(11.) At the promontory of Lacinium begins the second Gulf of Europe, the bend of which forms an arc of great depth, and terminates at Acroceraunium, a promontory of Epirus, from which it is distant[1647] seventy-five miles. We first come to the town of Croton[1648], and then the river Neæthus[1649], and the town of Thurii[1650], situate between the two rivers Crathis and Sybaris, upon the latter of which there was once a city[1651] of the same name. In a similar manner Heraclia[1652], sometimes called Siris, lies between the river of that name and the Aciris. We next come to the rivers Acalandrus and Casuentum[1653], and the town of Metapontum[1654], with which the third region of Italy terminates. In the interior of Bruttium, the Aprustani[1655] are the only people; but in Lucania we find the Atinates, the Bantini, the Eburini[1656], the Grumentini, the Potentini, the Sontini[1657], the Sirini, the Tergilani, the Ursentini, and the Volcentani[1658], whom the Numestrani join. Besides these, we learn from Cato[1659] that Thebes in Lucania has disappeared, and Theopompus informs us that there was formerly a city of the Lucani called Pandosia[1660], at which Alexander, the king of Epirus, died.
CHAP. 16.—THE SECOND REGION OF ITALY.
Adjoining to this district is the second region of Italy, which embraces the Hirpini, Calabria, Apulia, and the Salentini, extending a distance of 250 miles along the Gulf of Tarentum, which receives its name from a town of the Laconians so called, situate at the bottom of the Gulf, to which was annexed the maritime colony which had previously settled there. Tarentum[1661] is distant from the promontory of Lacinium 136 miles, and throws out the territory of Calabria opposite to it in the form of a peninsula. The Greeks called this territory Messapia, from their leader[1662]; before which it was called Peucetia, from Peucetius[1663], the brother of Œnotrius, and was comprised in the territory of Salentinum. Between the two promontories[1664] there is a distance of 100 miles. The breadth across the peninsula from Tarentum[1665] to Brundusium by land is 35 miles, considerably less if measured from the port of Sasina[1666]. The towns inland from Tarentum are Varia[1667] surnamed Apulia, Messapia, and Aletium[1668]; on the coast, Senum, and Callipolis[1669], now known as Anxa, 75 miles from Tarentum. Thence, at a distance of 32 miles, is the Promontory of Acra Iapygia[1670], at which point Italy projects the greatest distance into the sea. At a distance of 19 miles from this point is the town of Basta[1671], and then Hydruntum[1672], the spot at which the Ionian is separated from the Adriatic sea, and from which the distance across to Greece is the shortest. The town of the Apolloniates[1673] lies opposite to it, and the breadth of the arm of the sea which runs between is not more than fifty miles. Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, was the first who entertained the notion of uniting these two points and making a passage on foot, by throwing a bridge across, and after him M. Varro[1674], when commanding the fleet of Pompey in the war against the Pirates. Other cares however prevented either of them from accomplishing this design. Passing Hydruntum, we come to the deserted site of Soletum[1675], then Fratuertium, the Portus Tarentinus, the haven of Miltopa, Lupia[1676], Balesium[1677], Cælia[1678], and then Brundusium[1679], fifty miles from Hydruntum. This last place is one of the most famous ports of Italy, and, although more distant, affords by far the safest passage across to Greece, the place of disembarkation being Dyrrachium, a city of Illyria; the distance across is 225 miles.
Adjoining Brundusium is the territory of the Pediculi[1680]; nine youths and as many maidens, natives of Illyria, became the parents of sixteen nations. The towns of the Pediculi are Rudiæ[1681], Egnatia[1682], and Barium[1683]; their rivers are the Iapyx (so called from the son of Dædalus, who was king there, and who gave it the name of Iapygia), the Pactius[1684], and the Aufidus, which rises in the Hirpinian mountains and flows past Canusium[1685].
At this point begins Apulia, surnamed the Daunian, from the Daunii, who take their name from a former chief, the father-in-law of Diomedes. In this territory are the towns of Salapia[1686], famous for Hannibal’s amour with a courtezan, Sipontum[1687], Uria, the river Cerbalus[1688], forming the boundary of the Daunii, the port of Agasus[1689], and the Promontory of Mount Garganus[1690], distant from the Promontory of Salentinum or Iapygia 234 miles. Making the circuit of Garganus, we come to the port of Garna[1691], the Lake Pantanus[1692], the river Frento, the mouth of which forms a harbour, Teanum of the Apuli[1693], and Larinum, Cliternia[1694], and the river Tifernus, at which the district of the Frentani[1695] begins. Thus there were three different nations of the Apulians, [the Daunii,] the Teani, so called from their leader, and who sprang from the Greeks, and the Lucani, who were subdued by Calchas[1696], and whose country is now possessed by the Atinates. Besides those already mentioned, there are, of the Daunii, the colonies of Luceria[1697] and Venusia[1698], the towns of Canusium[1699] and Arpi, formerly called Argos Hippium[1700] and founded by Diomedes, afterwards called Argyrippa. Here too Diomedes destroyed the nations of the Monadi and the Dardi, and the two cities of Apina and Trica[1701], whose names have passed into a by-word and a proverb.
Besides the above, there is in the interior of the second region one colony of the Hirpini, Beneventum[1702], so called by an exchange of a more auspicious name for its old one of Maleventum; also the Æculani[1703], the Aquilonii[1704], the Abellinates surnamed Protropi, the Compsani, the Caudini, the Ligures, both those called the Corneliani and Bebiani, the Vescellani, the Æclani, the Aletrini, the Abellinates[1705] surnamed Marsi, the Atrani, the Æcani[1706], the Alfellani[1707], the Atinates[1708], the Arpani, the Borcani, the Collatini, the Corinenses, the Cannenses[1709], rendered famous by the defeat of the Romans, the Dirini, the Forentani[1710], the Genusini[1711], the Herdonienses, the Hyrini[1712], the Larinates surnamed Frentani[1713], the Merinates[1714] of Garganus, the Mateolani, the Netini[1715], the Rubustini[1716], the Silvini[1717], the Strapellini[1718], the Turmentini, the Vibinates[1719], the Venusini, and the Ulurtini. In the interior of Calabria there are the Ægetini, the Apamestini[1720], the Argentini, the Butuntinenses[1721], the Deciani, the Grumbestini, the Norbanenses, the Palionenses, the Sturnini[1722], and the Tutini: there are also the following Salentine nations; the Aletini[1723], the Basterbini[1724], the Neretini, the Uxentini, and the Veretini[1725].
CHAP. 17. (12.)—THE FOURTH REGION OF ITALY.
We now come to the fourth region, which includes the most valiant probably of all the nations of Italy. Upon the coast, in the territory of the Frentani[1726], after the river Tifernus, we find the river Trinium[1727], with a good harbour at its mouth, the towns of Histonium[1728], Buca[1729], and Ortona, and the river Aternus[1730]. In the interior are the Anxani surnamed Frentani, the Higher and Lower Carentini[1731], and the Lanuenses; in the territory of the Marrucini, the Teatini[1732]; in that of the Peligni, the Corfinienses[1733], the Superæquani[1734], and the Sulmonenses[1735]; in that of the Marsi, the Anxantini[1736], the Atinates[1737], the Fucentes[1738], the Lucenses[1739], and the Marruvini[1740]; in that of the Albenses, the town of Alba on Lake Fucinus; in that of the Æquiculani, the Cliternini[1741], and the Carseolani[1742]; in that of the Vestini, the Angulani[1743], the Pinnenses, and the Peltuinates, adjoining to whom are the Aufinates[1744] Cismontani; in that of the Samnites, who have been called Sabelli[1745], and whom the Greeks have called Saunitæ, the colony of old Bovianum[1746], and that of the Undecumani, the Aufidenates[1747], the Esernini[1748], the Fagifulani, the Ficolenses[1749], the Sæpinates[1750], and the Tereventinates; in that of the Sabini, the Amiternini[1751], the Curenses[1752], Forum Decî[1753], Forum Novum, the Fidenates, the Interamnates[1754], the Nursini[1755], the Nomentani[1756], the Reatini[1757], the Trebulani, both those called Mutusci[1758] and those called Suffenates[1759], the Tiburtes, and the Tarinates.
In these districts, the Comini[1760], the Tadiates, the Cædici, and the Alfaterni, tribes of the Æquiculi, have disappeared. From Gellianus we learn that Archippe[1761], a town of the Marsi, built by Marsyas, a chieftain of the Lydians, has been swallowed up by Lake Fucinus, and Valerianus informs us that the town of the Viticini in Picenum was destroyed by the Romans. The Sabini (called, according to some writers, from their attention to religious[1762] observances and the worship of the gods, Sevini) dwell on the dew-clad hills in the vicinity of the Lakes of the Velinus[1763]. The Nar, with its sulphureous waters, exhausts these lakes, and, descending from Mount Fiscellus[1764], unites with them near the groves of Vacuna[1765] and Reate, and then directs its course towards the Tiber, into which it discharges itself. Again, in another direction, the Anio[1766], taking its rise in the mountain of the Trebani, carries into the Tiber the waters of three lakes remarkable for their picturesque beauty, and to which Sublaqueum[1767] is indebted for its name. In the territory of Reate is the Lake of Cutiliæ[1768], in which there is a floating island, and which, according to M. Varro, is the navel or central point of Italy. Below the Sabine territory lies that of Latium, on one side Picenum, and behind it Umbria, while the range of the Apennines flanks it on either side.