The History and Antiquities of the Doric Race, Vol. 1 of 2Müller, Karl Otfried
History
The History and Antiquities of the Doric Race, Vol. 1 of 2
Müller, Karl Otfried
Dorians -- History; Greece -- Antiquities, Dorian; Greece -- History -- Dorian Invasions, approximately 1125-1025 B.C.
1. “From thence,” Herodotus proceeds to relate, “the race of the Dorians
migrated to Dryopis, afterwards called Doris, or the Doric Tetrapolis.”
Here also it will be necessary to give some illustration of the geography
of the country; beginning at Thermopylæ (the point at which mount Œta
comes in contact with the sea) to the broken ridge where it is swallowed
up in Parnassus, and both ranges are lost in the mountains of Pindus, and
where this latter, the grand chain of Greece, is separated and branches
off in different directions.
Following the plain of Phocis, which lies between mounts Œta and
Parnassus, and is watered by the Cephisus, we presently find the mountains
approaching each other from both sides, and contracting the valley of the
river. The last towns of Phocis in this direction are, Amphicæa,
Tithronium and Drymæa, still to be recognised in ruins, and places bearing
the name of _Palæocastro_.(126) Proceeding thence westward to the higher
country, we soon arrive at the sources of the river Cephisus, which cannot
be mistaken, since it immediately forms a stream of considerable size. The
Cephisus indeed rises not in Œta but in Parnassus, and runs first to the
north-east, in order to make a bend afterwards to the south-east.(127) The
situation is particularly indicated by the ancient citadel of a town,
situated close to the source, upon a steep projection of Parnassus; this
place must be recognised as Lilæa. The scenery around is of a grand and
bold description. Twenty stadia from hence was situated Charadra, where a
mountain-torrent joined the Cephisus. But the river Pindus, which falls
into the Cephisus not far from Lilæa, comes down from a much greater
elevation. These valleys, lying to the north-west of Lilæa,(128)
constitute the proper district of Doris, little described in detail by the
ancients, and never till a short time since visited by modern travellers.
The steep citadel, about an hour and a half’s distance from Lilæa,
situated upon a projection of Parnassus near the village of Mariolatis, is
perhaps Bœum. The ancient walls in the valley towards the west near Stagni
must be set down as the fortress of Cytinium.(129) Erineus should probably
be sought for in the defiles of Œta, nearer the sources of the stream just
mentioned.(130) Near Œta was situated Acyphas,(131) probably the same as
the city of Pindus(132) above Erineus, and of the same name as the river;
both which names the Dorians had brought with them from their early
settlements. This corner of land, placed under the chief mountain-chain of
Greece, and hanging over the plains which extend from thence, was bounded
by the upper districts of Ætolia, by the territory of the Ozolian
Locrians, Phocis, and southern Thessaly.(133) From Cytinium a
mountain-path led along the side of Parnassus to the country of the
Locrians:(134) this also has been explored by modern travellers. This pass
made the small stronghold of Cytinium so important as a military post,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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