CHAP. 20.—CRETE.
Crete itself lies from east to west, the one side facing the south, the other the north, and is known to fame by the renown of its hundred cities. Dosiades says, that it took its name from the nymph Crete, the daughter of Hesperides[2637]; Anaximander, from a king of the Curetes, Philistides of Mallus * * * * *; while Crates says that it was at first called Aëria, and after that Curetis; and some have been of opinion that it had the name of Macaron[2638] from the serenity of its climate. In breadth it nowhere exceeds fifty miles, being widest about the middle. In length, however, it is full 270 miles, and 589 in circumference, forming a bend towards the Cretan Sea, which takes its name from it. At its eastern extremity is the Promontory of Sammonium[2639], facing Rhodes, while towards the west it throws out that of Criumetopon[2640], in the direction of Cyrene.
The more remarkable cities of Crete are, Phalasarna, Etæa[2641], Cisamon[2642], Pergamum, Cydonia[2643], Minoium[2644], Apteron[2645], Pantomatrium, Amphimalla[2646], Rhithymna, Panormus, Cytæum, Apollonia, Matium[2647], Heraclea, Miletos, Ampelos, Hierapytna[2648], Lebena[2649], and Hierapolis; and, in the interior, Gortyna[2650], Phæstum, Cnossus[2651], Polyrrenium, Myrina, Lycastus, Rhamnus, Lyctus, Dium[2652], Asus, Pyloros, Rhytion, Elatos, Pharæ, Holopyxos, Lasos, Eleuthernæ[2653], Therapnæ, Marathusa, and Tylisos; besides some sixty others, of which the memory only exists. The mountains are those of Cadistus[2654], Ida, Dictynnæus, and Corycus[2655]. This island is distant, at its promontory of Criumetopon, according to Agrippa, from Phycus[2656], the promontory of Cyrene, 125 miles; and at Cadistus, from Malea in the Peloponnesus, eighty. From the island of Carpathos[2657], at its promontory of Sammonium it lies in a westerly direction, at a distance of sixty miles; this last-named island is situate between it and Rhodes.
The other islands in its vicinity, and lying in front of the Peloponnesus, are the two isles known as Corycæ, and the two called Mylæ[2658]. On the north side, having Crete on the right, and opposite to Cydonia, is Leuce[2659], and the two islands known as Budroæ[2660]. Opposite to Matium lies Dia[2661]; opposite to the promontory of Itanum[2662], Onisia and Leuce; and over against Hierapytna, Chrysa and Gaudos[2663]. In the same neighbourhood, also, are Ophiussa, Butoa, and Aradus; and, after doubling Criumetopon, we come to the three islands known as Musagorus. Before the promontory of Sammonium lie the islands of Phocœ, the Platiæ, the Sirnides, Naulochos, Armedon, and Zephyre.
Belonging to Hellas, but still in the Ægean Sea, we have the Lichades[2664], consisting of Scarphia, Coresa, Phocaria, and many others which face Attica, but have no towns upon them, and are consequently of little note. Opposite Eleusis, however, is the far-famed Salamis[2665]; before it, Psyttalia[2666]; and, at a distance of five miles from Sunium, the island of Helene[2667]. At the same distance from this last is Ceos[2668], which some of our countrymen have called Cea, and the Greeks Hydrussa, an island which has been torn away from Eubœa. It was formerly 500 stadia in length; but more recently four-fifths of it, in the direction of Bœotia, have been swallowed up by the sea. The only towns it now has left are Iulis and Carthæa[2669]; Coresus[2670] and Pœëessa[2671] have perished. Varro informs us, that from this place there used to come a cloth of very fine texture, used for women’s dresses.
CHAP. 21.—EUBŒA.
Eubœa[2672] itself has also been rent away from Bœotia; the channel of the Euripus, which flows between them, being so narrow as to admit of the opposite shores being united by a bridge[2673]. At the south, this island is remarkable for its two promontories, that of Geræstus[2674], which looks towards Attica, and that of Caphareus[2675], which faces the Hellespont; on the north it has that of Cenæum[2676]. In no part does this island extend to a greater breadth than forty miles, while it never contracts to less than two. In length it runs along the whole coast of Bœotia, extending from Attica as far as Thessaly, a distance of 150 miles[2677]. In circumference it measures 365, and is distant from the Hellespont, on the side of Caphareus, 225 miles. The cities for which it was formerly famous were, Pyrrha, Porthmos, Nesos, Cerinthos[2678], Oreum, Dium, Ædepsos[2679], Ocha, and Œchalia; at present it is ennobled by those of Chalcis[2680] (opposite which, on the mainland, is Aulis), Geræstus[2681], Eretria[2682], Carystus[2683], Oritanum, and Artemisium[2684]. Here are also the Fountain of Arethusa[2685], the river Lelantus, and the warm springs known as Ellopiæ; it is still better known, however, for the marble of Carystus. This island used formerly to be called Chalcodontis and Macris[2686], as we learn from Dionysius and Ephorus; according to Aristides, Macra; also, as Callidemus says, Chalcis, because copper was first discovered here. Menæchmus says that it was called Abantias[2687], and the poets generally give it the name of Asopis.
CHAP. 22.—THE CYCLADES.
Beyond Eubœa, and out in the Myrtoan[2688] Sea, are numerous other islands; but those more especially famous are, Glauconnesos and the Ægila[2689]. Off the promontory, too, of Geræstus are the Cyclades, lying in a circle around Delos, from which circumstance[2690] they derive their name. The first of them is the one called Andros[2691] with a city of the same name, distant from Geræstus ten miles, and from Ceos thirty-nine. Myrsilus tells us that this island was at first called Cauros, and after that Antandros; Callimachus calls it Lasia, and others again Nonagria, Hydrussa, and Epagris. It is ninety-three miles in circumference. At a distance of one mile from Andros and of fifteen from Delos, is Tenos[2692], with a city of the same name; this island is fifteen miles in length. Aristotle says that it was formerly called Hydrussa, from the abundance of water found here, while some writers call it Ophiussa[2693]. The other islands are, Myconos[2694], with the mountain of Dimastus[2695], distant from Delos fifteen[2696] miles; Siphnus[2697], formerly called Meropia and Acis, twenty-eight miles in circumference; Seriphus[2698], twelve miles in circuit; Prepesinthus[2699]; Cythnos[2700]; and then, by far the most famous among the Cyclades, and lying in the very middle of them, Delos[2701] itself, so famous for its temple of Apollo, and its extensive commerce. This island long floated on the waves, and, as tradition says, was the only one that had never experienced an earthquake, down to the time of M. Varro[2702]; Mucianus however has informed us, that it has been twice so visited. Aristotle states that this island received its name from the fact of its having so suddenly made its appearance[2703] on emerging from the sea; Aglaosthenes, however, gives it the name of Cynthia, and others of Ortygia[2704], Asteria, Lagia, Chlamydia, Cynthus, and, from the circumstance of fire having been first discovered here, Pyrpile. Its circumference is five miles only; Mount Cynthus[2705] here raises his head.
Next to this island is Rhene[2706], which Anticlides calls by the name of Celadussa, and Callidemus, Artemite; Scyros[2707], which the old writers have stated to be twenty miles in circumference, but Mucianus 160; Oliaros[2708]; and Paros[2709], with a city of the same name, distant from Delos thirty-eight miles, and famous for its marble[2710]; it was first called Platea, and after that, Minois. At a distance of seven miles from this last island is Naxos[2711], with a town of the same name; it is eighteen miles distant from Delos. This island was formerly called Strongyle[2712], then Dia, and then Dionysias[2713], in consequence of the fruitfulness of its vineyards; others again have called it the Lesser Sicily, or Callipolis[2714]. It is seventy-five[2715] miles in circumference—half as large again as Paros.