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
The first place in Troas is Hamaxitus[4124], then Cebrenia[4125],
and then Troas[4126] itself, formerly called Antigonia, and now
Alexandria, a Roman colony. We then come to the town of Nee[4127], the
Scamander[4128], a navigable river, and the spot where in former times
the town of Sigeum[4129] stood, upon a promontory. We next come to the
Port of the Achæans[4130], into which the Xanthus[4131] flows after
its union with the Simois[4132], and forms the Palæscamander[4133],
which was formerly a lake. The other rivers, rendered famous by Homer,
namely, the Rhesus, the Heptaporus, the Caresus, and the Rhodius,
have left no vestiges of their existence. The Granicus[4134], taking
a different route, flows into the Propontis[4135]. The small city of
Scamandria, however, still exists, and, at a distance of a mile and a
half from its harbour, Ilium[4136], a place exempt from tribute[4137],
the fountain-head of universal fame. Beyond the gulf are the shores of
Rhœteum[4138], peopled by the towns of Rhœteum[4139], Dardanium[4140],
and Arisbe[4141]. There was also in former times a town of
Achilleon[4142], founded near the tomb of Achilles by the people of
Mitylene, and afterwards rebuilt by the Athenians, close to the spot
where his fleet had been stationed near Sigeum. There was also the town
of Æantion[4143], founded by the Rhodians upon the opposite point,
near the tomb of Ajax, at a distance of thirty stadia from Sigeum,
near the spot where his fleet was stationed. Above Æolis and part of
Troas, in the interior, is the place called Teuthrania[4144], inhabited
in ancient times by the Mysians. Here rises the river Caïcus already
mentioned. Teuthrania was a powerful nation in itself, even when the
whole of Æolis was held by the Mysians. In it are the Pioniæ[4145],
Andera[4146], Cale, Stabulum, Conisium, Teium, Balcea[4147], Tiare,
Teuthranie, Sarnaca, Haliserne, Lycide, Parthenium, Thymbre, Oxyopum,
Lygdamum, Apollonia, and Pergamum[4148], by far the most famous
city in Asia, and through which the river Selinus runs; the Cetius,
which rises in Mount Pindasus, flowing before it. Not far from it is
Elæa, which we have mentioned[4149] as situate on the sea-shore. The
jurisdiction of this district is called that of Pergamus; to it resort
the Thyatireni[4150], the Mosyni, the Mygdones[4151], the Bregmeni, the
Hierocometæ[4152], the Perpereni, the Tiareni, the Hierolophienses,
the Hermocapelitæ, the Attalenses[4153], the Panteenses, the
Apollonidienses, and some other states unknown to fame. The little town
of Dardanum[4154] is distant from Rhœteum seventy stadia. Eighteen
miles thence is the Promontory of Trapeza[4155], from which spot the
Hellespont first commences its course.
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