But Lesbos[4266], distant from Chios sixty-five miles, is the most celebrated of them all. It was formerly called Himerte, Lasia, Pelasgia, Ægira, Æthiope, and Macaria, and is famous for its nine cities. Of these, however, that of Pyrrha has been swallowed up by the sea, Arisbe[4267] has perished by an earthquake, and Methymna is now united to Antissa[4268]; these lie in the vicinity of nine cities of Asia, along a coast of thirty-seven miles. The towns of Agamede and Hiera have also perished. Eresos[4269], Pyrrha, and the free city of Mitylene[4270], still survive, the last of which was a powerful city for a space of 1500 years. The circumference of the whole island is, according to Isidorus, 168 miles[4271], but the older writers say 195. Its mountains are, Lepethymnus, Ordymnus, Macistus, Creon, and Olympus. It is distant seven miles and a half from the nearest point of the mainland. The islands in its vicinity are, Sandaleon, and the five called Leucæ[4272]; Cydonea[4273], which is one of them, contains a warm spring. The Arginussæ[4274] are four miles distant from Æge[4275]; after them come Phellusa[4276] and Pedna. Beyond the Hellespont, and opposite the shore of Sigeum, lies Tenedos[4277], also known by the names of Leucophrys[4278], Phœnice, and Lyrnesos. It is distant from Lesbos fifty-six miles, and twelve and a half from Sigeum. CHAP. 40. (32.)—THE HELLESPONT AND MYSIA. The tide of the Hellespont now begins to run with greater violence, and the sea beats against the shore, undermining with its eddies the barriers that stand in its way, until it has succeeded in separating Asia from Europe. At this spot is the promontory which we have already mentioned as Trapeza[4279]; ten miles distant from which is the city of Abydos[4280], where the straits are only seven stadia wide; then the town of Percote[4281]; Lampsacus[4282], at first called Pityusa; the colony of Parium[4283], which Homer calls by the name of Adrastia; the town of Priapos[4284]; the river Æsepus[4285]; Zelia[4286]; and then the Propontis[4287], that being the name given to the tract of sea where it enlarges. We then come to the river Granicus[4288], and the harbour of Artace[4289], where a town formerly stood. Beyond this is an island which Alexander joined to the continent, and upon which is Cyzicus[4290], a city of the Milesians, which was formerly called Arctonnesos[4291], Dolionis, and Dindymis; above it are the heights of Mount Dindymus[4292]. We then come to the towns of Placia, Ariace[4293], and Scylace; in the rear of which places is Mount Olympus, known as the “Mysian Olympus,” and the city of Olympena. There are also the rivers Horisius[4294] and Rhyndacus[4295], formerly called the Lycus; this last river rises in Lake Artynias, near Miletopolis, and receives the Macestos, and many other streams, dividing in its course Asia[4296] from Bithynia[4297].