mentioned, is called Pelorus, faces Scylla and juts out towards Italy, while Pachynum[1] extends in the direction of Greece, Peloponnesus being at a distance from it of 440 miles, and Lilybæum[2], towards Africa, being distant 180 miles from the promontory of Mercury[3], and from that of Caralis in Sardinia 190. These promontories and sides are situate at the following distances from each other: by land it is 186 miles from Pelorus to Pachynum, from Pachynum to Lilybæum 200, and from Lilybæum to Pelorus 170[4].
In this island there are five colonies and sixty-three cities or states. Leaving Pelorus and facing the Ionian Sea, we have the town of Messana[5], whose inhabitants are also called Mamertini and enjoy the rights of Roman citizens; the promontory of Drepanum[6], the colony of Tauromenium[7], formerly called Naxos, the river Asines[8], and Mount Ætna, wondrous for the flames which it emits by night. Its crater is twenty stadia in circumference, and from it red-hot cinders are thrown as far as Tauromenium and Catina, the noise being heard even at Maroneum[9] and the Gemellian Hills. We then come to the three rocks of the Cyclopes[10], the Port of Ulysses[11], the colony of Catina[12], and the rivers Symæthus[13] and Terias; while more inland lie the Læstrygonian Plains.
To these rivers succeed the towns of Leontinum[14] and Megaris, the river Pantagies[15], the colony of Syracuse[16], with the fountain of Arethusa[17], (the people in the Syracusan ter-
- ↑ Now Capo di Passaro
- ↑ The present Capo di Boco Marsala.
- ↑ Now Cape Bon. The real distance is but seventy-eight miles.
- ↑ The following are more probably the correct distances: 150, 210, and 230 miles.
- ↑ Now Messina.
- ↑ The modern Capo di Santo Alessio.
- ↑ Now called Taormini; the remains of the ancient town are very considerable.
- ↑ Probably the present Alcantara.
- ↑ The present Madonia and Monte di Mele.
- ↑ Now called I Fariglioni.
- ↑ In modern times called "Lognina Statione," according to Hardouin.
- ↑ The modern city of Catania stands on its site.
- ↑ The Fiume di Santo Leonardo, according to Hardouin, but Mannert says the river Lentini. Ansart suggests the Guarna Lunga.
- ↑ Now Lentini. The ruins of Megaris are still to be seen, according to Mannert.
- ↑ Now the Porcaro.
- ↑ The modern city of Siracosa.
- ↑ See B. xxxi. c. 30, for particulars of this fountain.
