Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/258

244 STRABO. CASAUB. 162. aci. Numantia is distant from Cgesar Augusta, 1 situated as we have said upon the Ebro, about 800 stadia. Near to Se- gobriga and Bilbilis, 2 likewise cities of the Keltiberians, was fought the battle between Metellus and Sertorius. Polybius, describing the people and countries of the Vaccsei and Kelti- berians, enumerates Segesama 3 and Intercatia amongst their other cities. Posidonius tells us that Marcus Marcellus ex- acted of Keltiberia a tribute of 600 talents, which proves that the Keltiberians were a numerous and wealthy people, not- withstanding the little fertility of their country. narrates that Tiberius Gracchus destroyed 300 cities of the Keltiberians. This Posidonius ridicules, and asserts that to flat ter~Gracch us, Polybius described as cities the towers such as are exhibited in the triumphal processions. 4 This is not incredible ; for both generals and historians easily fall into this species of deception, by exaggerating their doings. Those who assert that Iberia contained more than a thousand cities, seem to me to have been carried away in a similar manner, and to have denominated as cities what were merely large vil- lages ; since, from its very nature, this country is incapable of maintaining so many cities, on account of its sterility, wildness, and its out-of-the-way position. Nor, with the exception of those who dwell along the shores of the Mediterranean, is any such statement confirmed by the mode of life or actions of the inhabitants. The inhabitants of the villages, who con- stitute the majority of the Iberians, are quite uncivilized. Even the cities cannot very easily refine the manners [of their inhabitants], as the neighbouring woods are full of robbers, waiting only an opportunity to inflict injury on the citizens. 14. Beyond the Keltiberians to the south are the inhabit- 1 Saragossa. 2 Baubola. 3 Sasamo, west of Briviesca. 4 Allusion is here made to the custom of the Roman generals, who caused to be carried at their triumphs, representations in painting or sculpture, not only of the kings or generals of the enemy, who had been slain, but likewise of the forts, cities, mountains, lakes, rivers, and even seas, conquered from the enemy. This usage explains the words of Cicero, " portari in triumpho Massiliam vidimus." Appian, on occasion of the triumph of Scipio, says, Hupyoi Tt Trapa^lpovrai /tiju?7/iara T&V '-