Page:The Natural History of Pliny.djvu/524

490 flint's natural HISTOET. [Book V. This coimtry was at first called by the name of Cronia, after that, Thessalis, and then Malianda and Strymonis. The people of it are by Homer called Halizones from the fact that it was a nation begirt by the sea. There was formerly a vast city here, Attussa by name ; at present there are tAvelve cities in existence ; among which is Grordiucome^, otherwise Juliopolis ; and, on the coast, Dascylos". We then come to the river Grelbes'* ; and, in the interior, the town of Helgas, or Grermanicopolis, which has also the other name of Booscoete^ ; Apamea^, now more generally known as Myrlea of the Colophonians : the river Etheleus also, the ancient boundary of Troas, and the commencement of Mysia. Next to this comes the gulf^ into which the river Ascanius flows, the town of Bryllion^, and the rivers Hylas and Cios, with a town of the same name as the last- mentioned river ; it was founded by the Milesians at a place which was called Ascania of Phrygia, as an entrepot for the trade of the Phrygians who dwelt in the vicinity. We may therefore look upon this as a not ineligible opportunity for making further mention of Phrj^gia. CHAP. 41. — PHRTGIA. Phrygia lies above Troas, and the peoples already men- ^ Ephorus, as quoted by Stephanus Byzantinus, says, that the Hali- zones inhabited the district lying between Caria, Mysia, and Lydia. Hesychius incorrectly places them in Paphlagonia. 2 Meaning the " Village of Grordius," one of its ancient kings. It was also called Gordium. After falling to decay, it was rebuilt by Augustus, and called Juhopohs. It is celebrated in history as the place where Alexander the Great cut the Grordian knot ; the scene of the adventure being the Acropolis of the town, the former palace of King Gordius. 3 Therewere several Asiatic cities of the simdar name of Dascyhum. The site of the one here mentioned does not appear to have been ascertained. 4 More generaUy read " Gebes." 5 The " BuU's Bed," or " Den." It probably took its second name from the Roman general Germanicus. ^ Now called Medania, or Mutania. It received its name of Apamea from Prusias, king of Bithynia, in compHment to his wife. In the time of the first Csesars, it was made a Roman colony. ^ The Bay of Cios. The river runs into a lake, formerly known as Lake Ascanius ; probably that mentioned by Pliny in B. xxsi. c. 10. ^ Stephanus Byzantinus says that it was the same as the town of Cios, or Cius, here mentioned as near to it. It was on the shores of the Propontis.