cultivated were formerly covered with wild forests, gigantic and impenetrable, which overshadowed the gulf, imparting a feeling of superstitious awe. The inhabitants affirm that birds, flying over the lake, fall into the water,⁶³ being stifled by the vapours rising from it, a phenomenon of all Plutonian⁶⁴ localities. They believed, in fact, that this place was a Plutonium, around which the Kimmerians used to dwell, and those who sailed into the place made sacrifice and propitiatory offerings to the infernal deities, as they were instructed by the priests who ministered at the place. There is here a spring of water near to the sea fit for drinking, from which, however, every one abstained, as they supposed it to be water from the Styx: [they thought likewise] that the oracle of the dead was situated some where here; and the hot springs near to the Acherusian Lake indicated the proximity of Pyriphlegethon. Ephorus, peopling this place with Kimmerii, tells us that they dwell in under-ground habitations, named by them Argillae, and that these communicate with one another by means of certain subterranean passages; and that they conduct strangers through them to the oracle, which is built far below the surface of the earth. They live on the mines together with the profits accruing from the oracle, and grants made to them by the king [of the country]. It was a traditional custom for the servants of the oracle never to behold the sun, and only to quit their caverns at night. It was on this account that the poet said,

On them the Sun

Deigns not to look with his beam-darting eye.⁶⁵

Odys. xi. 15. At last, however, these men were exterminated by one of the kings, the oracle having deceived him; but [adds Ephorus] the oracle is still in existence, though removed to another place. Such were the myths related by our ancestors. But now that the wood surrounding the Avernus has been cut down by Agrippa, the lands built upon, and a subterranean passage cut from Avernus to Cumae, all these appear fables. Perhaps⁶⁶ Cocceius, who made this subterranean passage,⁶⁷ wished to follow the practice of the Kimmerians we have already described, or fancied that it was natural to this place that its roads should be made under-ground.

[6] The Lucrine gulf extends in breadth as far as Baïae; it is separated from the sea by a bank eight stadia in length, and the breadth of a carriage-way; this they say was constructed by Hercules when he drove away the oxen of Geryon. But as the wave covered its surface in stormy weather, rendering it difficult to pass on foot, Agrippa has repaired it. Small vessels can put into it, but it is useless as a harbour.⁶⁸ It contains abundant oyster-beds. Some take this to be the Acherusian Lake, while Artemidorus confounds it with Avernus. They say that Baïae took its name from Baius one of the companions of Ulysses, and Misenum from Misenus. Beyond is the strand and city of Dicaearchia. Formerly it was nothing but a naval station of the Cumaei. It was built on an eminence. But at the time of the war with Hannibal, the Romans established a colony there, and changed its name into Puteoli,⁶⁹ [an appellation derived] from its wells; or, according to others, from the stench of its waters, the whole district from hence to Baïae and Cumae being full of sulphur, fire, and hot-springs. Some too are of opinion that it was on this account [that the country about] Cumae was named Phlegra, and that the fables of the giants struck down by thunderbolts owe their origin to these eruptions of fire and water. This city has become a place of extensive commerce, having artificially constructed harbours, which were much facilitated by the facile nature of the sand, which contains much gypsum, and will cement and consolidate thoroughly. For mixing this sand with chalk-stones they construct moles in the sea, thus forming bays along the open coast, in which the largest transport ships may safely ride. Immediately above the city lies the Forum-Vulcani,⁷⁰ a plain surrounded with hills which seem to be on fire, having in many parts mouths emitting smoke, frequently accompanied by a terrible rumbling noise; the plain itself is full of drifted sulphur.

[7] After Dicaearchia is Neapolis,⁷¹Innumerable accounts exist relative to the foundation of this city. The most prevalent fiction was that the siren Parthenope was cast upon its shores, and from her it derived the name, by which it was usually designated by the ancient poets.

Sirenum dedit una suum memorabile nomen

Parthenope muris Acheloïas: aequore cujus

Regnavere diu cantus, quum dulce per undas

Exitium miseris caneret non prospera nautis.

Sil. Ital. xii. 33. Scymnus of Chios mentions both the Phocaei and Cumaei as its founders. Stephanus of Byzantium attributes its foundation to the Rhodians; their proximity is favourable to the claims of the Cumaei, and hence the connexion of Naples with Euboea, alluded to by Statius, who was born there.

At te nascentem gremio mea prima recepit

Parthenope, dulcisque solo tu gloria nostro

Reptasti; nitidum consurgat ad aethera tellus

Eubois, et pulchra tumeat Sebethos alumna.

Silv. i. 2. A Greek inscription mentions a hero named Eumelus as having had divine honours paid to him, possibly as founder of the city. [See Capaccio, Hist. Nap. p. 105. Martorelli de’ Fenici primi abitatori di Napoli.] This may illustrate the following lines,—

Di patrii, quos auguriis super aequora magnis

Littus ad Ausonium devexit Abantia classis,

Tu ductor populi longe emigrantis Apollo,

Cujus adhuc volucrem leva cervice sedentem

Respiciens blande felix Eumelis adorat.

Silv. iv. 8, 45. originally] by the Cumaei, but afterwards being peopled by Chalcidians, and certain Pithecussaeans and Athenians,⁷² it was on this account denominated Naples.⁷³ Here is pointed out the tomb of Parthenope, one of the sirens, and a gymnastic sport is celebrated by command of an oracle. In course of time the inhabitants, having disagreed amongst themselves, admitted certain Campanians; thus being forced to regard in the light of friends those most inimical to them, since their friends were hostile. This is proved by the names of their demarchi, the earlier of which are Grecian, but the latter a mixture of Campanian with the Grecian names. Many traces of Grecian institution are still preserved, the gymnasia, the ephebeia,⁷⁴ the fratriae,⁷⁵ and the Grecian names of people who are Roman citizens. At the present time they celebrate, every fifth year, public games for music and gymnastic exercises during many days, which rival the most famous games of Greece. There is here a subterranean passage, similar to that at Cumae,⁷⁶ extending for many stadia along the mountain,⁷⁷ between Dicaearchia⁷⁸ and Neapolis: it is sufficiently broad to let carriages pass each other, and light is admitted from the surface of the mountain, by means of numerous apertures cut through a great depth.⁷⁹ Naples also has hot springs and baths not at all inferior in quality to those at Baïae, but much less frequented, for another city has arisen there, not less than Dicaearchia, one palace after another having been built. Naples still preserves the Grecian mode of life, owing to those who retire hither from Rome for the sake of repose, after a life of labour from childhood, and to those whose age or weakness demands relaxation. Besides these, Romans who find attractions in this style of life, and observe the numbers of persons dwelling there, are attracted by the place, and make it their abode.

[8] Following this is the fortress of Heraclaeum,⁸⁰ built upon a promontory which projects out into the sea, and which, on account of the prevalence of the south-west wind, is a very healthy spot. The Osci⁸¹ originally possessed both this and Pompeia,⁸² which is next to it, by which the river Sarno⁸³ flows; afterwards the Tyrrheni and Pelasgi,⁸⁴ and then the Samnites⁸⁵ obtained possession of them, and the last⁸⁶ in their turn were driven from these regions. Pompeia is the port for Nola,⁸⁷ Nuceria,⁸⁸ and Acerrae, which bears the same name as the city near to Cremona. It is built on the river Sarno, by which merchandise is received and exported. Above these places is Mount Vesuvius, which is covered with very beautiful fields, excepting its summit, a great part of which is level, but wholly sterile. It appears ash-coloured to the eye, cavernous hollows appear formed of blackened stones, looking as if they had been subjected to the action of fire. From this we may infer that the place was formerly in a burning state with live craters, which however became extinguished on the failing of the fuel. Perhaps this [volcano] may have been the cause of the fertility of the surrounding country, the same as occurs in Catana, where they say that that portion which has been covered with ashes thrown up by the fires of Aetna is most excellent for the vine. The land about Vesuvius contains fat, and a soil which has been subjected to fire, and is very strong and productive of fruit: when this fat superabounds, it is apt, like all sulphurous substances, to take fire, but being dried up by evaporation, extinguished, and pulverized, it becomes a productive earth. Adjoining Pompeia is Surrentum,⁸⁹ [a city] of the Campanians, from whence the Athenaeum,⁹⁰ called by some the promontory of the Sirenuae, projects [into the sea]; upon its summit is the temple of Minerva, founded by Ulysses. From hence to the island of Capreas the passage is short; after doubling the promontory you encounter various desert and rocky little islands, which are called the Sirenusae.⁹¹ On the side towards Surrentum there is shown a temple with the ancient offerings of those who held this place in veneration. Here is the end of the bay named Crater,⁹² which is bounded by the two promontories of Misenum⁹³ and the Athenaeum, both looking towards the south. The whole is adorned by the cities we have described, by villas, and plantations, so close together that to the eye they appear but one city.

[9] In front of Misenum lies the island of Prochyta,⁹⁴ which has been rent from the Pithecussae.⁹⁵ Pithecussae was peopled by a colony of Eretrians and Chalcidians, which was very prosperous on account of the fertility of the soil and the productive gold-mines; however, they abandoned the island on account of civil dissensions, and were ultimately driven out by earthquakes, and eruptions of fire, sea, and hot waters. It was on account of these eruptions, to which the island is subject, that the colonists sent by Hiero,⁹⁶ the king of Syracuse, abandoned the island, together with the town which they had built, when it was taken possession of by the Neapolitans. This explains the myth concerning Typhon, who, they say, lies beneath the island, and when he turns himself, causes flames and water to rush forth, and sometimes even small islands to rise in the sea, containing springs of hot water. Pindar throws more credibility into the myth, by making it conformable to the actual phenomena, for the whole strait from Cumae to Sicily is subigneous, and below the sea has certain galleries which form a communication between [the volcanos⁹⁷ of the islands⁹⁸] and those of the main-land. He shows that Aetna is on this account of the nature described by all, and also the Lipari Islands, with the regions around Dicaearchia, Neapolis, Baïae, and the Pithecussae. And mindful hereof, [Pindar] says that Typhon lies under the whole of this space.

Now indeed the sea-girt shores beyond Cumae, and Sicily, press on his shaggy breast.⁹⁹

Timaeus,¹⁰⁰ who remarks that many paradoxical accounts were related by the ancients concerning the Pithecussae, states, nevertheless, that a little before his time, Mount Epomeus,¹⁰¹ in the middle of the island, being shaken by an earthquake, vomited forth fire; and that the land between it and the coast was driven out into the sea. That the powdered soil, after being whirled on high, was poured down again upon the island in a whirlwind. That the sea retired from it to a distance of three stadia, but after remaining so for a short time it returned, and inundated the island, thus extinguishing the fire. And that the inhabitants of the continent fled at the noise, from the sea-coast, into the interior of Campania. It seems that the hot-springs¹⁰² here are a remedy for those afflicted with gravel. Capreae¹⁰³ anciently possessed two small cities, afterwards but one. The Neapolitans possessed this island, but having lost Pithecussae in war, they received it again from Caesar Augustus, giving him in exchange Capreae. This [island] having thus become the property of that prince, he has ornamented it with numerous edifices. Such then are the maritime cities of Campania, and the islands lying opposite to it.

[10] In the interior is the metropolis, Capua, being, as the etymon of the name signifies, the head; for in regard to it all the other cities appear small, excepting Teanum-Sidicinum,¹⁰⁴ which is a very considerable place. This city lies on the Via Appia, as also the others which lead from hence to Brundusium, [viz.] Callateria,¹⁰⁵ Caudium,¹⁰⁶ and Beneventum.¹⁰⁷ On the side of Rome is Casilinum,¹⁰⁸ situated on the river Vulturnus.¹⁰⁹ Here 540 men of Praeneste sustained against Hannibal in the height of his power so desperate a siege, that by reason of the famine, a rat¹¹⁰ was sold for two hundred drachmae, the seller dying [of hunger], but the purchaser being saved. Hannibal observing some of them sowing turnip-seed near to the wall, admired, as well he might, the patient courage of these men, who hoped to hold out in the mean while, until these turnips should be ready for food. However, we are assured that they all survived, with the exception of a few who perished either by famine or in war.

[11] In addition to those just spoken of, there are these Campanian cities which we have already mentioned, viz. Cales,¹¹¹ and Teanum-Sidicinum, the limits of which are respectively marked out by the two temples of Fortune situated on either side of the Via Latina. Besides these are Suessula,¹¹² Atella,¹¹³ Nola,¹¹⁴ Nuceria,¹¹⁵ Acerroe,¹¹⁶ Abella,¹¹⁷ with other smaller settlements, some of which are said to be Samnite.¹¹⁸ The Samnites, by making incursions into Latium as far as Ardea, and afterwards devastating Campania itself, greatly extended their power. The Campanians, being otherwise accustomed to a despotic government, yielded ready obedience to their commands. At the present day they have been almost entirely exterminated by the various Roman generals, and last of all by Sulla, who was absolute master of the republic. He, after having by numerous battles extinguished the Italian revolt, observing that the Samnites, almost without exception, remained in one body, and with one sole intention, so that they had even marched upon Rome itself, gave them battle under the walls, and as he had issued orders to make no prisoners, many of them were cut to pieces on the field, while the remainder, said to be about three or four thousand men, who threw down their arms, were led off to the Villa Publica in the Campus Martius, and there shut in; three days after soldiers were sent in who massacred the whole; and when [Sulla] drew up his conscription list, he did not rest satisfied until he had destroyed, or driven from Italy, every one who bore a Samnite name. To those who reproached him for this animosity, he replied that he had learned by experience that not a single Roman could rest in peace so long as any of the Samnites survived. Thus their cities have now dwindled into villages, some indeed being entirely deserted, as Boianum,¹¹⁹ Aesernia,¹²⁰ Panna, Telesia¹²¹ adjoining Venafrum, and others similar, none of which can be looked upon as cities; but in a country so renowned and powerful as Italy, we thought proper to mention places even of second-rate importance. [We should add that] Beneventum¹²² and Venusia¹²³ are still prosperous.

[12] The following is the tradition concerning the [origin of the] Samnites. The Sabines having been engaged for a long period in war with the Ombrici, made a vow, common with some of the Grecian nations, that they would consecrate to the gods the productions of the year.¹²⁴ They were victorious, and accordingly of the productions,¹²⁵ the one kind were sacrificed, the other consecrated. However, in a time of scarcity, some one remarked, that they ought likewise to have consecrated the children. This then they did, and the children born at that period were called the sons of Mars.¹²⁶ When these had grown up to manhood, they were sent forth, a bull leading the way, to found a colony. The bull lay down to rest in a place belonging to the Opici; a people dwelling in villages. These they drove out, and established themselves in the place. The bull, according to the direction of the diviners, they sacrificed to Mars, who had given him to then as a leader. It seems to have been in allusion to this that their parents called them by the diminutive form of Sabelli.¹²⁷ The name of Samnites, or, as the Greeks call them, Saunites, originated in another cause. It is also said that certain Lacedaemonians came to dwell amongst them, and that this is the reason of their affection for the Greeks, and that certain of them are called Pitanatae.¹²⁸ The whole of this, however, appears to be a mere fabrication of the Tarentini, interested in flattering and conciliating to themselves a neighbouring people, so powerful as to be able, on a time, to bring into the field a force of eighty thousand foot-soldiers, and eight thousand cavalry. There is said to be a law amongst the Samnites, excellent in itself, and calculated to excite to virtue. It is not lawful for fathers to give away their daughters to whomsoever they may please; but every year ten of the most virtuous young women, and ten of the most virtuous young men, are selected; of these the most excellent young man is married to the most excellent young woman, the second to the second, and so on in order. Should he who receives this reward, afterwards change and become wicked, he is dishonoured, and the wife who had been given is taken away from him. Beyond are the Hirpini, who are also Samnites: their name they take from the wolf, which conducted their colony; a wolf being called by the Samnites hirpos: these people border on the Leucani in the interior. So much for the Samnites.

[13] The fertility of their country has been productive to the Campanians of as much evil as good. Their luxury ran to such a height, that they would invite to supper, in order to exhibit pairs of fighting gladiators, the exact number of pairs being regulated according to the distinction of the guests. When, on their voluntary submission to Hannibal, they received his soldiers into winter quarters,¹²⁹ the pleasures [of the place] rendered the men so effeminate, that Hannibal said, although conqueror, that he was in danger of the enemy, since his soldiers were returned to him women, and no longer men. When the Romans obtained the mastery,¹³⁰ they inflicted on them numerous ills, and ended by distributing their land by lot.¹³¹ At the present day they are living in prosperity, and on friendly terms with the [Roman] colonists, and preserve their ancient reputation, both in respect to the size of their city and the numbers of their population. Beyond Campania and the Samnites,¹³² and upon the Tyrrhenian Sea, dwells the nation of the Picentini. This is a small off-shoot from the Picentini who dwell near the Adriatic, and was transplanted by the Romans to the Posidoniate Gulf,¹³³ now called the Gulf of Paestum. The city of Posidonia, which is built about the middle of the gulf, is called Paestum.¹³⁴ The Sybarites [when they founded the city¹³⁵] built the fortifications close upon the sea, but the inhabitants removed higher up. In after time¹³⁶ the Leucani seized upon the city, but in their turn were deprived of it by the Romans.¹³⁷ It is rendered unhealthy by a river¹³⁸ which overflows the marshy districts in the neighbourhood. Between the Sirenusse and Posidonia¹³⁹ is Marcina,¹⁴⁰ a city founded by the Tyrrheni, but inhabited by the Samnites. [To go] from thence into Pompaea,¹⁴¹ through Nuceria,¹⁴² [you cross] an isthmus of not more than 120 stadia. The Picentes extend as far as the river Silaro,¹⁴³ which separates their country on this side from ancient Leucania.¹⁴⁴ The water of this river is reported to possess the singular property of petrifying any plant thrown into it, preserving at the same time both the colour and form.¹⁴⁵ Picentia was formerly the capital of the Picentes; but they now dwell in villages, having been ejected by the Romans¹⁴⁶ for taking part with Hannibal. Also, instead of doing military service, it has been decreed that they shall be the public daily couriers and letter-carriers; [a penalty] which for the same cause has been likewise inflicted on the Leucani and Bruttii. To keep them in check, the Romans fortified Salernum, which is a little above the sea. The distance from the Sirenusse to the Silaro is 260 stadia.

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

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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.) — 5.4 focus

[1] Ἐπεὶ δʼ ἀπὸ τῶν προσαλπείων ἐθνῶν ἀρξάμενοι καὶ τῶν πρὸς αὐτοῖς ὀρῶν τῶν Ἀπεννίνων, ἔπειθʼ ὑπερβάντες ταῦτα τὴν ἐντὸς ἐπήλθομεν πᾶσαν, ὅση μεταξὺ κεῖται τοῦ Τυρρηνικοῦ πελάγους καὶ τῶν Ἀπεννίνων ὀρῶν τῶν κεκλιμένων πρὸς τὸν Ἀδρίαν μέχρι Σαυνιτῶν καὶ Καμπανῶν, νῦν ἐπανιόντες δηλώσομεν τὰ ἐν τοῖς ὄρεσι τούτοις οἰκοῦντα καὶ ταῖς ὑπωρείαις τῆς τε ἐκτὸς μέχρι τῆς παραλίας τῆς Ἀδριατικῆς καὶ τῆς ἐντός. ἀρκτέον δὲ πάλιν ἀπὸ τῶν Κελτικῶν ὅρων.

[2] ἔστι δʼ ἡ Πικεντίνη μετὰ τὰς τῶν Ὀμβρικῶν πόλεις τὰς μεταξὺ Ἀριμίνου καὶ Ἀγκῶνος. ὥρμηνται δʼ ἐκ τῆς Σαβίνης οἱ Πικεντῖνοι, δρυοκολάπτου τὴν ὁδὸν ἡγησαμένου τοῖς ἀρχηγέταις, ἀφʼ οὗ καὶ τοὔνομα· πῖκον γὰρ τὸν ὄρνιν τοῦτον ὀνομάζουσι, καὶ νομίζουσιν Ἄρεως ἱερόν. οἰκοῦσι δʼ ἀπὸ τῶν ὀρῶν ἀρξάμενοι μέχρι τῶν πεδίων καὶ τῆς θαλάττης, ἐπὶ μῆκος ηὐξημένην ἔχοντες μᾶλλον ἢ πλάτος τὴν χώραν, ἀγαθὴν πρὸς ἅπαντα, βελτίω δὲ τοῖς ξυλίνοις καρποῖς ἢ τοῖς σιτικοῖς. ἔστι δʼ εὖρος μὲν τὸ ἀπὸ τῶν ὀρῶν ἐπὶ θάλατταν ἀνώμαλον τοῖς διαστήμασι· μῆκος δʼ ἀπὸ Αἴσιος ποταμοῦ μέχρι Κάστρου παράπλουν ἔχον σταδίων ὀκτακοσίων. πόλεις δʼ Ἀγκὼν μὲν Ἑλληνίς, Συρακουσίων κτίσμα τῶν φυγόντων τὴν Διονυσίου τυραννίδα· κεῖται δʼ ἐπʼ ἄκρας μὲν λιμένα ἐμπεριλαμβανούσης τῇ πρὸς τὰς ἄρκτους ἐπιστροφῇ, σφόδρα δʼ εὔοινός ἐστι καὶ πυροφόρος. πλησίον δʼ αὐτῆς Αὔξουμον πόλις μικρὸν ὑπὲρ τῆς θαλάττης· εἶτα Σεπτέμπεδα καὶ * Πνευεντία καὶ Ποτεντία καὶ Φίρμον Πικηνόν· ἐπίνειον δὲ ταύτης Κάστελλον. ἐφεξῆς δὲ τὸ τῆς Κύπρας ἱερόν, Τυρρηνῶν ἵδρυμα καὶ κτίσμα· τὴν δʼ Ἥραν ἐκεῖνοι Κύπραν καλοῦσιν· εἶτα Τρουεντῖνος ποταμὸς καὶ πόλις ἐπώνυμος· εἶτα Καστρουνόουν καὶ ὁ Ματρῖνος ποταμός, ῥέων ἀπὸ τῆς Ἀδριανῶν πόλεως, ἔχων ἐπίνειον τῆς Ἀδρίας ἐπώνυμον ἑαυτοῦ. ἔστι δʼ ἐν τῇ μεσογαίᾳ καὶ αὕτη καὶ τὸ Ἄσκλον τὸ Πικηνόν, ἐρυμνότατον χωρίον καὶ ἐφʼ ᾧ κεῖται τὸ τεῖχος, καὶ τὰ περικείμενα ὄρη στρατοπέδοις οὐ βάσιμα. ὑπὲρ δὲ τῆς Πικεντίνης Ὀυηστῖνοι τε καὶ Μαρσοὶ καὶ Πελίγνοι καὶ Μαρρουκῖνοι καὶ Φρεντανοί, Σαυνιτικὸν ἔθνος, τὴν ὀρεινὴν κατέχουσιν ἐφαπτόμενοι μικρὰ τῆς θαλάττης. ἔστι δὲ τὰ ἔθνη ταῦτα μικρὰ μὲν ἀνδρικώτατα δὲ καὶ πολλάκις τὴν ἀρετὴν ταύτην ἐπιδεδειγμένα Ῥωμαίοις, πρῶτον μὲν ἡνίκα ἐπολέμουν, δεύτερον δὲ ὅτε συνεστράτευον, τρίτον δʼ ὅτε δεόμενοι τυχεῖν ἐλευθερίας καὶ πολιτείας μὴ τυγχάνοντες ἀπέστησαν καὶ τὸν Μαρσικὸν καλούμενον ἐξῆψαν πόλεμον, Κορφίνιον, τὴν τῶν Πελίγνων μητρόπολιν, κοινὴν ἅπασι τοῖς Ἰταλιώταις ἀποδείξαντες πόλιν ἀντὶ τῆς Ῥώμης, ὁρμητήριον τοῦ πολέμου, μετονομασθεῖσαν Ἰταλικήν, καὶ ἐνταῦθα δὴ τοὺς συνεπομένους ἀθροίσαντες καὶ χειροτονήσαντες ὑπάτους καὶ στρατηγούς· δύο δʼ ἔτη συνέμειναν ἐν τῷ πολέμῳ μέχρι διεπράξαντο τὴν κοινωνίαν περὶ ἧς ἐπολέμουν. Μαρσικὸν δὲ ὠνόμασαν τὸν πόλεμον ἀπὸ τῶν ἀρξάντων τῆς ἀποστάσεως, καὶ μάλιστα ἀπὸ Πομπαιδίου. τὰ μὲν οὖν ἄλλα κωμηδὸν ζῶσιν, ἔχουσι δὲ καὶ πόλεις ὑπὲρ μὲν τῆς θαλάττης τό τε Κορφίνιον καὶ Σούλμωνα καὶ Μαρούιον καὶ Τεατέαν τὴν τῶν Μαρρουκίνων μητρόπολιν. ἐπʼ αὐτῇ δὲ τῇ θαλάττῃ τό τε Ἄτερνον, ὅμορον τῇ Πικεντίνῃ, ὁμώνυμον δὲ τῷ ποταμῷ τῷ διορίζοντι τήν τε Ὀυηστίνην καὶ τὴν Μαρρουκίνην. ῥεῖ γὰρ ἐκ τῆς Ἀμιτερνίνης, διὰ δὲ Ὀυηστίνων, παραλιπὼν ἐν δεξιᾷ τοὺς Μαρρουκίνους ὑπὲρ τῶν Πελίγνων κειμένους, ζεύγματι περατός. τὸ δὲ πόλισμα τὸ ἐπώνυμον αὐτοῦ Ὀυηστίνων μέν ἐστι, κοινῷ δʼ ἐπινείῳ χρῶνται καὶ οἱ Πελίγνοι καὶ οἱ Μαρρουκῖνοι· διέχει δὲ τὸ ζεῦγμα τέτταρας καὶ εἴκοσι σταδίους ἀπὸ Κορφινίου. μετὰ δὲ Ἄτερνον Ὄρτων ἐπίνειον Φρεντανῶν, καὶ Βοῦκα καὶ αὐτὴ Φρεντανῶν, ὅμορος Τεάνῳ τῷ Ἀπούλῳ¹. μεταξὺ δὲ Ὄρτωνος καὶ Ἀτέρνου ὁ Σάγρος ποταμὸς ὁρίζων τοὺς Φρεντανοὺς ἀπὸ τῶν Πελίγνων. ὁ δὲ παράπλους ἀπὸ τῆς Πικεντίνης ἐπὶ τοὺς Ἀπούλους, οὓς οἱ Ἕλληνες Δαυνίους καλοῦσι, σταδίων ἐστὶν ὅσον τετρακοσίων ἐνενήκοντα.

[3] ̔εξῆς δὲ μετὰ τὴν Λατίνην ἐστὶν ἥ τε Καμπανία παρήκουσα τῇ θαλάττῃ, καὶ ὑπὲρ ταύτην ἡ Σαυνῖτις ἐν μεσογαίᾳ μέχρι Φρεντανῶν καὶ τῶν Δαυνίων, εἶτʼ αὐτοὶ Δαύνιοι καὶ τἆλλα ἔθνη τὰ μέχρι τοῦ Σικελικοῦ πορθμοῦ. πρῶτον δὲ περὶ τῆς Καμπανίας ῥητέον. ἔστι δʼ ἀπὸ τῆς Σινοέσσης ἐπὶ μὲν τὴν ἑξῆς παραλίαν κόλπος εὐμεγέθης μέχρι Μισηνοῦ, κἀκεῖθεν ἄλλος κόλπος πολὺ μείζων τοῦ προτέρου, καλοῦσι δʼ αὐτὸν κρατῆρα, ἀπὸ τοῦ Μισηνοῦ μέχρι τοῦ Ἀθηναίου, δυεῖν ἀκρωτηρίων, κολπούμενον. ὑπὲρ δὲ τούτων τῶν ᾐόνων Καμπανία πᾶσα ἵδρυται, πεδίον εὐδαιμονέστατον τῶν ἁπάντων· περίκεινται δʼ αὐτῷ γεωλοφίαι τε εὔκαρποι καὶ ὄρη τά τε τῶν Σαυνιτῶν καὶ τὰ τῶν Ὄσκων. Ἀντίοχος μὲν οὖν φησι τὴν χώραν ταύτην Ὀπικοὺς οἰκῆσαι, τούτους δὲ καὶ Αὔσονας καλεῖσθαι. Πολύβιος δʼ ἐμφαίνει δύο ἔθνη νομίζων ταῦτα· Ὀπικοὺς γάρ φησι καὶ Αὔσονας οἰκεῖν τὴν χώραν ταύτην περὶ τὸν κρατῆρα. ἄλλοι δὲ λέγουσιν οἰκούντων Ὀπικῶν πρότερον καὶ Αὐσόνων· οἱ δʼ ἐκείνους κατασχεῖν ὕστερον Ὄσκων τι ἔθνος, τούτους δʼ ὑπὸ Κυμαίων, ἐκείνους δʼ ὑπὸ Τυρρηνῶν ἐκπεσεῖν· διὰ γὰρ τὴν ἀρετὴν περιμάχητον γενέσθαι τὸ πεδίον· δώδεκα δὲ πόλεις ἐγκατοικίσαντας τὴν οἷον κεφαλὴν ὀνομάσαι Καπύην. διὰ δὲ τὴν τρυφὴν εἰς μαλακίαν τραπομένους καθάπερ τῆς περὶ τὸν Πάδον χώρας ἐξέστησαν, οὕτω καὶ ταύτης παραχωρῆσαι Σαυνίταις, τούτους δʼ ὑπὸ Ῥωμαίων ἐκπεσεῖν. τῆς δʼ εὐκαρπίας ἐστὶ σημεῖον τὸ σῖτον ἐνταῦθα γίνεσθαι τὸν κάλλιστον, λέγω δὲ τὸν πύρινον, ἐξ οὗ καὶ ὁ χόνδρος κρείττων ὢν πάσης καὶ ὀρύζης καὶ ἐν ὀλίγῳ σιτικῆς τροφῆς. ἱστορεῖται δʼ ἔνια τῶν πεδίων σπείρεσθαι διʼ ἔτους δὶς μὲν τῇ ζειᾷ, τὸ δὲ τρίτον ἐλύμῳ, τινὰ δὲ καὶ λαχανεύεσθαι τῷ τετάρτῳ σπόρῳ. καὶ μὴν τὸν οἶνον τὸν κράτιστον ἐντεῦθεν ἔχουσι Ῥωμαῖοι τὸν Φάλερνον καὶ τὸν Στατανὸν καὶ Καληνόν· ἤδη δὲ καὶ ὁ Συρρεντῖνος ἐνάμιλλος καθίσταται τούτοις, νεωστὶ πειρασθεὶς ὅτι παλαίωσιν δέχεται. ὡς δʼ αὕτως εὐέλαιός ἐστι καὶ πᾶσα ἡ περὶ τὸ Ὀυέναφρον ὅμορον τοῖς πεδίοις ὄν.

[4] πόλεις δʼ ἐπὶ μὲν τῇ θαλάττῃ μετὰ τὴν Σινόεσσαν Λίτερνον, ὅπου τὸ μνῆμα τὸ Σκιπίωνος τοῦ πρώτου προσαγορευθέντος Ἀφρικανοῦ· διέτριψε γὰρ ἐνταῦθα τὸ τελευταῖον ἀφεὶς τὰς πολιτείας κατʼ ἀπέχθειαν τὴν πρός τινας. παραρρεῖ δὲ ὁμώνυμος τῇ πόλει ποταμός. ὡς δʼ αὕτως καὶ Ὀυουλτοῦρνος ὁμώνυμός ἐστι τῇ παρʼ αὐτὸν πόλει ἐφεξῆς κειμένῃ· ῥεῖ δʼ οὗτος διὰ Ὀυενάφρου καὶ τῆς Καμπανίας μέσης. ταύταις δʼ ἐφεξῆς ἔστι Κύμη Χαλκιδέων καὶ Κυμαίων παλαιότατον κτίσμα· πασῶν γάρ ἐστι πρεσβυτάτη τῶν τε Σικελικῶν καὶ τῶν Ἰταλιωτίδων. οἱ δὲ τὸν στόλον ἄγοντες, Ἱπποκλῆς ὁ Κυμαῖος καὶ Μεγασθένης ὁ Χαλκιδεύς, διωμολογήσαντο πρὸς σφᾶς αὐτούς, τῶν μὲν τὴν ἀποικίαν εἶναι τῶν δὲ τὴν ἐπωνυμίαν· ὅθεν νῦν μὲν προσαγορεύεται Κύμη, κτίσαι δʼ αὐτὴν Χαλκιδεῖς δοκοῦσι. πρότερον μὲν οὖν ηὐτύχει ἥ τε πόλις καὶ τὸ Φλεγραῖον καλούμενον πεδίον, ἐν ᾧ τὰ περὶ τοὺς Γίγαντας μυθεύουσιν οὐκ ἄλλοθεν, ὡς εἰκός, ἀλλʼ ἐκ τοῦ περιμάχητον τὴν γῆν εἶναι διʼ ἀρετήν, ὕστερον δʼ οἱ Καμπανοὶ κύριοι καταστάντες τῆς πόλεως ὕβρισαν εἰς τοὺς ἀνθρώπους πολλά· καὶ δὴ καὶ ταῖς γυναιξὶν αὐτῶν συνῴκησαν αὐτοί. ὅμως δʼ οὖν ἔτι σώζεται πολλὰ ἴχνη τοῦ Ἑλληνικοῦ κόσμου καὶ τῶν ἱερῶν καὶ τῶν νομίμων. ὠνομάσθαι δʼ ἔνιοι Κύμην ἀπὸ τῶν κυμάτων φασί· ῥαχιώδης γὰρ καὶ προσεχὴς ὁ πλησίον αἰγιαλός. εἰσὶ δὲ καὶ κητεῖαι παρʼ αὐτοῖς ἄρισται. ἐν δὲ τῷ κόλπῳ τούτῳ καὶ ὕλη τίς ἐστι θαμνώδης ἐπὶ πολλοὺς ἐκτεινομένη σταδίους ἄνυδρος καὶ ἀμμώδης, ἣν Γαλλιναρίαν ὕλην καλοῦσιν. ἐνταῦθα δὴ λῃστήρια συνεστήσαντο οἱ Πομπηίου Σέξτου ναύαρχοι, καθʼ ὃν καιρὸν Σικελίαν ἀπέστησεν ἐκεῖνος.

[5] πλησίον δὲ τῆς Κύμης τὸ Μισηνὸν ἀκρωτήριον καὶ ἐν τῷ μεταξὺ Ἀχερουσία λίμνη, τῆς θαλάττης ἀνάχυσίς τις τεναγώδης. κάμψαντι δὲ τὸ Μισηνὸν λιμὴν εὐθὺς ὑπὸ τῇ ἄκρᾳ, καὶ μετὰ τοῦτον ἐγκολπίζουσα ᾐὼν εἰς βάθος, ἐν ᾗ αἱ Βαῖαι καὶ τὰ θερμὰ ὕδατα τὰ καὶ πρὸς τρυφὴν καὶ πρὸς θεραπείαν νόσων ἐπιτήδεια. ταῖς δὲ Βαίαις συνεχὴς ὅ τε Λοκρῖνος κόλπος καὶ ἐντὸς τούτου ὁ Ἄορνος χερρόνησον ποιῶν τὴν ἀπολαμβανομένην μέχρι Μισηνοῦ γῆν ἀπὸ² τῆς μεταξὺ Κύμης καὶ αὐτοῦ. λοιπὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὀλίγων σταδίων ἰσθμὸς διὰ τῆς διώρυγος ἐπʼ αὐτὴν Κύμην καὶ τὴν πρὸς αὐτῇ θάλατταν. ἐμύθευον δʼ οἱ πρὸ ἡμῶν ἐν τῷ Ἀόρνῳ τὰ περὶ τὴν νέκυιαν τὴν Ὁμηρικήν· καὶ δὴ καὶ νεκυομαντεῖον ἱστοροῦσιν ἐνταῦθα γενέσθαι καὶ Ὀδυσσέα εἰς τοῦτʼ ἀφικέσθαι. ἔστι δʼ ὁ μὲν Ἄορνος κόλπος ἀγχιβαθὴς καὶ ἀρτίστομος, λιμένος καὶ μέγεθος καὶ φύσιν ἔχων, χρείαν δʼ οὐ παρεχόμενος λιμένος διὰ τὸ προκεῖσθαι τὸν Λοκρῖνον κόλπον προσβραχῆ καὶ πολύν. περικλείεται δʼ ὁ Ἄορνος ὀφρύσιν ὀρθίαις ὑπερκειμέναις πανταχόθεν πλὴν τοῦ εἴσπλου, νῦν μὲν ἡμέρως ἐκπεπονημέναις πρότερον δὲ συνηρεφέσιν ἀγρίᾳ ὕλῃ μεγαλοδένδρῳ καὶ ἀβάτῳ, αἳ κατὰ δεισιδαιμονίαν κατάσκιον ἐποίουν τὸν κόλπον. προσεμύθευον δʼ οἱ ἐπιχώριοι καὶ τοὺς ὄρνεις τοὺς ὑπερπετεῖς γινομένους καταπίπτειν εἰς τὸ ὕδωρ φθειρομένους ὑπὸ τῶν ἀναφερομένων ἀέρων, καθάπερ ἐν τοῖς Πλουτωνίοις. καὶ τοῦτο τὸ χωρίον Πλουτώνιόν τι ὑπελάμβανον καὶ τοὺς Κιμμερίους ἐνταῦθα λέγεσθαι· καὶ εἰσέπλεόν γε προθυσάμενοι καὶ ἱλασάμενοι τοὺς καταχθονίους δαίμονας, ὄντων τῶν ὑφηγουμένων τὰ τοιάδε ἱερέων ἠργολαβηκότων τὸν τόπον. ἔστι δὲ πηγή τις αὐτόθι ποτίμου ὕδατος ἐπὶ τῇ θαλάττῃ· τούτου δʼ ἀπείχοντο πάντες τὸ τῆς Στυγὸς ὕδωρ νομίσαντες· καὶ τὸ μαντεῖον ἐνταῦθά που ἵδρυται· τόν τε Πυριφλεγέθοντα ἐκ τῶν θερμῶν ὑδάτων ἐτεκμαίροντο τῶν πλησίον τῆς Ἀχερουσίας. Ἔφορος δὲ τοῖς Κιμμερίοις προσοικειῶν τὸν τόπον φησὶν αὐτοὺς ἐν καταγείοις οἰκίαις οἰκεῖν ἃς καλοῦσιν ἀργίλλας, καὶ διά τινων ὀρυγμάτων παρʼ ἀλλήλους τε φοιτᾶν καὶ τοὺς ξένους εἰς τὸ μαντεῖον δέχεσθαι πολὺ ὑπὸ γῆς ἱδρυμένον· ζῆν δʼ ἀπὸ μεταλλείας καὶ τῶν μαντευομένων, καὶ τοῦ βασιλέως ἀποδείξαντος αὐτοῖς συντάξεις. εἶναι δὲ τοῖς περὶ τὸ χρηστήριον ἔθος πάτριον μηδένα τὸν ἥλιον ὁρᾶν, ἀλλὰ τῆς νυκτὸς ἔξω πορεύεσθαι τῶν χασμάτων· καὶ διὰ τοῦτο τὸν ποιητὴν περὶ αὐτῶν εἰπεῖν ὡς ἄρα οὐδέ ποτʼ αὐτοὺς ἠέλιος φαέθων ἐπιδέρκεται. ὕστερον δὲ διαφθαρῆναι τοὺς ἀνθρώπους ὑπὸ βασιλέως τινός, οὐκ ἀποβάντος αὐτῷ τοῦ χρησμοῦ, τὸ δὲ μαντεῖον ἔτι συμμένειν μεθεστηκὸς εἰς ἕτερον τόπον. τοιαῦτα μὲν οἱ πρὸ ἡμῶν ἐμυθολόγουν, νυνὶ δὲ τῆς μὲν ὕλης τῆς περὶ τὸν Ἄορνον κοπείσης ὑπὸ Ἀγρίππα, τῶν δὲ χωρίων κατοικοδομηθέντων, ἀπὸ δὲ τοῦ Ἀόρνου διώρυγος ὑπονόμου τμηθείσης μέχρι Κύμης, ἅπαντʼ ἐκεῖνα ἐφάνη μῦθος, τοῦ Κοκκηίου τοῦ ποιήσαντος τὴν διώρυγα ἐκείνην τε καὶ ἐπὶ νέαν πόλιν ἐκ Δικαιαρχείας ἐπὶ ταῖς Βαίαις, ἐπακολουθήσαντός πως τῷ περὶ τῶν Κιμμερίων ἀρτίως λεχθέντι λόγῳ, τυχὸν ἴσως καὶ πάτριον νομίσαντος τῷ τόπῳ τούτῳ διʼ ὀρυγμάτων εἶναι τὰς ὁδούς.

[6] ̔ο δὲ Λοκρῖνος κόλπος πλατύνεται μέχρι Βαιῶν, χώματι εἰργόμενος ἀπὸ τῆς ἔξω θαλάττης ὀκτασταδίῳ τὸ μῆκος, πλάτος δὲ ἁμαξιτοῦ πλατείας, ὅ φασιν Ἡρακλέα διαχῶσαι τὰς βοῦς ἐλαύνοντα τὰς Γηρυόνου· δεχόμενον δʼ ἐπιπολῆς τὸ κῦμα τοῖς χειμῶσιν ὥστε μὴ πεζεύεσθαι ῥᾳδίως Ἀγρίππας ἐπεσκεύασεν. εἴσπλουν δʼ ἔχει πλοίοις ἐλαφροῖς, ἐνορμίσασθαι μὲν ἄχρηστος, τῶν ὀστρέων δὲ θήραν ἔχων ἀφθονωτάτην. ἔνιοι δὲ τοῦτον αὐτὸν τὴν λίμνην εἶναι τὴν Ἀχερουσίαν φασίν, Ἀρτεμίδωρος δὲ αὐτὸν τὸν Ἄορνον. τὰς δὲ Βαίας ἐπωνύμους εἶναι λέγουσι Βαίου τῶν Ὀδυσσέως ἑταίρων τινός³. ἑξῆς δʼ εἰσὶν αἱ περὶ Δικαιάρχειαν ἀκταὶ καὶ αὐτὴ ἡ πόλις. ἦν δὲ πρότερον μὲν ἐπίνειον Κυμαίων ἐπʼ ὀφρύος ἱδρυμένον, κατὰ δὲ τὴν Ἀννίβα στρατείαν συνῴκισαν Ῥωμαῖοι καὶ μετωνόμασαν Ποτιόλους ἀπὸ τῶν φρεάτων· οἱ δʼ ἀπὸ τῆς δυσωδίας τῶν ὑδάτων· ἅπαν γὰρ τὸ χωρίον ἐκεῖ μέχρι Βαιῶν καὶ τῆς Κυμαίας⁴ θείου πλῆρές ἐστι καὶ πυρὸς καὶ θερμῶν ὑδάτων. τινὲς δὲ καὶ Φλέγραν διὰ τοῦτο τὴν Κυμαίαν νομίζουσι κληθῆναι, καὶ τῶν πεπτωκότων Γιγάντων τὰ κεραύνια τραύματα ἀναφέρειν τὰς τοιαύτας προχοὰς τοῦ πυρὸς καὶ τοῦ ὕδατος. ἡ δὲ πόλις ἐμπόριον γεγένηται μέγιστον, χειροποιήτους ἔχουσα ὅρμους διὰ τὴν εὐφυΐαν τῆς ἄμμου· σύμμετρος γάρ ἐστι τῇ τιτάνῳ καὶ κόλλησιν ἰσχυρὰν καὶ πῆξιν λαμβάνει. διόπερ τῇ χάλικι καταμίξαντες τὴν ἀμμοκονίαν προβάλλουσι χώματα εἰς τὴν θάλατταν, καὶ κολποῦσι τὰς ἀναπεπταμένας ᾐόνας ὥστʼ ἀσφαλῶς ἐνορμίζεσθαι τὰς μεγίστας ὁλκάδας. ὑπέρκειται δὲ τῆς πόλεως εὐθὺς ἡ τοῦ Ἡφαίστου ἀγορά, πεδίον περικεκλειμένον διαπύροις ὀφρύσι, καμινώδεις ἐχούσαις ἀναπνοὰς πολλαχοῦ καὶ βρωμώδεις ἱκανῶς· τὸ δὲ πεδίον θείου πλῆρές ἐστι συρτοῦ.

[7] μετὰ δὲ Δικαιάρχειάν ἐστι Νεάπολις Κυμαίων (ὕστερον δὲ καὶ Χαλκιδεῖς ἐπῴκησαν καὶ Πιθηκουσσαίων τινὲς καὶ Ἀθηναίων, ὥστε καὶ Νεάπολις ἐκλήθη διὰ τοῦτο), ὅπου δείκνυται μνῆμα τῶν Σειρήνων μιᾶς Παρθενόπης, καὶ ἀγὼν συντελεῖται γυμνικὸς κατὰ μαντείαν. ὕστερον δὲ Καμπανῶν τινας ἐδέξαντο συνοίκους διχοστατήσαντες, καὶ ἠναγκάσθησαν τοῖς ἐχθίστοις ὡς οἰκειοτάτοις χρήσασθαι, ἐπειδὴ τοὺς οἰκείους ἀλλοτρίους ἔσχον. μηνύει δὲ τὰ τῶν δημάρχων ὀνόματα τὰ μὲν πρῶτα Ἑλληνικὰ ὄντα, τὰ δʼ ὕστερα τοῖς Ἑλληνικοῖς ἀναμὶξ τὰ Καμπανικά. πλεῖστα δʼ ἴχνη τῆς Ἑλληνικῆς ἀγωγῆς ἐνταῦθα σώζεται, γυμνάσιά τε καὶ ἐφηβεῖα καὶ φρατρίαι καὶ ὀνόματα Ἑλληνικὰ καίπερ ὄντων Ῥωμαίων. νυνὶ δὲ πεντετηρικὸς ἱερὸς ἀγὼν συντελεῖται παρʼ αὐτοῖς μουσικός τε καὶ γυμνικὸς ἐπὶ πλείους ἡμέρας, ἐνάμιλλος τοῖς ἐπιφανεστάτοις τῶν κατὰ τὴν Ἑλλάδα. ἔστι δὲ καὶ ἐνθάδε διῶρυξ κρυπτή, τοῦ μεταξὺ ὄρους τῆς τε Δικαιαρχείας καὶ τῆς Νεαπόλεως ὑπεργασθέντος ὁμοίως ὥσπερ ἐπὶ τὴν Κύμην, ὁδοῦ τε ἀνοιχθείσης ἐναντίοις ζεύγεσι πορευτῆς ἐπὶ πολλοὺς σταδίους· τὰ δὲ φῶτα ἐκ τῆς ἐπιφανείας τοῦ ὄρους, πολλαχόθεν ἐκκοπεισῶν θυρίδων, διὰ βάθους πολλοῦ κατάγεται. ἔχει δὲ καὶ ἡ Νεάπολις θερμῶν ὑδάτων ἐκβολὰς καὶ κατασκευὰς λουτρῶν οὐ χείρους τῶν ἐν Βαίαις, πολὺ δὲ τῷ πλήθει λειπομένας· ἐκεῖ γὰρ ἄλλη πόλις γεγένηται, συνῳκοδομημένων βασιλείων ἄλλων ἐπʼ ἄλλοις, οὐκ ἐλάττων τῆς Δικαιαρχείας. ἐπιτείνουσι δὲ τὴν ἐν Νεαπόλει διαγωγὴν τὴν Ἑλληνικὴν οἱ ἐκ τῆς Ῥώμης ἀναχωροῦντες δεῦρο ἡσυχίας χάριν τῶν ἀπὸ παιδείας ἐργασαμένων ἢ καὶ ἄλλων διὰ γῆρας ἢ ἀσθένειαν ποθούντων ἐν ἀνέσει ζῆν· καὶ τῶν Ῥωμαίων δʼ ἔνιοι χαίροντες τῷ βίῳ τούτῳ, θεωροῦντες τὸ πλῆθος τῶν ἀπὸ τῆς αὐτῆς ἀγωγῆς ἐπιδημούντων ἀνδρῶν, ἄσμενοι φιλοχωροῦσι καὶ ζῶσιν αὐτόθι.

[8] Ἐχόμενον δὲ φρούριόν ἐστιν Ἡράκλειον ἐκκειμένην εἰς τὴν θάλατταν ἄκραν ἔχον, καταπνεομένην λιβὶ θαυμαστῶς ὥσθʼ ὑγιεινὴν ποιεῖν τὴν κατοικίαν. Ὄσκοι δὲ εἶχον καὶ ταύτην καὶ τὴν ἐφεξῆς Πομπηίαν ἣν παραρρεῖ ὁ Σάρνος ποταμός, εἶτα Τυρρηνοὶ καὶ Πελασγοί, μετὰ ταῦτα δὲ Σαυνῖται· καὶ οὗτοι δʼ ἐξέπεσον ἐκ τῶν τόπων. Νώλης δὲ καὶ Νουκερίας καὶ Ἀχερρῶν, ὁμωνύμου κατοικίας τῆς περὶ Κρέμωνα, ἐπίνειόν ἐστιν ἡ Πομπηία, παρὰ τῷ Σάρνῳ ποταμῷ καὶ δεχομένῳ τὰ φορτία καὶ ἐκπέμποντι. ὑπέρκειται δὲ τῶν τόπων τούτων ὄρος τὸ Ὀυέσουιον, ἀγροῖς περιοικούμενον παγκάλοις πλὴν τῆς κορυφῆς· αὕτη δʼ ἐπίπεδος μὲν πολὺ μέρος ἐστίν, ἄκαρπος δʼ ὅλη, ἐκ δὲ τῆς ὄψεως τεφρώδης, καὶ κοιλάδας φαίνει σηραγγώδεις πετρῶν αἰθαλωδῶν κατὰ τὴν χρόαν, ὡς ἂν ἐκβεβρωμένων ὑπὸ πυρός, ὡς τεκμαίροιτʼ ἄν τις τὸ χωρίον τοῦτο καίεσθαι πρότερον καὶ ἔχειν κρατῆρας πυρός, σβεσθῆναι δʼ ἐπιλιπούσης τῆς ὕλης. τάχα δὲ καὶ τῆς εὐκαρπίας τῆς κύκλῳ τοῦτʼ αἴτιον, ὥσπερ ἐν τῇ Κατάνῃ, φασί, τὸ κατατεφρωθὲν μέρος ἐκ τῆς σποδοῦ τῆς ἀνενεχθείσης ὑπὸ τοῦ Αἰτναίου πυρὸς εὐάμπελον τὴν γῆν ἐποίησεν. ἔχει μὲν γὰρ τὸ λιπαῖνον καὶ τὴν ἐκπυρουμένην βῶλον καὶ τὴν ἐκφέρουσαν τοὺς καρπούς· πλεονάζουσα μὲν οὖν τῷ λίπει πρὸς ἐκπύρωσιν ἐπιτηδεία, καθάπερ ἡ θειώδης πᾶσα, ἐξικμασθεῖσα δὲ καὶ λαβοῦσα σβέσιν καὶ ἐκτέφρωσιν εἰς καρπογονίαν μετέβαλε. συνεχὲς δέ ἐστι τῇ Πομπηίᾳ τὸ Συρρεντὸν τῶν Καμπανῶν, ὅθεν πρόκειται τὸ Ἀθήναιον, ὅ τινες Σειρηνουσσῶν ἀκρωτήριον καλοῦσιν· ἔστι δὲ ἐπʼ ἄκρῳ μὲν Ἀθηνᾶς ἱερόν, ἵδρυμα Ὀδυσσέως. διάπλους δʼ ἐνθένδε βραχὺς εἰς Καπρέας νῆσον. κάμψαντι δὲ τὴν ἄκραν νησῖδές εἰσιν ἔρημοι πετρώδεις ἃς καλοῦσι Σειρῆνας. ἐκ δὲ τοῦ πρὸς Συρρεντὸν μέρους ἱερόν τι δείκνυται καὶ ἀναθήματα παλαιὰ τιμώντων τῶν πλησίον τὸν τόπον. μέχρι μὲν δεῦρο ἔχει τέλος ὁ κόλπος ὁ κρατὴρ προσαγορευόμενος, ἀφοριζόμενος δυσὶν ἀκρωτηρίοις βλέπουσι πρὸς μεσημβρίαν, τῷ τε Μισηνῷ καὶ τῷ Ἀθηναίῳ. ἅπας δʼ ἐστὶ κατεσκευασμένος τοῦτο μὲν ταῖς πόλεσιν ἃς ἔφαμεν, τοῦτο δὲ ταῖς οἰκοδομίαις καὶ φυτείαις, αἳ μεταξὺ συνεχεῖς οὖσαι μιᾶς πόλεως ὄψιν παρέχονται.

[9] τοῦ μὲν οὖν Μισηνοῦ πρόκειται νῆσος ἡ Προχύτη, Πιθηκουσσῶν δʼ ἔστιν ἀπόσπασμα. Πιθηκούσσας δʼ Ἐρετριεῖς ᾤκισαν καὶ Χαλκιδεῖς, εὐτυχήσαντες δὲ διʼ εὐκαρπίαν καὶ διὰ τὰ χρυσεῖα ἐξέλιπον τὴν νῆσον κατὰ στάσιν, ὕστερον δὲ καὶ ὑπὸ σεισμῶν ἐξελαθέντες καὶ ἀναφυσημάτων πυρὸς καὶ θαλάττης καὶ θερμῶν ὑδάτων· ἔχει γὰρ τοιαύτας ἀποφορὰς ἡ νῆσος, ὑφʼ ὧν καὶ οἱ πεμφθέντες παρὰ Ἱέρωνος τοῦ τυράννου τῶν Συρακοσίων ἐξέλιπον τὸ κατασκευασθὲν ὑφʼ ἑαυτῶν τεῖχος καὶ τὴν νῆσον· ἐπελθόντες δὲ Νεαπολῖται κατέσχον. ἐντεῦθεν καὶ ὁ μῦθος ὅτι φασὶ τὸν Τυφῶνα ὑποκεῖσθαι τῇ νήσῳ ταύτῃ, στρεφομένου δὲ τὰς φλόγας ἀναφυσᾶσθαι καὶ τὰ ὕδατα, ἔστι δʼ ὅτε καὶ νησῖδας ἐχούσας ζέον ὕδωρ. πιθανώτερον δὲ Πίνδαρος εἴρηκεν ἐκ τῶν φαινομένων ὁρμηθείς, ὅτι πᾶς ὁ πόρος οὗτος ἀπὸ τῆς Κυμαίας ἀρξάμενος μέχρι τῆς Σικελίας διάπυρός ἐστι καὶ κατὰ βάθους ἔχει κοιλίας τινὰς εἰς ἓν συναπτούσας πρός τε ἀλλήλας καὶ πρὸς τὴν ἤπειρον. διόπερ ἥ τε Αἴτνη τοιαύτην ἔχειν δείκνυται φύσιν οἵαν ἱστοροῦσιν ἅπαντες, καὶ αἱ τῶν Λιπαραίων νῆσοι καὶ τὰ περὶ τὴν Δικαιάρχειαν καὶ Νεάπολιν καὶ Βαίας χωρία καὶ αἱ Πιθηκοῦσσαι. ταῦτʼ οὖν διανοηθεὶς τῷ παντὶ τόπῳ τούτῳ φησὶν ὑποκεῖσθαι τὸν Τυφῶνα νῦν γε μὰν ταί θʼ ὑπὲρ Κύμας ἁλιερκέες ὄχθαι Σικελία τʼ αὐτοῦ πιέζει στέρνα λαχνάεντα. καὶ Τίμαιος δὲ περὶ τῶν Πιθηκουσσῶν φησιν ὑπὸ τῶν παλαιῶν πολλὰ παραδοξολογεῖσθαι, μικρὸν δὲ πρὸ ἑαυτοῦ τὸν Ἐπωπέα λόφον ἐν μέσῃ τῇ νήσῳ τιναγέντα ὑπὸ σεισμῶν ἀναβαλεῖν πῦρ καὶ τὸ μεταξὺ αὐτοῦ καὶ τῆς θαλάττης ἐξῶσαι ἐπὶ τὸ πέλαγος, τὸ δʼ ἐκτεφρωθὲν τῆς γῆς μετεωρισμὸν λαβὸν κατασκῆψαι πάλιν τυφωνοειδῶς εἰς τὴν νῆσον, καὶ ἐπὶ τρεῖς τὴν θάλατταν ἀναχωρῆσαι σταδίους, ἀναχωρήσασαν δὲ μετʼ οὐ πολὺ ὑποστρέψαι καὶ τῇ παλιρροίᾳ κατακλύσαι τὴν νῆσον, καὶ γενέσθαι σβέσιν τοῦ ἐν αὐτῇ πυρός· ἀπὸ δὲ τοῦ ἤχου τοὺς ἐν τῇ ἠπείρῳ φυγεῖν ἐκ τῆς παραλίας εἰς τὴν ἄνω Καμπανίαν. δοκεῖ δὲ τὰ θερμὰ ὕδατα ἐνταῦθα θεραπεύειν τοὺς λιθιῶντας. αἱ δὲ Καπρέαι δύο πολίχνας εἶχον τὸ παλαιόν, ὕστερον δὲ μίαν. Νεαπολῖται δὲ καὶ ταύτην κατέσχον, πολέμῳ δὲ ἀποβαλόντες τὰς Πιθηκούσσας ἀπέλαβον πάλιν, δόντος αὐτοῖς Καίσαρος τοῦ Σεβαστοῦ, τὰς δὲ Καπρέας ἴδιον ποιησαμένου κτῆμα καὶ κατοικοδομήσαντος. αἱ μὲν οὖν παράλιοι πόλεις τῶν Καμπανῶν καὶ αἱ προκείμεναι νῆσοι τοιαῦται.

[10] Ἐν δὲ τῇ μεσογαίᾳ Καπύη μέν ἐστιν ἡ μητρόπολις, κεφαλὴ τῷ ὄντι κατὰ τὴν ἐτυμότητα τοῦ ὀνόματος· τὰ γὰρ ἄλλα πολίχνια νομίζοιτʼ ἂν κατὰ τὴν σύγκρισιν πλὴν Τεάνου Σιδικίνου· καὶ γὰρ αὕτη ἀξιόλογος. κεῖται δʼ ἐπὶ τῇ ὁδῷ τῇ Ἀππίᾳ αὕτη τε καὶ τῶν ἄλλων αἱ ἐπὶ Βρεντέσιον ἄγουσαι ἀπʼ αὐτῆς, Καλατία καὶ Καύδιον καὶ Βενεουεντόν· ἐπὶ δὲ Ῥώμης Κασιλῖνον ἵδρυται ἐπὶ τῷ Ὀυουλτούρνῳ ποταμῷ, ἐν ᾗ πολιορκούμενοι Πραινεστίνων ἄνδρες τετταράκοντα καὶ πεντακόσιοι πρὸς ἀκμάζοντα Ἀννίβαν ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον ἀντέσχον, ὥσθʼ ὑπὸ λιμοῦ διακοσίων δραχμῶν πραθέντος μυός, ὁ μὲν πωλήσας ἀπέθανεν, ἐσώθη δʼ ὁ πριάμενος. ἰδὼν δʼ αὐτοὺς πλησίον τοῦ τείχους σπείροντας γογγύλην ἐθαύμαζεν, ὡς ἔοικεν, ὁ Ἀννίβας τῆς μακροθυμίας, εἰ ἐλπίζοιεν τέως ἀνθέξειν ἕως τελεσφορήσειεν ἡ γογγύλη· καὶ δὴ περιγενέσθαι πάντας φασὶ πλὴν ἀνδρῶν ὀλίγων τῶν ἢ λιμῷ διαλυθέντων ἢ ἐν ταῖς μάχαις.

[11] πρὸς δὲ ταῖς ῥηθείσαις ἔτι καὶ αὗται Καμπαναὶ πόλεις εἰσὶν ὧν ἐμνήσθημεν πρότερον, Κάλης τε καὶ Τέανον Σιδικῖνον, ἃς διορίζουσιν αἱ δύο Τύχαι ἐφʼ ἑκάτερα ἱδρυμέναι τῆς Λατίνης ὁδοῦ, καὶ ἔτι Σουέσσουλα καὶ Ἀτέλλα καὶ Νῶλα καὶ Νουκερία καὶ Ἀχέρραι καὶ Ἀβέλλα καὶ ἄλλαι ἔτι ἐλάττους τούτων κατοικίαι, ὧν ἐνίας Σαυνίτιδάς φασιν εἶναι. Σαυνῖται δὲ πρότερον μὲν καὶ μέχρι τῆς Λατίνης τῆς περὶ Ἀρδέαν ἐξοδίας ποιούμενοι, μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα αὐτὴν τὴν Καμπανίαν πορθοῦντες πολλὴν ἐκέκτηντο δύναμιν· καὶ γὰρ ἄλλως δεσποτικῶς ἄρχεσθαι μεμαθηκότες ταχὺ ὑπούργουν τοῖς προστάγμασι. νυνὶ δʼ ἐκπεπόνηνται τελέως ὑπό τε ἄλλων καὶ τὸ τελευταῖον ὑπὸ Σύλλα τοῦ μοναρχήσαντος Ῥωμαίων, ὃς ἐπειδὴ πολλαῖς μάχαις καταλύσας τὴν τῶν Ἰταλιωτῶν ἐπανάστασιν τούτους σχεδόν τι μόνους συμμένοντας ἑώρα καὶ ὁμοίως ὁρμῶντας, ὥστε καὶ ἐπʼ αὐτὴν τὴν Ῥώμην ἐλθεῖν, συνέστη πρὸ τοῦ τείχους αὐτοῖς, καὶ τοὺς μὲν ἐν τῇ μάχῃ κατέκοψε κελεύσας μὴ ζωγρεῖν τοὺς δὲ ῥίψαντας τὰ ὅπλα, περὶ τρισχιλίους ἄνδρας ἢ τετρακισχιλίους φασίν, εἰς τὴν δημοσίαν ἔπαυλιν τὴν ἐν τῷ Κάμπῳ καταγαγὼν εἷρξε· τρισὶ δὲ ὕστερον ἡμέραις ἐπιπέμψας στρατιώτας ἅπαντας ἀπέσφαξε, προγραφάς τε ποιούμενος οὐκ ἐπαύσατο πρὶν ἢ πάντας τοὺς ἐν ὀνόματι Σαυνιτῶν διέφθειρεν ἢ ἐκ τῆς Ἰταλίας ἐξέβαλε· πρὸς δὲ τοὺς αἰτιωμένους τὴν ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον ὀργὴν ἔφη καταμαθεῖν ἐκ τῆς πείρας, ὡς οὐδέποτʼ ἂν εἰρήνην ἀγάγοι Ῥωμαίων οὐδὲ εἷς, ἕως ἂν συμμένωσι καθʼ ἑαυτοὺς Σαυνῖται. τοιγάρ τοι νυνὶ κῶμαι γεγόνασιν αἱ πόλεις· ἔνιαι δʼ ἐκλελοίπασι τελέως, Βοιανὸν Αἰσερνία Πάννα Τελεσία συνεχὴς Ὀυενάφρῳ καὶ ἄλλαι τοιαῦται, ὧν οὐδεμίαν ἄξιον ἡγεῖσθαι πόλιν· ἡμεῖς δʼ ἐπέξιμεν μέχρι τοῦ μετρίου διὰ τὴν τῆς Ἰταλίας δόξαν καὶ δύναμιν. Βενεουεντὸν δʼ ὅμως συνέστηκεν εὖ καὶ Ὀυενουσία.

[12] περὶ δὲ Σαυνιτῶν καὶ τοιοῦτός τις λόγος φέρεται, διότι πολεμοῦντες Σαβῖνοι πολὺν χρόνον πρὸς τοὺς Ὀμβρικοὺς εὔξαντο, καθάπερ τῶν Ἑλλήνων τινές, τὰ γενόμενα τῷ ἔτει τούτῳ καθιερῶσαι, νικήσαντες δὲ τῶν γενομένων τὰ μὲν κατέθυσαν τὰ δὲ καθιέρωσαν· ἀφορίας δὲ γενηθείσης, εἶπέ τις ὡς ἐχρῆν καθιερῶσαι καὶ τὰ τέκνα. οἱ δʼ ἐποίησαν τοῦτο καὶ τοὺς γενομένους τότε παῖδας Ἄρεως ἐπεφήμισαν, ἀνδρωθέντας δʼ ἔστειλαν εἰς ἀποικίαν, ἡγήσατο δὲ ταῦρος· ἐν δὲ τῇ τῶν Ὀπικῶν κατευνασθέντος (ἐτύγχανον δὲ κωμηδὸν ζῶντες) ἐκβαλόντες ἐκείνους ἱδρύθησαν αὐτόθι καὶ τὸν ταῦρον ἐσφαγίασαν τῷ Ἄρει τῷ δόντι αὐτὸν ἡγεμόνα κατὰ τὴν τῶν μάντεων ἀπόφασιν. εἰκὸς δὲ διὰ τοῦτο καὶ Σαβέλλους αὐτοὺς ὑποκοριστικῶς ἀπὸ τῶν γονέων προσαγορευθῆναι, Σαμνίτας δʼ ἀπʼ ἄλλης αἰτίας, οὓς οἱ Ἕλληνες Σαυνίτας λέγουσι. τινὲς δὲ καὶ Λάκωνας συνοίκους αὐτοῖς γενέσθαι φασὶ καὶ διὰ τοῦτο καὶ φιλέλληνας ὑπάρξαι, τινὰς δὲ καὶ Πιτανάτας καλεῖσθαι. δοκεῖ δὲ καὶ Ταραντίνων πλάσμα τοῦτʼ εἶναι, κολακευόντων ὁμόρους καὶ μέγα δυναμένους ἀνθρώπους καὶ ἅμα ἐξοικειουμένων, οἵ γε καὶ ὀκτὼ μυριάδας ἔστελλόν ποτε τῆς πεζῆς στρατιᾶς, ἱππέας δʼ ὀκτακισχιλίους. φασὶ δὲ νόμον εἶναι παρὰ τοῖς Σαυνίταις καλὸν καὶ προτρεπτικὸν πρὸς ἀρετήν· οὐ γὰρ ἔξεστι διδόναι τὰς θυγατέρας οἷς ἂν ἐθέλωσιν, ἀλλὰ κρίνεσθαι κατὰ ἔτος δέκα μὲν παρθένους δέκα δὲ τῶν νέων τοὺς ἀρίστους καὶ τὰς ἀρίστας· τούτων τῷ πρώτῳ τὴν πρώτην δίδοσθαι, τῷ δευτέρῳ τὴν δευτέραν καὶ ἑξῆς οὕτως· ἐὰν δʼ ὁ λαβὼν τὸ γέρας μεταβαλόμενος γένηται πονηρός, ἀτιμάζουσι καὶ ἀφαιροῦνται τὴν δοθεῖσαν. ἑξῆς δʼ εἰσὶν Ἱρπῖνοι, καὐτοὶ Σαυνῖται· τοὔνομα δʼ ἔσχον ἀπὸ τοῦ ἡγησαμένου λύκου τῆς ἀποικίας· ἵρπον γὰρ καλοῦσιν οἱ Σαυνῖται τὸν λύκον· συνάπτουσι δὲ Λευκανοῖς τοῖς μεσογαίοις. περὶ μὲν Σαυνιτῶν ταῦτα.

[13] καμπανοῖς δὲ συνέβη διὰ τὴν τῆς χώρας εὐδαιμονίαν ἐπʼ ἴσον ἀγαθῶν ἀπολαῦσαι καὶ κακῶν. ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον γὰρ ἐξετρύφησαν ὥστʼ ἐπὶ δεῖπνον ἐκάλουν πρὸς ζεύγη μονομάχων, ὁρίζοντες ἀριθμὸν κατὰ τὴν τῶν συνδείπνων ἀξίαν. Ἀννίβα δʼ ἐξ ἐνδόσεως λαβόντος αὐτούς, δεξάμενοι χειμαδίοις τὴν στρατιὰν οὕτως ἐξεθήλυναν ταῖς ἡδοναῖς ὥσθʼ ὁ Ἀννίβας ἔφη νικῶν κινδυνεύειν ἐπὶ τοῖς ἐχθροῖς γενέσθαι, γυναῖκας ἀντὶ τῶν ἀνδρῶν τοὺς στρατιώτας ἀπολαβών. Ῥωμαῖοι δὲ κρατήσαντες πολλοῖς κακοῖς ἐσωφρόνισαν αὐτούς, ὕστατα δὲ καὶ κατεκληρούχησαν τὴν γῆν. νυνὶ μέντοι μετʼ εὐπραγίας διάγουσι τοῖς ἐποίκοις ὁμονοήσαντες, καὶ τὸ ἀξίωμα φυλάττουσι τὸ ἀρχαῖον καὶ τῷ μεγέθει τῆς πόλεως καὶ κατʼ εὐανδρίαν. μετὰ δὲ τὴν Καμπανίαν καὶ τὴν Σαυνῖτιν⁵ ἐπὶ μὲν τῇ Τυρρηνικῇ θαλάττῃ τὸ τῶν Πικέντων ἔθνος οἰκεῖ, μικρὸν ἀπόσπασμα τῶν ἐν τῷ Ἀδρίᾳ Πικεντίνων, ὑπὸ Ῥωμαίων μετῳκισμένον εἰς τὸν Ποσειδωνιάτην κόλπον, ὃς νῦν Παιστανὸς καλεῖται, καὶ ἡ πόλις ἡ Ποσειδωνία Παιστός, ἐν μέσῳ τῷ κόλπῳ κειμένη. μεταξὺ δὲ τῶν Σειρηνουσσῶν καὶ τῆς Ποσειδωνίας Μαρκῖνα, Τυρρηνῶν κτίσμα οἰκούμενον ὑπὸ Σαυνιτῶν. ἐντεῦθεν εἰς Πομπηίαν διὰ Νουκερίας οὐ πλειόνων ἑκατὸν καὶ εἴκοσι σταδίων ἐστὶν ὁ ἰσθμός. διήκουσι δʼ οἱ Πίκεντες μέχρι τοῦ Σιλάριδος ποταμοῦ τοῦ ὁρίζοντος ἀπὸ ταύτης τῆς χώρας τὴν ἀρχαίαν Ἰταλίαν, ἐφʼ οὗ τοῦτʼ ἴδιον ἱστοροῦσιν περὶ τοῦ ὕδατος ὄντος ποτίμου, τὸ καθιέμενον εἰς αὐτὸ φυτὸν ἀπολιθοῦσθαι φυλάττον τὴν χρόαν καὶ τὴν μορφήν. τῶν δὲ Πικέντων ὑπῆρχε μητρόπολις Πικεντία, νυνὶ δὲ κωμηδὸν ζῶσιν ἀπωσθέντες ὑπὸ Ῥωμαίων διὰ τὴν πρὸς Ἀννίβαν κοινωνίαν· ἀντὶ δὲ στρατείας ἡμεροδρομεῖν καὶ γραμματοφορεῖν ἀπεδείχθησαν ἐν τῷ τότε δημοσίᾳ, καθάπερ καὶ Λευκανοὶ καὶ Βρέττιοι κατὰ τὰς αὐτὰς αἰτίας· ἐπετείχισαν δʼ αὐτοῖς Σάλερνον Ῥωμαῖοι φρουρᾶς χάριν μικρὸν ὑπὲρ τῆς θαλάττης· εἰσὶ δʼ ἀπὸ Σειρηνουσσῶν ἐπὶ Σίλαριν στάδιοι διακόσιοι ἑξήκοντα.

Notes on the current edition

Geography

1. Cisalpine Gaul.

2. Rimini.

3. The Fiumesino.

4. Giulia Nova.

5. Osimo.

6. S. Severino.

7. Probably for Pollentia, on the Chiento, opposite Urbisaglia.

8. Ruins, on the river Potenza, near to Porto di Recanati.

9. Fermo.

10. Porto di Fermo.

11. Near to the river Monecchia, not far from Marano.

12. Truentum.

13. The position of this city is still disputed, it has been identified with Porto d’Ascoli, Torre di Seguro, and other places.

14. Giulia Nova.

15. Matrinus.

16. Atri.

17. Ascoli.

18. The text is here defective.

19. The Vestini appear to have occupied the region where at present Aquila, Ofena, Civita Aquana, Civita di Penna, Civita di St. Angelo, and Pescara are situated.

20. They inhabited the canton in which are built Tagliacozzo, Scurcola, Albi, Celano, Pescina, and the environs of Lake Celano.

21. Inhabited the territories of Sulmona, Pentima, and Popolo.

22. Occupied the district of Tieti or Chieti.

23. Inhabited the right bank of the Sangro, the territory of Guasto, the banks of the Trigno and Biferno, the district of Larino, the left bank of the Fortore, and extended north-west towards Pescara.

24. 91 B. C.

25. Pentima near Popoli.

26. The first consuls were Q. Pompaedius Silo, and C. Aponius Mutilus; the praetors were Herius Asinius for the Marucini, C. Veltius Cato for the Marsi, M. Lamponius and T. Cleptius for the Leucani, Marius Egnatius Trebatius and Pontius Telesinus for the Samnites, C. Judacilius for the Apuli or Picentini, and A. Cluentius for the Peligni. Many other officers besides these distinguished themselves in the several campaigns of the Marsian war.

27. A note in the French translation would make the duration of the Marsian war twelve years.

28. Diodorus Siculus agrees with Strabo, in asserting that this war was called Marsian, because it had been commenced by the Marsi, ̓ωνομᾶσθα δέ φησι μαοͅσικὸν [i. e. πόλεμον] ἐκ τῶν ἁοͅξάντων τῆς ἀποστάσεως. however, Velleius Paterculus asserts that the people of Asculum commenced the war, which was continued by the Marsi; and Livy (Epit. lib. lxxii.) makes the Picentini the first to raise the standard of revolt.

29. Quintus Pompaedius Silo.

30. Now Sulmona, about seven miles south-east of Corfinium. It was the birth-place of Ovid.

Sulmo mihi patria est gelidis uberrimus undis. Ovid. Trist. iv. El. 9.

31.

Marruvium, veteris celebratum nomine Marri,

Urbibus est illis caput.

Sil. Ital. viii. 507.

We must place this city, with Holstenius, at San Benedetto, on the eastern shore of the lake, where inscriptions have been found which leave no doubt on the subject. The coins of Marruvium have MARUB on the reverse and a head of Pluto.

32. Now Chieti, on the right bank of the Pescara. The family of Asinius Pollio came originally from this place.

33. Pescara.

34. Ortona-a-Mare.

35. Romanelli, (tom. iii. p. 40,) founding his opinion on ancient ecclesiastical records and the reports of local antiquaries, informs us that the ruins of Buca exist at the present Penna.

36. According to Holstenius and Romanelli, Civitate; according to others, Ponte Rotto.

37. Kramer is of opinion that this passage, from Ortonium to life, is an interpolation posterior to the age of Strabo.

38. Romanelli affirms that the mountain from which the river Alaro flows is called Sagra, and Cramer considers that river to be the ancient Sagrus.

39. The Daunii formed only a portion of the Apuli.

40. We have followed Kramer’s reading, τετοͅακοσίων ἐνενήκοντα.

41. The ruins of Monte Dragone.

42. Punta di Miseno.

43. The bay of Naples.

44. Punta della Campanella.

45. This passage is not found in the works of Polybius, as handed down to us.

46. Sorrento.

47. Torre di Patria.

48. Liternus.

49. Vulturnum.

50. Venafro.

51. κύμη. The Greeks gave a singular form to this name of the ancient seat of the Sibyl. Her chamber, which was hewn out of the solid rock, was destroyed when the fortress of Cumae was besieged by Narses, who undermined it.

52. Eusebius states that it was founded 1050 B. C., a few years before the great migration of the Ionians into Asia Minor.

53. We may observe that Strabo seems not to have restricted the φλέγοͅαιον πέδιον to that which modern geographers term the Phlegraean plains, which are contained between Cumae and the hills bordering the Lake Agnano, a little beyond Pozzuolo, but, like Pliny, to have extended it to the whole region, at present termed Terra di Lavoro.

54. A note in the French translation observes, that Diodonus Siculua (lib. xii. § 76) places this event in the fourth year of the 89th Olympiad, 421 B. C. Livy (lib. iv. § 44) seems to place it a year later.

55. It is now called Pineta di Castel Volturno.

56. Forty years B. C.

57. Punta di Miseno.

58. Lago di Fusaro.

59. Lago Lucrino. This lake has almost disappeared, owing to a subterraneous eruption, which in 1538 displaced the water and raised the hill called Monte Nuovo.

60. Lago d’Averno.

61. νηκυῖα, the title of the 11th book of the Odyssey.

62. νεκυομαντεῖον, another title of the same (11th) book.

63. Strabo is not the only one who mentions this: Virgil says,

Spelunca alta fuit, vastoque immanis hiatn,

Scrupea, tuta lacu nigro, nemorumque tenebris;

Quam super hand ullae poterant impune volantes

Tendere iter pennis; talis esse halitus atris

Faucibus effundens supera ad convexa ferebat;

Unde locum Graii dixerunt nomine Avernum.

Aeneid. vi. 237.

64. The Greeks applied the term Plutonian to places where disagreeable and pestilential exhalations arose.

65.

Nor ever does the light-giving Sun shine upon them.

Odys. xi. 15.

66. The text here appears to have been corrupted.

67. We agree with Kramer in considering as an interpolation the words, τε καὶ ἐπὶ νέαν πόλιν ἐκ δικαιαοͅχίας ἐπὶ ταῖς βαἷαις, and likewise another at Neapolis from Dioearchia to Baicoe. It is generally supposed that the Grotta di Pausilipo, or Crypta Neapolitana, is of much greater antiquity than the Augustan age, when Cocceius flourished. There is good reason to refer that great undertaking to the Cumaei, of whose skill in works of this nature we have so remarkable an instance in the temple of their sibyl.

68. Dion Cassius tells us, on the contrary, that owing to the exertions of Agrippa, the gulfs both of Avernus and Lucrinus became excellent ports, λιμένας ναυλοχωτάτους ἀπέδειξεν.

69. Pozzuoli.

70. La Solfa-terra.

71. Naples. [founded

72. Probably those mentioned in a fragment of Timaeus, quoted by Tzetzes, (ad Lycophr. v. 732–737,) as having migrated to Italy under the command of Diotimus, who also instituted the λαμπαδηφοοͅία, which was still observed at Naples in the time of Statius:

Tuque Actaea Ceres, cursu cui semper anhelo

Votivam taciti quassamus lampada mystae.

Silv. iv. 8, 50.

73. Neapolis, or Naples, signifying the new city.

74. Places of exercise for youth.

75. Societies.

76. Grotta di Pausilipo.

77. Pausilypus mons was the name of the ridge of hills which separates the bay of Naples from that of Pozzuoli. This was probably given to it on account of its delightful situation and aspect, which rendered it the favourite residence of several noble and wealthy Romans.

78. Puteoli.

79. Seneca, in describing the Crypta Neapolitana, as it was then called, gives an exaggerated account of the sombre horrors of the place. Perhaps in his time the apertures had become obstructed, which was evidently not the case at the time when Strabo, or the authority whom he follows, visited the place.

80. Hercolano, or Herculaneum, by Cicero (to Atticus, vii. 3) called Herculanum. It is probable that the subversion of this town was not sudden, but progressive, since Seneca mentions a partial demolition which it sustained from an earthquake. ( Nat. Quoest. vi. 1.) So many books have been written on the antiquities and works of art discovered in Herculaneum, that the subject need not be enlarged upon here.

81. Several inscriptions in Oscan, and Etruscan, characters have been discovered in the ruins of Herculaneum. Lanzi, (tom. iii.,)—Romanelli Viaggio a Pompei ed Ercolano.

82. Pompeii.

83. The ancient Sarnus.

84. These Pelasgi were established among the Tyrrhenians.

85. It is believed that the Samnites possessed both places, 310, B. C.

86. The Romans must have been masters of these cities 272, B. C. (Livy, Epit. xiv.)

87. Nola resisted, under the able direction of Marcellus, all the efforts of Hannibal after the battle of Cannae. A remarkable inscription in Oscan characters relative to this town is explained by Lanzi, (tom. iii. 612,) its name is there written NUFLA. See Cramer’s Ancient Italy, vol. ii. p. 211.

88. Nocera de’ Pagani.

89. Sorrento.

90. Punta della Campanella.

91. The Sirenusae were three small rocks detached from the land, and celebrated as the islands of the Sirens; they are now called Galli. See Holsten. Adnot. p. 248; Romanelli, torn. iii. p. 619. Virgil, Aen. v. 864, describes them as,

Jamque adeo scopulos advecta subibat;

Difficiles quondam, multorumque ossibus albos.

It had been decreed that the Sirens should live only till some one hearing their song should pass on unmoved, and Orpheus, who accompanied the Argonauts, having surpassed the Sirens, and led on the ship, they cast themselves into the sea, and were metamorphosed into these rocks.

92. The bay of Naples.

93. Punta di Miseno.

94. Procida.

95. Ischia.

96. It appears that Hiero the First is here alluded to; he ascended the throne 478 years before the Christian era.

97. The volcanos of Sicily, Lipari, Pithecussae, or Ischia, and Mount Vesuvius. See Humboldt (Cosmos i. 238, note).

98. We, in common with the French translators and Siebenkees, have adopted the νήσους found in the MS. of Peter Bembo, and some others cited by Casaubon.

99. Pindar Pyth. Od i. 32; Conf. Pindar. Olymp. Od. iv. 2.

100. This writer flourished about 264 years before the Christian era.

101. Epopeus mons, now sometimes called Epomeo, but more commonly Monte San Nicolo.

102. The waters at the source Olmitello, in the southern part of the island, are the most efficacious for this disease.

103. Capri.

104. Teano.

105. Galazze. We have not hesitated to read Callateria, with all MSS. Kramer has printed καλατία in text. Numismatic writers ascribe to this, and not the Samnite Calatia, the coins with the head of Jupiter on the obverse, and the legend, KALAT, and KALATI, in retrograde Oscan characters on the reverse. Mionnet. Med. Ant. Suppl. vol. i. p. 232; Sestini, Monet. Vet. p. 13.

106. S. Maria di Goti, near to Forchia Caudina.

107. Benevento.

108. Nova Capua.

109. Volturno.

110. The text has μεδίμνου; but we have adopted μυὸς, the word proposed by most of the Greek editors; Valerius Maximus, Pliny, and Frontinus all agreeing in the statement, that it was a rat which fetched this enormous price.

111. Calvi.

112. Castel di Sessola, near Maddaloni.

113. Holstenius says that the ruins of Atella are still to be seen near S. Arpino, or S. Elpidio, about two miles beyond Aversa.

114. Now Nola. It was one of the most ancient and important cities of Campania; though situated in an open plain, it resisted all the efforts of Hannibal after the battle of Cannae. Here Augustus expired, in the same room in which his father Octavius had breathed his last.

115. Nocera.

116. Acerra near the source of the Agno, the ancient Clanius.

117. Avella Vecchia.

118. Such was Nola, which our author in his sixth book evidently places in the territory of the Samnites.

119. Bojano.

120. Isernia.

121. The ruins of Telesia are to be seen about a mile from the modern Telese. Allifae was between Telesia and Venafrum.

122. Benevento.

123. Venosa. The coins of Venusia have on the reverse the inscription VE., and an eagle resting on a thunderbolt. On the obverse, a head of Jupiter, and sometimes of Bacchus. Sestini, Monet. Vet. p. 15. The Antiquitates Venusinae and the Iter Venusinum were published at Naples in the last century.

124. Casaubon conjectures that in place of the τῷ ἔτει τούτῳ, we should read τῷ ἔαρι τούτω, or, the productions of the spring: and it certainly would seem that Strabo is here describing what the Latins called a ver sacrum. An ancient historian, speaking of the occurrence mentioned by Strabo, says, Quondam Sabini fernntur vovisse, si res communis melioribus locis constitisset, se ver sacrum facturos. Sisenn. Hist. lib. iv. ap. Non. Marcell. De doctor. indag. ed. 1683, fol. 2531. Festus, Sext. P. Fest. De verb. sign. F. ed. 1699, p. 478, seems to have mentioned the same thing.

125. The animals and fruits are intended.

126. Devoted to Mars.

127. Or little Sabines.

128. From Pitane, a place in Laconia.

129. B. C. 216.

130. 211 B. C.

131. B. C. 59.

132. We concur with Kramer in considering that the words μέχρι φρεντανῶν, which occur immediately after σαυνῖτιν, have been interpolated.

133. The Gulf of Salerno.

134. Pesti.

135. This city must have been founded nearly 540 years B. C., for Herodotus says that the Phocaeans were chiefly induced to settle on the shores of Aenotria by the advice of a citizen of Posidonia, and they founded Velia in the reign of Cyrus. B. i. 164.

136. 442 B. C.

137. B. C. 274.

138. Apparently the Fiume Salso.

139. Pesti.

140. Vietri.

141. Pompeii.

142. Nocera.

143. The ancient Silaris.

144. We are inclined to read Leucania with Du Theil. The Paris manuscript, No. 1393, reads κανίαν.

145. Pliny, in his Natural History, (lib. ii. § 106,) has confirmed Strabo’s account. It appears from Cluvier that the people who inhabit the banks of the Silaro are not acquainted with any circumstances which might corroborate the statement. (Cluvier, Ital. Ant. lib. iv. c, 14.)

146. About B. C. 201.

Strabo Geography 5.4

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

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