The Geography of Strabo, Volume 2 (of 3): Literally Translated, with Notes — John Shaqi
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
intimating in these lines that the Peloponnesians were called peculiarly
Achæans according to another designation.
He calls also the Peloponnesus, Argos Jasum;
“if all the Achæans throughout Argos Jasum should see you,”[179]
meaning Penelope, she then would have a greater number of suitors; for
it is not probable that he means those from the whole of Greece, but
those from the neighbourhood of Ithaca. He applies also to Argos terms
common to other places,
“pasturing horses,” and “abounding with horses.”
6. There is a controversy about the names Hellas and Hellenes.
Thucydides[180] says that Homer nowhere mentions Barbarians, because the
Greeks were not distinguished by any single name, which expressed its
opposite. Apollodorus also says, that the inhabitants of Thessaly alone
were called Hellenes, and alleges this verse of the poet,
“they were called Myrmidones, and Hellenes;”[181]
but Hesiod, and Archilochus, in their time knew that they were all
called Hellenes, and Panhellenes: the former calls them by this name in
speaking of the Prœtides, and says that Panhellenes were their suitors;
the latter, where he says
“that the calamities of the Panhellenes centred in Thasus.”
But others oppose to this, that Homer does mention Barbarians, when he
says of the Carians, that they spoke a barbarous language, and that all
the Hellenes were comprised in the term Hellas;
“of the man, whose fame spread throughout Hellas and Argos.”[182]
And again,
“but if you wish to turn aside and pass through Greece and the
midst of Argos.”[183]
7. The greater part of the city of the Argives is situated in a plain.
It has a citadel called Larisa, a hill moderately fortified, and upon it
a temple of Jupiter. Near it flows the Inachus, a torrent river; its
source is in Lyrceium [the Arcadian mountain near Cynuria]. We have said
before that the fabulous stories about its sources are the inventions of
poets; it is a fiction also that Argos is without water--
“but the gods made Argos a land without water.”
Now the ground consists of hollows, it is intersected by rivers, and is
full of marshes and lakes; the city also has a copious supply of water
from many wells, which rises near the surface.
They attribute the mistake to this verse,
“and I shall return disgraced to Argos (πολυδίψιον)
the very thirsty.”[184]
This word is used for πολυπόθητον, or
“much longed after,”
or without the δ for πολυίψιον,
equivalent to the expression πολύφθορον in
Sophocles,
“this house of the Pelopidæ abounding in slaughter,”[185]
[for προϊάψαι and ἰάψαι and ἴψασθαι, denote some injury or destruction;
“at present he is making the attempt, and he will soon destroy
(ἴψεται) the sons of the Achæi;”[186]
and again, lest
“she should injure (ἰάψῃ) her beautiful skin;”[187]
and,
“has prematurely sent down, προΐαψεν, to Ades.”[188]][189]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account