Page:The Natural History of Pliny.djvu/503

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Chap. 31.] ACCOUNT OF COUNTRIES, ETC. 469 those discharged by the river Phyrites'. Prom these streams there accumulates a large quantity of slime, which vastly increases the soil, and has added to the mainland the island of Syrie^, M'hich now lies in the midst of its plains. In this city is the fountain of Calippia^ and the temple of Diana, which last is surrounded by two streams, each knoATi by the name of Selenus, and flowing from opposite directions. After leaving Ephesus there is another Mantium, belong- ing to the Colophonians, and in the interior Colophon"* itself, past which the river Halesus^ flows. After tliis we come to the temple® of the Clarian Apollo, and Lebedos'^ : the city of Notium once stood here. Next comes the Promontory of Coryceium'-', and then Mount Mimas, which projects 150 miles into the sea, and as it approaches the mainland sinks down into extensive plains. It was at this place that Alex- ander the Grreat gave orders for the plain to be cut through, a distance of seven miles and a half, for the purpose of joining the two gulfs and making an island of Erythra?'" and Mimas. Smyrna to Ephesus, into which the Phyrites flows, and out of which it conies a considerable stream. ^ The Phjrites is a email river that is crossed on the road from Ephesus to Smyrna, and joins the Cayster on the right bank ten or twelve miles above Ayazaluk, near the site of Ephesus. 2 See B. ii. c. 91. for further mention of this island. 3 Said to be derived from the Greek, meaning " The beautiful (stream) from Pion." ^ One of the twelve Ionian cities of Asia, founded by Andrsemon. Notium was its port. There do not seem to be any remains of either of these places. 5 Called also the Hales or Ales, and noted for the coolness of its waters.

  • At Clarus, near Colophon. "Mien Germnnicus was on his way to

the East, this oracle foretold to him his speedy death. Chandler is of opinion that lie discovered the site of this place at Zille, where he found a spring of water with marble steps to it, which he considers to have been the sacred fountain. Others again suggest that these ruins may be those of Notium. 7 Its site was probably near the modem Ekklesia, but no traces of the city itself arc to be found. 8 Implying that in his time Notrum was not in existence, wliereas in reality Notium superseded Old Colophon, of which it was the port, and Was sometimes known as New Colophon. 9 Now known as Cape Curco. 10 The site of this place is now known as Ritri, on the south side of a