Читать книгу The Natural History of Pliny (Vol. 1-6) - Pliny the Elder - Страница 231

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The tide of the Hellespont now begins to run with greater violence, and the sea beats against the shore, undermining with its eddies the barriers that stand in its way, until it has succeeded in separating Asia from Europe. At this spot is the promontory which we have already mentioned as Trapeza4279; ten miles distant from which is the city of Abydos4280, where the straits are only seven stadia wide; then the town of Percote4281; Lampsacus4282, at first called Pityusa; the colony of Parium4283, which Homer calls by the name of Adrastia; the town of Priapos4284; the river Æsepus4285; Zelia4286; and then the Propontis4287, that being the name given to the tract of sea where it enlarges. We then come to the river Granicus4288, and the harbour of Artace4289, where a town formerly stood. Beyond this is an island which Alexander joined to the continent, and upon which is Cyzicus4290, a city of the Milesians, which was formerly called Arctonnesos4291, Dolionis, and Dindymis; above it are the heights of Mount Dindymus4292. We then come to the towns of Placia, Ariace4293, and Scylace; in the rear of which places is Mount Olympus, known as the “Mysian Olympus,” and the city of Olympena. There are also the rivers Horisius4294 and Rhyndacus4295, formerly called the Lycus; this last river rises in Lake Artynias, near Miletopolis, and receives the Macestos, and many other streams, dividing in its course Asia4296 from Bithynia4297.

This country was at first called by the name of Cronia, after that, Thessalis, and then Malianda and Strymonis. The people of it are by Homer called Halizones4298, from the fact that it was a nation begirt by the sea. There was formerly a vast city here, Attussa by name; at present there are twelve cities in existence; among which is Gordiucome4299, otherwise Juliopolis; and, on the coast, Dascylos4300. We then come to the river Gelbes4301; and, in the interior, the town of Helgas, or Germanicopolis, which has also the other name of Booscœte4302; Apamea4303, now more generally known as Myrlea of the Colophonians: the river Etheleus also, the ancient boundary of Troas, and the commencement of Mysia. Next to this comes the gulf4304 into which the river Ascanius flows, the town of Bryllion4305, and the rivers Hylas and Cios, with a town of the same name as the last-mentioned river; it was founded by the Milesians at a place which was called Ascania of Phrygia, as an entrepôt for the trade of the Phrygians who dwelt in the vicinity. We may therefore look upon this as a not ineligible opportunity for making further mention of Phrygia.