Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/203

CHAP. v. 23, 24. INTRODUCTION. 189 may be justly compared to a straight line,) and the remainder [of the circumference representing] the wood of the bow with its double curve, the uppermost very much rounded, the lower more in a straight line. So this sea forms two gulfs, the western much more rounded than the other. 23. To the north of the eastern Gulf of the Pontus, is the Lake Mceotis, whose perimeter is 9000 stadia or rather more. It communicates with the Euxine by means of the Cimmerian Bosphbrus, 1 and the Euxine with the Propontis 2 by the Thra- cian Bosphorus, for such is the name given to the Strait of Byzantium, which is four stadia in breadth. The length of the Propontis from the Troad to Byzantium is stated to be 1500 stadia. Its breadth is about the same. It is in this sea that the Island of the Cyziceni 3 is situated, with the other islands around it. 24. Such and so great is the extent of the jEgsean Sea to- wards the north. 4 Again, starting from Rhodes, the [Medi- terranean] forms the seas of Egypt, Pamphylia, and Issus, extending in an easterly direction from Cilicia to Issus, a dis- tance of 5000 stadia, along the coasts of Lycia, Pamphylia, and the whole of Cilicia. From thence Syria, Phosnicia, and Egypt surround the sea to the south and west as far as Alex- andria. The Island of Cyprus is situated in the Gulfs of Issus and Pamphylia, close to the Sea of Egypt. The passage between Rhodes and Alexandria from north [to south] is about 4000 stadia ; 5 sailing round the coasts it is double this distance. Eratosthenes informs us that, although the above 1 The Strait of Zabache. 2 The Sea of Marmora. 3 The Island of Cyzicus was joined to the mainland by Alexander, and thus formed a peninsula, notwithstanding Strabo describes it as an is- land. Its present name is Artaki. 4 The extent of the jEgaean amongst the ancients was the same as the Egio-Pelago, or Archipelago, with us. It was comprehended between the southern coasts of Crete, the western coasts of Peloponnesus, the southern coasts of Macedonia and Thrace, and the western borders of Asia Minor. Strabo 'however, in his description, seems to comprise under the name of the ^Egaean not only those parts of the Mediterranean south of the meri- dian of Cape Matapan, but also the Propontis and the Euxine, as far as the mouth of the river Halys, now Kizil-Ermak. In this however he seems to be unique. 5 This is just the distance, says Gosselin, from the northern part of Rhodes to Alexandria, but the route, instead of being from north to south, as supposed by the ancients, is S. S. W.