In these Straits is the rock of Scylla, as also Charybdis[1539], a whirlpool of the sea, both of them noted for their perils. Of this triangle, the promontory, which, as we have already[1540] mentioned, is called Pelorus, faces Scylla and juts out towards Italy, while Pachynum[1541] extends in the direction of Greece, Peloponnesus being at a distance from it of 440 miles, and Lilybæum[1542], towards Africa, being distant 180 miles from the promontory of Mercury[1543], and from that of Caralis in Sardinia 190. These promontories and sides are situate at the following distances from each other: by land it is 186 miles from Pelorus to Pachynum, from Pachynum to Lilybæum 200, and from Lilybæum to Pelorus 170[1544]. In this island there are five colonies and sixty-three cities or states. Leaving Pelorus and facing the Ionian Sea, we have the town of Messana[1545], whose inhabitants are also called Mamertini and enjoy the rights of Roman citizens; the promontory of Drepanum[1546], the colony of Tauromenium[1547], formerly called Naxos, the river Asines[1548], and Mount Ætna, wondrous for the flames which it emits by night. Its crater is twenty stadia in circumference, and from it red-hot cinders are thrown as far as Tauromenium and Catina, the noise being heard even at Maroneum[1549] and the Gemellian Hills. We then come to the three rocks of the Cyclopes[1550], the Port of Ulysses[1551], the colony of Catina[1552], and the rivers Symæthus[1553] and Terias; while more inland lie the Læstrygonian Plains. To these rivers succeed the towns of Leontinum[1554] and Megaris, the river Pantagies[1555], the colony of Syracuse[1556], with the fountain of Arethusa[1557], (the people in the Syracusan territory drink too of the fountains of Temenitis[1558], Archidemia, Magæa, Cyane, and Milichie,) the port of Naustathmus[1559], the river Elorus, and the promontory of Pachynum. This side[1560] of Sicily begins with the river Hirminius[1561], then follow the town of Camarina[1562], the river Gelas[1563], and the town of Agragas[1564], which our people have named Agrigentum. We next come to the colony of Thermæ[1565], the rivers Achates[1566], Mazara, and Hypsa; the town of Selinus[1567], and then the Promontory of Lilybæum, which is succeeded by Drepana[1568], Mount Eryx[1569], the towns of Panhormus[1570], Solus[1571] and Himera[1572], with a river of the same name, Cephalœdis[1573], Aluntium[1574], Agathyrnum, the colony of Tyndaris[1575], the town of Mylæ[1576], and then Pelorus, the spot at which we began.