The larger island is 100[1475] miles in length, and 475 in circumference. It has the following towns; Palma[1476] and Pollentia[1477], enjoying the rights of Roman citizens, Cinium[1478] and Tucis, with Latin rights: Bocchorum, a federate town, is no longer in existence. At thirty miles’ distance is the smaller island, 40 miles in length, and 150[1479] in circumference; it contains the states of Jamnon[1480], Sanisera, and Magon[1481].
In the open sea, at twelve miles’ distance from the larger island, is Capraria[1482] with its treacherous coast, so notorious for its numerous shipwrecks; and, opposite to the city of Palma, are the islands known as the Mænariæ[1483], Tiquadra[1484], and Little Hannibalis[1485].
The earth of Ebusus has the effect of driving away serpents, while that of Colubraria produces them; hence the latter spot is dangerous to all persons who have not brought with them some of the earth of Ebusus. The Greeks have given it the name of Ophiusa[1486]. Ebusus too produces no[1487] rabbits to destroy the harvests of the Baleares. There are also about twenty other small islands in this sea, which is full of shoals. Off the coast of Gaul, at the mouth of the Rhodanus, there is Metina[1488], and near it the island which is known as Blascon[1489], with the three Stœchades, so called by their neighbours the Massilians[1490], on account of the regular order in which they are placed; their respective names are Prote[1491], Mese[1492], also called Pomponiana, and Hypæa[1493]. After these come Sturium[1494], Phœnice, Phila, Lero, and, opposite to Antipolis[1495], Lerina[1496], where there is a remembrance of a town called Vergoanum having once existed.
CHAP. 12. (6.)—CORSICA.
In the Ligurian Sea, but close to the Tuscan, is Corsica, by the Greeks called Cyrnos, extending, from north to south 150 miles, and for the most part 50 miles in breadth, its circumference being 325. It is 62 miles distant from the Vada Volaterrana[1497]. It contains thirty-two states, and two colonies, that of Mariana[1498], founded by C. Marius, and that of Aleria, founded by the Dictator Sylla. On this side of it is Oglasa[1499], and, at a distance of less than sixty miles from Corsica, Planaria[1500], so called from its appearance, being nearly level with the sea, and consequently treacherous to mariners.
We next have Urgo[1501], a larger island, and Capraria, which the Greeks have called Ægilion[1502]; then Igilium[1503] and Dianium[1504], which they have also called Artemisia, both of them opposite the coast of Cosa; also Barpana[1505], Mænaria, Columbaria, and Venaria. We then come to Ilva[1506] with its iron mines, an island 100 miles in circumference, 10 miles distant from Populonium, and called Æthalia by the Greeks: from it the island of Planasia[1507] is distant 28 miles. After these, beyond the mouths of the Tiber, and off the coast of Antium, we come to Astura[1508], then Palmaria and Sinonia, and, opposite to Formiæ, Pontiæ. In the Gulf of Puteoli are Pandateria[1509], and Prochyta, so called, not from the nurse of Æneas, but because it has been poured forth[1510] or detached from Ænaria[1511], an island which received its name from having been the anchorage of the fleet of Æneas, though called by Homer Inarime[1512]; it is also called Pithecusa, not, as many have fancied, on account of the multitudes of apes found there, but from its extensive manufactories of pottery. Between Pausilipum[1513] and Neapolis lies the island of Megaris[1514], and then, at a distance of eight miles from Surrentum, Capreæ[1515], famous for the castle of the emperor Tiberius: it is eleven miles in circumference.
CHAP. 13.—SARDINIA.
Leucothea comes next, and after it, but out of sight, as it lies upon the verge of the African Sea, Sardinia. It is situate somewhat less[1516] than eight miles from the nearest point of Corsica, and the Straits between them are even still more reduced by the small islands there situate, called the Cuniculariæ[1517], as also those of Phintonis[1518] and Fossæ, from which last the Straits themselves have obtained the name of Taphros[1519].
(7.) Sardinia extends, upon the east side, a distance of 188 miles, on the west 175, on the south 77, and on the north 125, being 565 miles in circumference. Its promontory of Caralis[1520] is distant from Africa 200, and from Gades 1400 miles. Off the promontory of Gordis[1521] it has two islands called the Isles of Hercules[1522], off that of Sulcis, the island of Enosis[1523], and off that of Caralis, Ficaria[1524]. Some writers place Beleris not far from it, as also Callodis, and the island known as Heras Lutra[1525].
The most celebrated peoples of this island are the Ilienses[1526], the Balari, and the Corsi; and among its eighteen towns, there are those of the Sulcitani[1527], the Valentini[1528], the Neapolitani[1529], the Bosenses[1530], the Caralitani[1531], who enjoy the rights of Roman citizens, and the Norenses[1532]. There is also one colony which is called Ad Turrim Libysonis[1533]. Timæus has called this island Sandaliotis, on account of the similarity of its shape to the sole of a shoe, while Myrtilus has given it the name of Ichnusa[1534], from its resemblance to the print of a footstep. Opposite to the Gulf of Pæstum is Leucasia[1535], so called from a Siren who is buried there; opposite to Velia are Pontia and Isacia, both known by one name, that of Œnotrides, a proof that Italy was formerly possessed by the Œnotrians. Opposite to Vibo are the little islands called Ithacesiæ[1536], from the watch-tower of Ulysses situate there.