Читать книгу The Natural History of Pliny (Vol. 1-6) - Pliny the Elder - Страница 258

2713 From Διόνυσος, or Bacchus, the god of wine.

2714 Or “Fine City.” It took its other name from the fact of its rivalling the fertility of Sicily.

2715 According to Brotier, the Jesuit Babin, on visiting it, found its circumference estimated at thirty-six miles only.

2716 So called from lying scattered at random as it were, σπορὰς “scattered.”

2717 Helene is supposed to be the modern Pira; Phacussa, Fecussa; Nicasia, Rachia; Schinussa, Schinusa; and Pholegandros, Policandro.

2718 Now Nikaria, to the west of Samos. According to tradition, it derived its name from Icarus, the son of Dædalus, who was believed to have fallen into the sea in its vicinity.

2719 Its length is not so great as is here mentioned by Pliny. Its towns were Drepanum, or Dracanum, Œnoë, and Isti.

2720 The first two names are from the Greek, in allusion to its long, narrow shape, and the last bears reference to the fact of its shores abounding in fish.

2721 Now Scyro, east of Eubœa, and one of the Sporades. Here Achilles was said to have been concealed by his mother Thetis, in woman’s attire.

2722 Now Nio, one of the Sporades, inaccurately called by Stephanus one of the Cyclades. The modern town is built on the site of the ancient one, of which there are some remains. It was said that Homer died here, on his voyage from Smyrna to Athens, and that his mother, Clymene, was a native of this island. In 1773, Van Krienen, a Dutch nobleman, asserted that he had discovered the tomb of Homer here, with certain inscriptions relative to him; but they have been generally regarded by the learned as forgeries. Odia and Oletandros seem not to have been identified.

2723 Now called Gioura, or Jura. It was little better than a barren rock, though inhabited; but so notorious for its poverty, that its mice were said to be able to gnaw through iron. It was used as a place of banishment under the Roman emperors, whence the line of Juvenal, i. 73—

“Aude aliquid brevibus Gyaris et carcere dignum.”

“Dare some deed deserving of the little Gyara and the gaol.” It is now uninhabited, except by a few shepherds in the summer.

2724 Now Telos, or Piskopi, a small island in the Carpathian Sea, and one of the Sporades. It lies off the coast of Caria. Syrnos appears not to have been identified.

2725 Near Naxos. Virgil calls it ‘viridis,’ or ‘green,’ which Servius explains by the colour of its marble. Like Gyara, it was used as a place of banishment under the Roman Empire. In C. 22, Pliny has mentioned Cynæthus as one of the names of Delos.

2726 Now Patmo, one of the Sporades, and west of the Promontory of Posidium, in Caria. To this place St. John was banished, and here he wrote the Apocalypse.

2727 A group between Icaria and Samos. They are now called Phurni and Krusi.

2728 One of the Sporades, now Lebitha.

2729 Now Lero. Its inhabitants were of Milesian origin, and of indifferent character. In its temple of Artemis, the sisters of Meleager were said to have been changed into guinea-fowls. It was opposite the coast of Caria.

2730 Now Zinari, N.E. of Amorgos. The artichoke (called κίναρα in Greek) is said to have given name to it.

2731 Now Sikino; between Pholegandros and Ios.

2732 So called, according to Stephanus, from its cultivation of the vine and produce of wine, οἶνος. It was situate between Pholegandros and Ios. It was said to have had the name of Sicinus from a son of Thoas and Œnoë. Hieracia seems to be unknown.

2733 Still known by that name, and lying between Carpathus and Crete. The ruins of the ancient town of Casos are still to be seen at the village of Polin. It is mentioned by Homer.

2734 Now Kimoli, one of the Cyclades, between Siphnos and Melos. It took its name of Echinussa from the ‘Echinus,’ or Sea-urchin, of which various fossil specimens are still found on the coast; but nowhere else in these islands, except the opposite coast of Melos. There are considerable ruins of its ancient town.

2735 Now Milo, the most westerly of the Cyclades. It is remarkable for its extreme fertility. Its town, which, according to most authorities, was called Byblis, was situate on the north of the island.

2736 Ansart remarks, that our author is mistaken in this assertion, for not only are many others of these islands more circular in form, but even that of Kimolo, which stands next to it.

2737 Now Amorgo, S.E. of Naxos. It was the birth-place of the Iambic poet Simonides. It is noted for its fertility. Under the Roman emperors, it was used as a place of banishment.

2738 Now Polybos, or Antimelos, an uninhabited island near Melos. Phyle seems not to have been identified.

2739 Now Santorin, south of the island of Ios. The tradition was, that it was formed from a clod of earth, thrown from the ship Argo. It is evidently of volcanic origin, and is covered with pumice-stone. It was colonized by Lacedæmonians and Minyans of Lemnos, under the Spartan Theras, who gave his name to the island.

2740 A small island to the west of Thera, still known by the same name.

2741 In Lapie’s map, Ascania is set down as the present Christiana.

2742 Now Anaphe, Namfi, or Namphio, one of the Sporades. It was celebrated for the temple of Apollo Ægletes, the foundation of which was ascribed to the Argonauts, and of which considerable remains still exist. It abounds in partridges, as it did also in ancient times.

2743 Now Astropalæa, or Stamphalia. By Strabo it is called one of the Sporades, by Stephanus one of the Cyclades. It probably was favoured by the Romans for the excellence and importance of its harbours. From Hegesander we learn that it was famous for its hares, and Pliny tells us, in B. viii. c. 59, that its mussels were (as they still are) very celebrated.

2744 None of these islands can be now identified, except perhaps Chalcia, also mentioned by Strabo, and now known as Karki.

2745 Now Kalymno, the principal island of the group, by Homer called Calydne. According to most of the editions, Pliny mentions here Calydna and Calymna, making this island, which had those two names, into two islands. Although Pliny here mentions only the town of Coös, still, in B. v. c. 36, he speaks of three others, Notium, Nisyrus, and Mendeterus. There are still some remains of antiquity to be seen here.

2746 Or Carpathus, now Skarpanto. It gave name to the sea between Crete and Rhodes.

2747 It still preserves its ancient name, and presents some interesting remains of antiquity.

2748 Brotier says that the distance is really fifty-two miles.

2749 So called from the town of Petalia, on the mainland. Ansart says that their present name is Spili.

2750 Now Talanti, giving name to the Channel of Talanti.

2751 The present Gulf of Volo, mentioned in C. 15 of the present Book.

2752 Ansart suggests that this may possibly be the small island now called Agios Nicolaos.

2753 Now Trikeri.

2754 In the present Chapter.

2755 Now Scangero, or Skantzoura, according to Ansart.

2756 Now the Gulf of Saloniki, mentioned in C. 17. The islands here mentioned have apparently not been identified.

2757 Off the coast of Thessaly, now Piperi.

2758 Now Skiathos. It was famous for its wine.

2759 Now called Embro, or Imru. Both the island and city of Imbros are mentioned by Homer.

2760 This is double the actual circumference of the island.

2761 Now called Stalimene.

2762 Its site is now called Palæo Kastro. Hephæstia, or Vulcan’s Town, stood near the modern Rapanidi. That god was said to have fallen into this island when thrown from heaven by Jupiter.

2763 Now Thaso, or Tasso. Its gold mines were in early periods very valuable.

2764 Mentioned in C. 17 of this Book.

2765 Ansart says that “forty-two” would be the correct reading here, that being also the distance between Samothrace and Thasos.

2766 Its modern name is Samothraki. It was the chief seat of the mysterious worship of the Cabiri.

2767 Only twelve, according to Ansart.

2768 Barely eighteen, according to Brotier.

2769 Now Monte Nettuno. Of course the height here mentioned by Pliny is erroneous; but Homer says that from this mountain Troy could be seen.

2770 Now called Skopelo, if it is the same island which is mentioned by Ptolemy under the name of Scopelus. It exports wine in large quantities.

2771 Or the Fox Island, so called from its first settlers having been directed by an oracle to establish a colony where they should first meet a fox with its cub. Like many others of the islands here mentioned, it appears not to have been identified.

2772 See C. 18 of this Book.

2773 None of these islands appear to have been identified by modern geographers.

2774 Now generally known as the Palus Mæotis or Sea of Azof.

2775 The modern Caraboa, according to Brotier, stands on its site. Priapus was the tutelary divinity of Lampsacus in this vicinity.

2776 Or “entrance of Pontus”; now the Sea of Marmora.

2777 “Ox Ford,” or “passage of the cow,” Io being said to have crossed it in that form: now called the “Straits of Constantinople.”

2778 Said to have been called ἄξενος or “inhospitable,” from its frequent storms and the savage state of the people living on its shores. In later times, on the principle of Euphemism, or abstaining from words of ill omen, its name was changed to εὔξεινος, “hospitable.”

2779 This was a favourite comparison of the ancients; the north coast, between the Thracian Bosporus and the Phasis, formed the bow, and the southern shores the string. The Scythian bow somewhat resembled in form the figure Σ, the capital Sigma of the Greeks.

2780 Now the Straits of Kaffa or Enikale.

2781 This town lay about the middle of the Tauric Chersonesus or Crimea, and was situate on a small peninsula, called the Smaller Chersonesus, to distinguish it from the larger one, of which it formed a part. It was founded by the inhabitants of the Pontic Heraclea, or Heracleium, the site of which is unknown. See note 2844 to p. 333.

2782 Now Kertsch, in the Crimea. It derived its name from the river Panticapes; and was founded by the Milesians about B.C. 541. It was the residence of the Greek kings of Bosporus, and hence it was sometimes so called.

2783 “Thirty-six” properly.

2784 The Tanais or Don does not rise in the Riphæan Mountains, or western branch of the Uralian chain, but on slightly elevated ground in the centre of European Russia.

2785 Chap. 18 of the present Book. Istropolis is supposed to be the present Istere, though some would make it to have stood on the site of the present Kostendsje, and Brotier identifies it with Kara-Kerman.

2786 Now called the Schwarzwald or Black Forest. The Danube or Ister rises on the eastern side at the spot called Donaueschingen.

2787 So called from the Raurici, a powerful people of Gallia Belgica, who possessed several towns, of which the most important were Augusta, now Augst, and Basilia, now Bâle.

2788 Only three of these are now considered of importance, as being the main branches of the river. It is looked upon as impossible by modern geographers to identify the accounts given by the ancients with the present channels, by name, as the Danube has undergone in lapse of time, very considerable changes at its mouth. Strabo mentions seven mouths, three being lesser ones.

2789 So called, as stated by Pliny, from the island of Peuce, now Piczina. Peuce appears to have been the most southerly of the mouths.

2790 Now called Kara-Sou, according to Brotier. Also called Rassefu in the maps.

2791 Now called Hazrali Bogasi, according to Brotier. It is called by Ptolemy the Narakian Mouth.

2792 Or the “Beautiful Mouth.” Now Susie Bogasi, according to Brotier.

2793 Or the “False Mouth”: now the Sulina Bogasi, the principal mouth of the Danube, so maltreated by its Russian guardians.

2794 Or the “Passage of the Gnats,” so called from being the resort of swarms of mosquitoes, which were said at a certain time of the year to migrate to the Palus Mæotis. According to Brotier the present name of this island is Ilan Adasi, or Serpent Island.

2795 The “Northern Mouth”: near the town of Kilia.

2796 Or the “Narrow Mouth.”

2797 Though Strabo distinguishes the Getæ from the Daci, most of the ancient writers, with Pliny, speak of them as identical. It is not known, however, why the Getæ in later times assumed the name of Daci.

2798 “Dwellers in waggons.” These were a Sarmatian tribe who wandered with their waggons along the banks of the Volga. The chief seats of the Aorsi, who seem in reality to have been a distinct people from the Hamaxobii, was in the country between the Tanais, the Euxine, the Caspian, and the Caucasus.

2799 “Dwellers in Caves.” This name appears to have been given to various savage races in different parts of the world.

2800 There were races of the Alani in Asia on the Caucasus, and in Europe on the Mæotis and the Euxine; but their precise geographical position is not clearly ascertained.

2801 The present Transylvania and Hungary.

2802 The name given in the age of Pliny to the range of mountains extending around Bohemia, and through Moravia into Hungary.

2803 Its ruins are still to be seen on the south bank of the Danube near Haimburg, between Deutsch-Altenburg and Petronell. The Roman fleet of the Danube, with the 14th legion, was originally established there.

2804 In Pliny’s time this migratory tribe seems to have removed to the plains between the Lower Theiss and the mountains of Transylvania, from which places they had expelled the Dacians.

2805 The Lower Theiss.

2806 Now the river Mark, Maros, or Morava.

2807 The name of the two streams now known as the Dora Baltea and Dora Riparia, both of which fall into the Po. This passage appears to be in a mutilated state.

2808 A chief of the Quadi; who, as we learn from Tacitus, was made king of the Suevi by Germanicus, A.D. 19. Being afterwards expelled by his nephews Vangio and Sido, he received from the emperor Claudius a settlement in Pannonia. Tacitus gives the name of Suevia to the whole of the east of Germany from the Danube to the Baltic.

2809 According to Hardouin, Pliny here speaks of the other side of the mountainous district called Higher Hungary, facing the Danube and extending from the river Theiss to the Morava.

2810 This, according to Sillig, is the real meaning of a desertis here, the distance being measured from the Danube, and not between the Vistula and the wilds of Sarmatia. The reading “four thousand” is probably corrupt, but it seems more likely than that of 404 miles, adopted by Littré, in his French translation.

2811 Placed by Forbiger near Lake Burmasaka, or near Islama.

2812 The Dniester. The mountains of Macrocremnus, or the “Great Heights,” seem not to have been identified.

2813 According to Hardouin, the modern name of this island is Tandra.

2814 Now called the Teligul, east of the Tyra or Dniester.

2815 Now called Sasik Beregen, according to Brotier.

2816 The modern Gulf of Berezen, according to Brotier.

2817 Probably the modern Okzakow.

2818 The modern Dnieper. It also retains its ancient name of Borysthenes.

2819 We learn from Strabo that the name of this town was Olbia, and that from being founded by the Milesians, it received the name of Miletopolis. According to Brotier, the modern Zapurouski occupies its site, between the mouths of the river Buzuluk.

2820 This was adjacent to the strip of land called “Dromos Achilleos,” or the ‘race-course of Achilles.’ It is identified by geographers with the little island of Zmievoi or Oulan Adassi, the ‘Serpents Island.’ It was said that it was to this spot that Thetis transported the body of Achilles. By some it was made the abode of the shades of the blest, where Achilles and other heroes of fable were the judges of the dead.

2821 A narrow strip of land N.W. of the Crimea and south of the mouth of the Dnieper, running nearly due west and east. It is now divided into two parts called Kosa Tendra and Kosa Djarilgatch. Achilles was said to have instituted games here.

2822 According to Hardouin, the Siraci occupied a portion of the present Podolia and Ukraine, and the Tauri the modern Bessarabia.

2823 According to Herodotus, this region, called Hylæa, lay to the east of the Borysthenes. It seems uncertain whether there are now any traces of this ancient woodland; some of the old maps however give the name of the “Black Forest” to this district. From the statements of modern travellers, the woody country does not commence till the river Don has been reached. The district of Hylæa has been identified by geographers with the great plain of Janboylouk in the steppe of the Nogai.

2824 For Enœchadlæ, Hardouin suggests that we should read Inde Hylæi, “hence the inhabitants are called by the name of Hylæi.”

2825 The Panticapes is usually identified with the modern Somara, but perhaps without sufficient grounds. It is more probably the Kouskawoda.

2826 The Nomades or wandering, from the Georgi or agricultural Scythians.

2827 The Acesinus does not appear to have been identified by modern geographers.

2828 Above called Olbiopolis or Miletopolis.

2829 The Bog or Boug. Flowing parallel with the Borysthenes or Dnieper, it discharged itself into the Euxine at the town of Olbia, at no great distance from the mouth of the Borysthenes.

2830 Probably meaning the mouth or point at which the river discharges itself into the sea.

2831 The modern Gulf of Negropoli or Perekop, on the west side of the Chersonesus Taurica or Crimea.

2832 Forming the present isthmus of Perekop, which divides the Sea of Perekop from the Sea of Azof.

2833 Called by Herodotus Hypacyris, and by later writers Carcinites. It is generally supposed to be the same as the small stream now known as the Kalantchak.

2834 Hardouin says that the city of Carcine has still retained its name, but changed its site. More modern geographers however are of opinion that nothing can be determined with certainty as to its site. Of the site also of Navarum nothing seems to be known.

2835 Or Buces or Byce. This is really a gulf, almost enclosed, at the end of the Sea of Azof. Strabo gives a more full description of it under the name of the Sapra Limnè, “the Putrid Lake,” by which name it is still called, in Russian, Sibaché or Sivaché Moré. It is a vast lagoon, covered with water when an east wind blows the water of the Sea of Azof into it, but at other times a tract of slime and mud, sending forth pestilential vapours.

2836 It is rather a ridge of sand, that almost separates it from the waters of the gulf.

2837 This river has not been identified by modern geographers.

2838 According to Herodotus the Gerrhus or Gerrus fell into the Hypacaris; which must be understood to be, not the Kalantchak, but the Outlouk. It is probably now represented by the Moloschnijawoda, which forms a shallow lake or marsh at its mouth.

2839 It is most probable that the Pacyris, mentioned above, the Hypacaris, and the Carcinites, were various names for the same river, generally supposed, as stated above, to be the small stream of Kalantchak.

2840 Now the Crimea.

2841 It does not appear that the site of any of these cities has been identified. Charax was a general name for a fortified town.

2842 Mentioned again by Pliny in B. vi. c. 7. Solinus says that in order to repel avarice, the Satarchæ prohibited the use of gold and silver.

2843 On the site of the modern Perekop, more commonly called Orkapi.

2844 Or Chersonesus of the Heracleans. The town of Kosleve or Eupatoria is supposed to stand on its site.

2845 After the conquest of Mithridates, when the whole of these regions fell into the hands of the Romans.

2846 The modern Felenk-burun. So called from the Parthenos or Virgin Diana or Artemis, whose temple stood on its heights, in which human sacrifices were offered to the goddess.

2847 Supposed to be the same as the now-famed port of Balaklava.

2848 The modern Aia-burun, the great southern headland of the Crimea. According to Plutarch, it was called by the natives Brixaba, which, like the name Criumetopon, meant the “Ram’s Head.”