stated the fact that the city had been taken by the Gauls, and Clitarchus, the next after him, only spoke of the embassy that was sent by the Romans to Alexander) — Theophrastus, I say, following something more than mere rumour, has given the circuit of the island of Circeii as being eighty stadia, in the volume which he wrote during the archonship of Nicodorus at Athens[1], being the 440th year of our city. Whatever land therefore has been annexed to that island beyond the circumference of about ten miles, has been added to Italy since the year previously mentioned.
Another wonderful circumstance too. — Near Circeii are the Pomptine Marshes[2], formerly the site, according to Mucianus, who was thrice consul, of four-and-twenty cities. Next to this comes the river Ufens[3], upon which is the town of Terracina[4], called, in the language of the Volsci, Anxur; the spot too where Amyclæ[5] stood, a town destroyed by serpents. Next is the site of the Grotto[6], Lake Fundanus[7], the port of Caieta[8], and then the town of Formiæ[9], formerly called Hormiæ, the ancient seat of the Læstrygones[10], it is supposed. Beyond this, formerly stood the
- ↑ This has been also translated "dedicated to Nicodorus, the Archon of Athens," but nothing appears to be known of such a fact as the dedication to Nicodorus of any of his works.
- ↑ Now called the "Palude Pontine." They are again mentioned in B. xxvi. c. 9.
- ↑ Now called Il Portatore.
- ↑ It was situate fifty-eight miles from Rome; the modern town of Terracina stands on its site. The remains of the ancient citadel are visible on the slope of Montecchio.
- ↑ The exact site of this place is unknown. Servius, in his Commentary on B. x. of the Æneid, l. 564, tells the same story of the serpents.
- ↑ This was near Amyclæ. A villa was situate there called "Speluncæ," from the cavities in the rock, in one of which the Emperor Tiberius nearly lost his life by the falling in of the roof. The modern village of Sperlonga, eight miles west of Gaëta, marks its site.
- ↑ Now Lago di Fondi.
- ↑ Now Gaëta, said to have received its name from being the burial-place of Caieta, the nurse of Æneas. The shore was studded with numerous villas of the Roman nobility. It is now a city of great opulence; in its vicinity extensive ruins are to be seen.
- ↑ On the spot now called Mola di Gaëta. Many of the wealthy Romans, and among them Cicero, had villas here: and at this place he was put to death. It was destroyed by the Saracens in the year 856. The remains of antiquity to be seen on this spot are very extensive.
- ↑ Homer places these Cannibals on the coast of Sicily, but the Romans in general transplanted them to the vicinity of Circeii, and suppose For-
