Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 2.djvu/123

B. ix. c. in. $ 2. PHOCIS. 1 15 reverence. Of these the most celebrated and the most beau- tiful is Corycium, a cave of the nymphs, having the same name as that in Cilicia. Of the sides of Parnassus, the west- ern is occupied by the Locri Ozolae, and by some of the Dori- ans, and by the ^Etoli, situated near Corax, an ^Etolian mountain. The eastern side is occupied by Phocians and by the greater part of the Dorians, who hold the Tetrapolis, situ- ated as it were round the side of Parnassus, but spreading out in the largest extent towards the east. The sides of the above-mentioned tracts and each of the bands are parallel, one side being northern, and the other southern. The western sides, however, are not parallel to the eastern, for the sea-coast from the Crissean Gulf to Actium l is not parallel to the coast opposite Eubcea, and extending to Thessalonica. It is on these shores the above-mentioned nations terminate. For the figure of these countries is to be understood from the notion of lines drawn parallel to the base of a triangle, where the separ- ate parts lie parallel to one another, and have their sides in latitude parallel, but not their sides in longitude. This is a rough sketch of the country which remains to be examined. We shall examine each separate part in order, beginning with Phocis. 2. The two most celebrated cities of this country are Del- phi and Elateia. Delphi is renowned for the temple of the Pythian Apollo, and the antiquity of its oracle ; since Aga- memnon is said by the poet to have consulted it ; for the min- strel is introduced singing of the " fierce contest of Ulysses, and Achilles, the son of Peleus, how once they contended together, and Agamemnon king of men was pleased, for so Phffibus Apollo had foretold by the oracle in the illustrious Pytho." a Delphi then was celebrated on this account. Elateia was famous as being the largest of the cities in that quarter, and for its very convenient position upon the straits ; for he, who is the master of this city, commands the entrances into Phocis and Boeotia. First, there are the QEtaaan mountains, pext the mountains of the Locri, and the Phocians ; they are not every where passable for invading armies, coming from Thessaly, but having narrow passes distinct from each other, which the adjacent cities guard. Those, who take the cities, are masters 1 La Punta. 2 Od. viii. 75. i 2