15. Cephallenia is situated opposite to Acarnania, at the distance from Leucatas of about 50, or according to others, of 40 stadia, and from Chelonatas[654] of about 80 stadia. It is about 300 stadia (1300?) in circumference. It extends in length towards the south-east (Eurus). It is mountainous; the largest mountain in it is the Ænus,[655] on which is the temple of Jupiter Ænesius. Here is the narrowest part of the island, which forms a low isthmus, that is frequently overflowed from sea to sea.[656] Cranii[657] and Paleis[658] are situated near the straits in the Gulf.
16. Between Ithaca and Cephallenia is the small island Asteria,[659] or Asteris, as it is called by the poet, which, according to Demetrius, the Scepsian, does not remain in the state described by the poet,
“there are harbours in it, open on both sides, for the reception of vessels.”[660]
But Apollodorus says that it exists even at present, and mentions a small city in it, Alalcomenæ, situated quite upon the isthmus.
17. The poet also gives the name of Samos to Thracia, which we now call Samothracé. He was probably acquainted with the Ionian island, for he seems to have been acquainted with the Ionian migration. He would not, otherwise, have made a distinction between islands of the same names, for in speaking of Samothrace, he makes the distinction sometimes by the epithet,
“on high, upon the loftiest summit of the woody Samos, the Thracian,”[661]
sometimes by uniting it with the neighbouring islands,
“to Samos, and Imbros, and inaccessible Lemnos;”[662]
and again,
“between Samos and rocky Imbros.”[663]