The Geography of Strabo, Volume 2 (of 3): Literally Translated, with NotesStrabo
History
The Geography of Strabo, Volume 2 (of 3): Literally Translated, with Notes
Strabo
Geography -- Early works to 1800
24. Beyond Abydos are the parts about Ilium, the sea-coast as far as
Lectum, the places in the Trojan plain, and the country at the foot of
Ida, which was subject to Æneas. The poet names the Dardanii in two
ways, speaking of them as
“Dardanii governed by the brave son of Anchises,”[1378]
calling them Dardanii, and also Dardani;
“Troes, and Lycii, and close-fighting Dardani.”[1379]
It is probable that the Dardania,[1380] so called by the poet, was
anciently situated there;
“Dardanus, the son of cloud-compelling Jupiter, founded
Dardania:”[1381]
at present there is not a vestige of a city.
25. Plato conjectures that, after the deluges, three kinds of
communities were established; the first on the heights of the mountains,
consisting of a simple and savage race, who had taken refuge there
through dread of the waters, which overflowed the plains; the second, at
the foot of the mountains, who regained courage by degrees, as the
plains began to dry; the third, in the plains. But a fourth, and perhaps
a fifth, or more communities might be supposed to be formed, the last of
which might be on the sea-coast, and in the islands, after all fear of
deluge was dissipated. For as men approached the sea with a greater or
less degree of courage, we should have greater variety in forms of
government, diversity also in manners and habits, according [CAS. 593]
as a simple and savage people assumed the milder character of the second
kind of community. There is, however, a distinction to be observed even
among these, as of rustic, half rustic, and of civilized people. Among
these finally arose a gradual change, and an assumption of names,
applied to polished and high character, the result of an improved moral
condition produced by a change of situation and mode of life. Plato says
that the poet describes these differences, alleging as an example of the
first form of society the mode of life among the Cyclops, who subsisted
on the fruits of the earth growing spontaneously, and who occupied
certain caves in the heights of mountains;
“all things grow there,” he says, “without sowing seed, and
without the plough.
But they have no assemblies for consulting together, nor
administration of laws, but live on the heights of lofty
mountains, in deep caves, and each gives laws to his wife and
children.”[1382]
As an example of the second form of society, he alleges the mode of life
under Dardanus;
“he founded Dardania; for sacred Ilium was not yet a city in
the plain with inhabitants, but they still dwelt at the foot
of Ida abounding with streams.”[1383]
An example of the third state of society is taken from that in the time
of Ilus, when the people inhabited the plains. He is said to have been
the founder of Ilium, from whom the city had its name. It is probable
that for this reason he was buried in the middle of the plain, because
he first ventured to make a settlement in it,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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