Page:The Natural History of Pliny.djvu/337

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ACCOUNT OF COUNTRIES, ETC.
Chap 18.]

gæum[1], passing among the Elethi, the Diobessi[2], the Carbilesi; and then the Brysæ, the Sapæi, and the Odomanti. The territory of the Odrysæ[3] gives birth to the Hebrus[4], its banks being inhabited by the Cabyleti, the Pyrogeri, the Drugeri, the Cænici, the Hypsalti, the Beni, the Corpili, the Bottiæi, and the Edoni[5]. In the same district are also the Selletæ, the Priantæ, the Doloncæ, the Thyni, and the Greater Cœletæ, below Mount Hæmus, the Lesser at the foot of Rhodope. Between these tribes runs the river Hebrus. We then come to a town at the foot of Rhodope, first called Poneropolis[6], afterwards Philippopolis[7] from the name of its founder, and now, from the peculiarity of its situation, Trimontium[8]. To reach the summit of Hæmus you have to travel six[9] miles. The sides of it that look in the opposite direction and slope towards the Ister are inhabited by the Mœsi[10], the Getæ, the Aorsi, the Gaudæ, and the Clariæ; below them, are the Arræi Sarmatæ[11], also called Arreatæ, the Scythians, and, about the shores of the Euxine, the Moriseni and the Sithonii, the forefathers of the poet Orpheus[12], dwell.

  1. A range between the Strymon and the Nestus, now the Pangea or Despoto-Dagh.
  2. Probably a canton or division of the Bessi.
  3. The most powerful people of Thrace; dwelling on both sides of the Artiscus, and on the plain of the Hebrus.
  4. Now the Maritza. It rises near the point where Mount Scomius joins Mount Rhodope. The localities of most of the tribes here named are unknown.
  5. The name of this people is often used by the poets to express the whole of Thrace. The district of Edonis, on the left bank of the Strymon, properly extended from Lake Cercinitis as far east as the river Vestus.
  6. Or "Trouble City," also called Eumolpias.
  7. Or "Philip's City;" founded by Philip of Macedon; still called Philippopoli.
  8. Because it stood on a hill with three summits. Under the Roman empire it was the capital of the province of Thracia.
  9. On account probably of the winding nature of the roads; as the height of the Balkan range in no part exceeds 3000 feet. With Theopompus probably originated the erroneous notion among the ancients as to its exceeding height.
  10. The people of Mœsia. The Aorsi and Getæ are again mentioned in C. 25 of this Book.
  11. The inhabitants of the present Bulgaria, it is supposed.
  12. Following the account which represent him as a king of the Cicones, and dwelling in the vicinity of Mount Rhodope. The Sithonii here men-