The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 1 (of 6)Pliny, the Elder
History
The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 1 (of 6)
Pliny, the Elder
Natural history -- Pre-Linnean works
Adjoining to Pamphylia is the Sea of Lycia and the country of
Lycia[3887] itself, where the chain of Taurus, coming from the
eastern shores, terminates the vast Gulf[3888] by the Promontory
of Chelidonium[3889]. Of immense extent, and separating nations
innumerable, after taking its first rise at the Indian Sea[3890], it
branches off to the north on the right-hand side, and on the left
towards the south. Then taking a direction towards the west, it would
cut through the middle of Asia, were it not that the seas check it in
its triumphant career along the land. It accordingly strikes off in a
northerly direction, and forming an arc, occupies an immense tract of
country, nature, designedly as it were, every now and then throwing
seas in the way to oppose its career; here the Sea of Phœnicia, there
the Sea of Pontus, in this direction the Caspian and Hyrcanian[3891],
and then, opposite to them, the Lake Mæotis. Although somewhat
curtailed by these obstacles, it still winds along between them, and
makes its way even amidst these barriers; and victorious after all,
it then escapes with its sinuous course to the kindred chain of the
Riphæan mountains. Numerous are the names which it bears, as it is
continuously designated by new ones throughout the whole of its course.
In the first part of its career it has the name of Imaüs[3892], after
which it is known successively by the names of Emodus, Paropanisus,
Circius, Cambades, Paryadres, Choatras, Oreges, Oroandes, Niphates,
Taurus, and, where it even out-tops itself, Caucasus. Where it throws
forth its arms as though every now and then it would attempt to invade
the sea, it bears the names of Sarpedon, Coracesius, Cragus, and then
again Taurus. Where also it opens and makes a passage to admit mankind,
it still claims the credit of an unbroken continuity by giving the
name of “Gates” to these passes, which in one place are called the
“Gates of Armenia[3893],” in another the “Gates of the Caspian,” and
in another the “Gates of Cilicia.” In addition to this, when it has
been cut short in its onward career, it retires to a distance from the
seas, and covers itself on the one side and the other with the names of
numerous nations, being called, on the right-hand side the Hyrcanian
and the Caspian, and on the left the Paryadrian[3894], the Moschian,
the Amazonian, the Coraxican, and the Scythian chain. Among the Greeks
it bears the one general name of Ceraunian[3895].
CHAP. 28.—LYCIA.
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