Chapter 27

962Strabo mentions the Gelæ again, c. vii. § 1, but in a manner which does not agree with what he here says of their position. We must perhaps suppose that this people, in part at least, have changed their place of residence, and that now the greater part of their descendants are to be found in Ghilan, under the name of Gelé, or Gelaki. The name of Leges, or Legæ, who have continued to occupy these regions, is recognised in that of Legi, Leski.Gossellin.

963The Mermadalis seems to be the same river called below by Strabo Mermodas. Critics and modern travellers differ respecting its present name. One asserts that it is the Marubias, or Marabias, of Ptolemy, another takes it to be the Manitsch, called in Austrian maps Calaus. Others believe it to be the small stream Mermedik, which flows into the Terek. Others again recognise the Mermadalis in the Egorlik.Gossellin.

964Unknown. Pallas thought that he had discovered their name in that of the Tscherkess, who occupied the country where Strabo places the Gargarenses, and might be their descendants.

965The same river probably before called the Mermadalis.

966This sentence has been supposed by some critics to be an interpolation. Strabo above, c. ii. § 1, has already spoken of the Siraci, who would seem to have been the inhabitants of Siracena, and may sometimes have been called Siraceni. In c. ii. § 11, he speaks of the Sittaceni, and assigns them a position which would indicate them as a different people from the Seraci, or Siraceni.Gossellin.

967Groskurd reads ἀπορία, want, instead of εὐπορία, plenty.

968Χαμαικοῖται People who lie on the ground.

969Panxani, Paxani, Penzani.

970The text is here corrupt.

971The country occupied by the Cadusii of whom Eratosthenes speaks appears to have been the Ghilan, a name probably derived from the Gelæ, who are constantly associated with the Cadusii.

972The Gihon.

973The Sihon.

974i. e. the Hyperboreans above the Adriatic, the Sauromatæ above the Danube, and the Arimaspi above the Euxine.

975The name Sacæ is to be traced in Sakita, a district on the confines of those of Vash and Gil, situated on the north of the Gihon or Oxus, consequently in ancient Sogdiana.D’Anville.

976C. viii. § 2.

977At ubi cœpit in latitudinem pandi lunatis obliquatur cornibus.Pliny, N. H.

978See b. ii. c. i. § 14.

979These names have here probably undergone some change. Talabroce may be the Tambrace or Tembrax of Polybius; Samariane, the Soconax of Ptolemy; Carta, Zadra-Carta; and Tape, the Syrinx of Polybius.

980The text is here corrupt.

981About 7 gallons.

982About 12 gallons.

983B. ii. c. i. § 14.

984πεύκη

985ἐλάτη

986πίτυς

987The country here spoken of appears to be that celebrated from the earliest times for its breed of horses to which the epithet Nesæan was applied by ancient writers. See c. xiii. § 7.

988The modern name is uncertain.

989The same statement was made to Pompey, when in these regions in pursuit of Mithridates.

990αὐτοῦ in this passage, as Kramer remarks, is singular.

991From what point our author does not say.

992There is some confusion in the text, which Groskurd attempts to amend as follows: “But among the barbarians the heights of Ariana, and the northern mountains of India, are separately called Emoda, &c.

993B. xv. c. i. § 11. The name is derived from the Sanscrithimavat, which is preserved in the Latin hiems, winter, and in the modern name Himalaya. SeeSmith, art. Imaus.

994On advancing from the S. E. of the Hyrcanian Sea towards the E.

995The Syr-Daria.

996Aparni, Xanthii, and Pissuri, in this passage, seem to be the same as Parni, Xandii, and Parii, in c. ix. § 3, if we may understand in the present passage these people to be referred to only by name, but not as living in the country here described.

997These gods, otherwise unknown, are mentioned again in b. xv. c. iii. § 15.

998The Northern Ocean.

999διαδήματα

1000τοῖς ὅλοις ἐδάφεσιν

1001There is great doubt where it was situated; the distances recorded by ancient writers not corresponding accurately with known ruins. It has been supposed thatDamghamcorresponds best with this place; but Damgham is too near the Pylæ Caspiæ: on the whole it is probable that any remains of Hecatompylos ought to be sought in the neighbourhood of a place now calledJah Jirm.Smith, art. Hecatompylos.

1002Now Herat, the capital of Khorassan. SeeSmith, art. Aria Civitas.

1003Zarang.

1004Sigistan.

1005Ulan Robât, but seeSmith, art. Arachotus.

1006Balkh. SeeSmith.

1007The sum total is 15,210 stadia, and not 15,300 stadia. This latter sum total is to be found again in b. xv. c. ii. § 8, but the passage there referred to has served to correct a still greater error in the reading of this chapter, viz. 15,500. Corrections of the text have been proposed, but their value is doubtful.

1008Its present name is said to be Comis.

1009The Rents.

1010Adopting Tyrwhitt’s conjecture, πρὸς ἄλλοις.

1011The Parapomisus. Kramer’s proposed correction is adopted.

1012For Isamus in the text, Imaus is adopted by Groskurd, and Kramer considers this reading highly probable. Isamus is not found in any other passage, but Mannert, (Geogr. v. p. 295,) finding in Pliny (N. H. vi. 21, § 17) the river Iomanes, proposes to read in this passage Ἰομάνου, in which he recognises the Jumna.

1013Tatta or Sindi.

1014Adraspa. B. xv. c. ii. § 10.

1015Mentioned nowhere else. Kramer seems to approve of Du Theil’s proposed correction, Tapuria.

1016ἐνταφιαστὰς

1017B. x. c. v. § 6.

1018The text is corrupt.

1019παρωνόμασαν

1020i. e. on the same parallel.

1021That is, from the Caspian Gates to Thinæ.Gossellin.

1022Strabo does not here determine either the parallel from which we are to measure, nor the meridian we are to follow to discover this greatest breadth, which according to him is “less than 10,000 stadia.” This passage therefore seems to present great difficulties. The difficulties respecting the parallel can only be perceived by an examination and comparison of the numerous passages where our author indicates the direction of the chain of mountains which form the Taurus.

1023I do not see where this statement is to be found, except implicitly. Strabo seems to refer us in general to various passages where he endeavours to determine the greatest length of the habitable world, in b. ii.Du Theil.

1024I am unable to fix upon the author’s train of thought. For immediately after having assigned to this portion of the Habitable Earth (whose dimensions he wishes to determine) 30,000 stadia as its “greatest length,” and 10,000 stadia as its “greatest breadth,” Strabo proceeds to prove what he had just advanced respecting its greatest length. Then he should, it seems, have endeavoured to furnish us, in the same manner, with a proof that its greatest breadth is not more, as he says, than 10,000. But in what follows there is nothing advanced on this point; all that he says is to develope another proposition, viz. that the extent of the Hyrcanian—Caspian Sea is at the utmost 6000 stadia.The arguments contained in this paragraph on the whole appear to me strange; they rest on a basis which it is difficult to comprehend; they establish explicitly a proposition which disagrees with what the author has said elsewhere, and lastly they present an enormous geographical error.It will therefore be useful to the reader to explain, as far as I understand it, the argument of our author.1. The exact form of the chlamys is unknown to us, but it was such, that its greatestbreadthwas to be found, if not exactly in, at least near, the middle of itslength. The Habitable Earth being of the form of a Chlamys, its greatestbreadthwould be found about the middle of its greatestlength.2. The greatestlengthof the Habitable World being 70,000 stadia, its greatestbreadthought to be found at the distance of 35,000 stadia from its eastern or western extremity, but this greatestbreadthis only 30,000 stadia, and it does not extend, on the north, beyond the parallel of the mouth of the Hyrcanian Sea. B. ii.3. The meridian which passes at the distance of 35,000 stadia from the eastern or western extremities of the Habitable Earth, is that which, drawn from the mouth of the Hyrcanian Sea to the Northern Ocean, and prolonged in another direction through the mouth of the Persian Gulf to the sea called Erythræan, would pass through the city Artemita. Consequently it is on the meridian of Artemita that we must look for the greatest breadth of the Habitable Earth.4. On this same meridian, we must reckon from the parallel of the last habitable country in the south to the mouth of the Persian Gulf, about 8000 stadia; then from the mouth of the Persian Gulf to Artemita, 8000 stadia; and from Artemita to the bottom of the Hyrcanian Sea, 8000 stadia: total 24,000 stadia.5. It being established that the breadth of the Habitable Earth is 30,000 stadia, and not to extend it northwards beyond the parallel of the mouth of the Hyrcanian Sea, where it communicates with the Northern Ocean, the distance to this point from the bottom of this same sea must be calculated at 6000 stadia.Du Theil.

The arguments contained in this paragraph on the whole appear to me strange; they rest on a basis which it is difficult to comprehend; they establish explicitly a proposition which disagrees with what the author has said elsewhere, and lastly they present an enormous geographical error.

It will therefore be useful to the reader to explain, as far as I understand it, the argument of our author.

1. The exact form of the chlamys is unknown to us, but it was such, that its greatestbreadthwas to be found, if not exactly in, at least near, the middle of itslength. The Habitable Earth being of the form of a Chlamys, its greatestbreadthwould be found about the middle of its greatestlength.

2. The greatestlengthof the Habitable World being 70,000 stadia, its greatestbreadthought to be found at the distance of 35,000 stadia from its eastern or western extremity, but this greatestbreadthis only 30,000 stadia, and it does not extend, on the north, beyond the parallel of the mouth of the Hyrcanian Sea. B. ii.

3. The meridian which passes at the distance of 35,000 stadia from the eastern or western extremities of the Habitable Earth, is that which, drawn from the mouth of the Hyrcanian Sea to the Northern Ocean, and prolonged in another direction through the mouth of the Persian Gulf to the sea called Erythræan, would pass through the city Artemita. Consequently it is on the meridian of Artemita that we must look for the greatest breadth of the Habitable Earth.

4. On this same meridian, we must reckon from the parallel of the last habitable country in the south to the mouth of the Persian Gulf, about 8000 stadia; then from the mouth of the Persian Gulf to Artemita, 8000 stadia; and from Artemita to the bottom of the Hyrcanian Sea, 8000 stadia: total 24,000 stadia.

5. It being established that the breadth of the Habitable Earth is 30,000 stadia, and not to extend it northwards beyond the parallel of the mouth of the Hyrcanian Sea, where it communicates with the Northern Ocean, the distance to this point from the bottom of this same sea must be calculated at 6000 stadia.Du Theil.

1025The modern Shirban is supposed to occupy its site.

1026Namely 6000. B. ii. c. i. § 17.

1027Introduced from the margin according to Groskurd’s opinion, supported also by Kramer.

1028i.e. To northern or southern Asia. B. ii. c. I.§ 20.

1029There are five islands off the Hiera Acta, which is now Cape Khelidonia. The Greeks still call them Cheledoniæ, of which the Italians make Celidoni; and the Turks have adopted the Italian name, and call them Shelidan.Smith, art. Chelidoniæ Insulæ.

1030Amanus descends from the mass of Taurus, and surrounds the Gulf of Issus.

1031Dudschik Dagh.

1032It is generally supposed that the modern town Al Bostan on the Sikoon, Seihun, or Sarus, is or is near the site of Comana of Cappadocia.Smith, art. Comana.

1033Malatia.

1034Dzophok.

1035Azerbaijan.

1036The range overhanging Cerasus, now Kerasun.

1037Camasch. The country situated N. W. of the Euphrates in about 38° lat.

1038The range of Kurdistan on the E. of the Tigris.

1039The range lying between the Euphrates and the Tigris, between 37° and 38° lat.

1040Nisibin or Netzid.

1041Meja-Farkin, by “above” these cities, would appear to mean overhanging them both, as it is situated between them.

1042Nepat-Learn.

1043B. ii. c. i. § 22.

1044Hamadan.

1045An interpolation; probably introduced from Matiane below.Falconer. Kramer.

1046Its ancient name according to Kramer was Kapotan. Kaputan-Dzow, The Blue Lake, now the Lake Urmiah.

1047καπυρωθεῖσιν Kramer observes that the meaning of the word in this passage is not clear. It may possibly mean some colour to which the name of the lake was given.

1048It is uncertain whether this is a place, or a district.

1049Adopting Groskurd’s emendation χειμάδιον.

1050In the text χειμάδιον. Kramer suggests the reading βασίλειον.

1051Lucerne?

1052Groskurd proposes “length.”

1053πῖλος

1054Heroic monuments of Jason.

1055Kharput.

1056An almost uniform tradition has pointed out an isolated peak of this range as the Ararat of Scripture. It is still called Ararat or Agri-Dagh, and by the Persians Kuh-il-Nuh, mountain of Noah.Smith.

1057Formerly the mass of ruins called Takt-Tiridate, (Throne of Tiridates,) near the junction of the Aras and the Zengue, were supposed to represent the ancient Artaxata. Col. Monteith fixes the site at a remarkable bend of the river somewhat lower down than this. SeeSmith, art. Artaxata.

1058Kars is the capital of this country.

1059σκώληκας and θρῖπας, species of worms. SeeSmith, art. Chorzene.

1060Melitene.Groskurd.

1061It corresponds, Kramer observes, with Táron, a province of Armenia, which is called by Tacitus, Ann. xiv. 24, Taraunitium (not Taranitium) regio.

1062We should read probably Matiane. The meaning of the word proposed by Strabo may easily be proved to be incorrect, by reference to the Armenian language, in which no such word is to be found bearing this sense. AsKapoitin the Armenian tongue signifies “blue,” this explanation of Strabo’s appears to refer to the lake Spauta or Kapauta, above, c. xiii. § 2.Kramer.

1063The lake Arsissa, Thospitis or Van.

1064This is an error; one of the branches of the Tigris rises among the mountains on the S. W. of the lake Van, and which form part of the range of Nepat-Learn or Niphates.

1065The Kurds.

1066Groskurd proposes Syspiritis.

1067ἀπήγχθηMeineke.

1068It is doubtful whether this colour was red, blue, or purple.

1069Herod. i. 202.

1070Arbil.

1071That this is an error is manifest. Falconer proposes Armenia; Groskurd, Assyria; but what name is to be supplied is altogether uncertain. The name of the city is also wanting, according to Kramer, who proposes Nisibis.

1072The beginning is wanting, according to the opinion of critics, Xylander, Casaubon, and others.

1073The range of mountains to the S. of Caramania.

1074Kizil-Irmak.

1075Itsch-Ili.

1076Archelaus received from Augustus (B. C.20) some parts of Cilicia on the coast and the Lesser Armenia. InA. D.15 Tiberius treacherously invited him to Rome, and kept him there. He died, probably aboutA. D.17, and his kingdom was made a Roman province.

1077Herod. i. 6, 28.

1078Eregli near the lake Al-gol.

1079That is, surrounded by mountains, as below.

1080The range on the west of the river Sarus, Seichun, now bearing various names.

1081Supposed to be Al-Bostan.

1082The Crimea.

1083Dschehan-Tschai.

1084The text is here corrupt.

1085The reading is doubtful.

1086The passage is corrupt. Groskurd proposes Asbamean in place of Dacian, mention being made of a temple of Asbamean Jove in Amm. Marcell. xxiii. 6. Kramer also suggests the transposition of this sentence to the end of § 6.

1087Probably the Kermel-su, a branch of the Pyramus.

1088There is some confusion in this statement.

1089Kara-Hissar.

1090Between the mountains Bulghar-Dagh and Allah-Dagh.

1091Kaisarieh.

1092Edsehise-Dagh, the highest peak, has been estimated at 13,000 feet above the sea.

1093The Karasu, the black river, a branch of the Kizil-Irmak. The modern name appears common to many rivers.

1094χρημάτων, the reading proposed by Kramer.

1095i. e. the kingdom of Pontus.

1096Kara-Hissar.

1097Du Theil quotes Justin, 38, c. 2, where it is stated that Ariobarzanes was appointed king by the Romans. Probably the election was confirmed by the Senate.

1098Kizil-Irmak.

1099Who lived on the west of the river Sidenus (Siddin).

1100Amassera.

1101Erekli, or Benderegli.

1102Erekli.

1103The Bithynians, or rather Thyni, occupied the sea-coast from the Bosphorus to the river Sagaris (Sakaria). The Mariandyni extended to Heracleia (Erekli); and the Caucones to the east as far as the river Parthenius (Tschati-su).

1104Sizeboli, south of the Gulf of Burgas.

1105Midjeh.

1106B. vii. c. iii. § 2.

1107Kramer is of opinion that Strabo is mistaken in this account of the origin of Heracleia.

1108Athenæus, b. vi. c. 85, vol. i. p. 414, Bohn’s Class. Library.

1109Tilijos.

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