Then follows Laertes a fortress, situated upon the crest of a hill, of a pap-like form; a port belongs to it; next, the city Selinus,[228] then Cragus, a precipitous rock on the sea-coast; then Charadrus[229] a fortress, which has a port (above it is the mountain Andriclus[230]) and a rocky shore, called Platanistus, next Anemurium[231] a promontory, where the continent approaches nearest to Cyprus, towards the promontory Crommyum,[232] the passage across being 350 stadia.
From the boundaries of Pamphylia to Anemurium, the voyage along the Cilician coast is 820 stadia; the remainder of it as far as Soli[233] is about 500 stadia (1500?). On this coast, after Anemurium, the first city is Nagidus, then Arsinoë,[234] with a small port; then a place called Melania,[235] and Celenderis[236] a city, with a harbour.
Some writers,[237] among whom is Artemidorus, consider this place as the commencement of Cilicia, and not Coracesium. He says, that from the Pelusiac mouth to Orthosia are 3900 stadia, and to the river Orontes[238] 1130 stadia; then to the gates of Cilicia 525 stadia, and to the borders of Cilicia 1260 stadia.[239]
4. Next is Holmi,[240] formerly inhabited by the present Seleucians; but when Seleucia on the Calycadnus was built, they removed there. On doubling the coast, which forms a promontory called Sarpedon,[241] we immediately come to the mouth of the Calycadnus.[242] Zephyrium[243] a promontory is near the Calycadnus. The river may be ascended as far as Seleucia, a city well peopled, and the manners of whose inhabitants are very different from those of the people of Cilicia and Pamphylia.
In our time there flourished at that place remarkable persons of the Peripatetic sect of philosophers, Athenæus and Xenarchus. The former was engaged in the administration of the affairs of state in his own country, and for some time espoused the party of the people; he afterwards contracted a friendship with Murena, with whom he fled, and with whom he was captured, on the discovery of the conspiracy against Augustus Cæsar; but he established his innocence, and was set at liberty by Cæsar. When he returned from Rome, he addressed the first persons who saluted him, and made their inquiries, in the words of Euripides—
“I come from the coverts of the dead, and the gates of darkness.”[244]
He survived his return but a short time, being killed by the fall, during the night, of the house in which he lived.
Xenarchus, whose lectures I myself attended, did not long remain at home, but taught philosophy at Alexandreia, Athens, and Rome. He enjoyed the friendship of Areius, and afterwards of Augustus Cæsar; he lived to old age, honoured and respected. Shortly before his death he lost his sight, and died a natural death.
5. After the Calycadnus, is the rock called Pœcile,[245], which has steps, like those of a ladder, cut in the rock, on the road to Seleucia. Then follows the promontory Anemurium,[246] of the same name with the former, Crambusa an island, and then Corycus[247] a promontory, above which, at the distance of 20 stadia, is the Corycian cave, where grows the best saffron. It is a large valley of a circular form, surrounded by a ridge of rock, of considerable height all round. Upon descending into it, the bottom is irregular, and a great part of it rocky, but abounding with shrubs of the evergreen and cultivated kind. There are interspersed spots which produce the saffron. There is also a cave in which rises a river of pure and transparent water. Immediately at its source the river buries itself in the ground, and continues its subterraneous course till it discharges itself into the sea. The name of (Pikron Hydor) “bitter water” is given to it.