But the Corinthians who were despatched by Cypselus and Gorgus, obtained possession of this coast, and advanced as far as the Ambracian Gulf. Ambracia and Anactorium were both founded. They cut through the isthmus of the peninsula, converted Leucas into an island, transferred Neritus to the spot, which was once an isthmus, but is now a channel connected with the land by a bridge, and changed the name to Leucas from Leucatas, as I suppose, which is a white rock, projecting from Leucas into the sea towards Cephallenia, so that it might take its name from this circumstance. 9. [CAS. 452] It has upon it the temple of Apollo Leucatas, and the Leap, which, it was thought, was a termination of love. “Here Sappho first ’tis said,” (according to Menander,) “in pursuit of the haughty Phaon, and urged on by maddening desire, threw herself[622] from the aerial rock, imploring Thee, Lord, and King.” Menander then says that Sappho was the first who took the leap, but persons better acquainted with ancient accounts assert that it was Cephalus, who was in love with Pterelas, the son of Deïoneus.[623] It was also a custom of the country among the Leucadians at the annual sacrifice performed in honour of Apollo, to precipitate from the rock one of the condemned criminals, with a view to avert evil. Various kinds of wings were attached to him, and even birds were suspended from his body, to lighten by their fluttering the fall of the leap. Below many persons were stationed around in small fishing boats to receive, and to preserve his life, if possible, and to carry him beyond the boundaries of the country. The author of the Alcmæonis says that Icarius, the father of Penelope, had two sons, Alyzeus, and Leucadius, who reigned after their father in Acarnania, whence Ephorus thinks that the cities were called after their names. 10. At present those are called Cephallenians who inhabit Cephallenia. But Homer calls all those under the command of Ulysses by this name, among whom are the Acarnanians; for when he says, “Ulysses led the Cephallenians, those who possessed Ithaca, and Neritum, waving with woods,”[624] (the remarkable mountain in this island; so also, “they who came from Dulichium, and the sacred Echinades,”[625] for Dulichium itself was one of the Echinades; and again, “Buprasium and Elis,”[626] when Buprasium is situated in Elis; and so, “they who inhabited Eubœa, Chalcis, and Eretria,”[627] when the latter places are in Eubœa; so again, “Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanians,”[628] and these also were Trojans): but after mentioning Neritum, he says, “and they who inhabited Crocyleia and rocky Ægilips, Zacynthus, Samos, Epirus, and the country opposite to these islands;”[629] he means by Epirus the country opposite to the islands, intending to include together with Leucas the rest of Acarnania, of which he says, “twelve herds, and as many flocks of sheep in Epirus,”[630]