Page:The Natural History of Pliny.djvu/307

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Chap. 2.] AGCO"CNT OF COUN^TRIES, ETC. 273 Maeandria, and Cestria the Thy amis ^, a river of Thesprotia, the colony of Buthrotum^, and the Ambraeian Gulf"*, so famed in history ; Avhich, with an inlet only half a mile in width, receives a vast body of water from the sea, being thirty-seven miles in length, and fifteen in width. The river Acheron, which runs through Acherusia, a lake of Thespro- tia, flows into it^ after a course of thirty-six miles ; it is con- sidered wonderful for its bridge, 1000 feet in length, by a people who look upon everything as wonderful that belongs to themselves. Upon this Gulf is also situate the town of Ambracia. There are also the Aphas and the Arachthus^, rivers of the Molossi ; the city of Anactoria^, and the place where Pandosia^ stood, CHAP. 2. — ACARIS^ANIA. The towns of Acarnania^ the ancient name of which was Curetis, are Heraclia*", Echinus ^ and, on the coast, Actium, ' The place called Palseo-Kistes now stands on its site, and some remains of antiquity are to be seen. 2 Now the Calama. 3 Its ruins are to be seen near the modern Butrinto. It was said to have been fovmded by Helenus, the son of Priarei. P'amponius Atticus had an estate here. ^ This corresponds to the present Gulf of Arta,and was especially famous for being the scene of the battle of Actium. The city of Ambracia lay to the north of it. The present Arta is generally beheved to occupy its site. 5 Pouqueville has shown that Pliny is in error here, and lie says that the Acheron is the modem Mavro Pctamos ; but accorchng to Leake, the name of it is Gurla, or the river of Suli. It flows into the Port Fa- nari, formerly called Glykys Limen, or Sweet Harbour, from the fresh- ness of the water there. The Acherusian Lake is probably the great marsh that hes below Kastri. ® It is now called the Arta, and gives name to the Gulf. 7 The site of Anactoria or Anactoriiim, like that of its neighbour Ac- tium, has been a subject of much dispute ; but it is now pretty generally agreed that the former stood on the modem Cape Madonna, and ActiuTU on the headland of La Punta.

  • Pouqueville takes the ruins in the vicinity of Turco Palaka, eight

miles from Margariti, to be those of Pandosia. ^ This district probably occu])ied the present cantons of Yonitza and Xeromeros. It was called Curetis from the Curetes, who are said to have come fromiEtoUa and settled in Acarnania after their expulsion byj^itolus and his followers. '0 The modem Yonitza is supposed to stand on its site. ^* Leake places its site at Ai Vasih, where some ruius are to be setn, TOL. I. T