Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 2.djvu/140

132 STRABO. CASATJB. 430. 3. Such then is Thessaly, which is divided into four parts, Phthiotis, Hestiaeotis, Thessaliotis, and Pelasgiotis. Phthiotis comprises the southern parts, extending along (Eta from the Maliac and (or) Pylai'c Gulf 1 as far as Dolopia and Pindus, increasing in breadth to Pharsalia and the Thes- salian plains. Hestiaeotis comprises the western parts and those between Pindus and Upper Macedonia ; the rest is occupied by the inhabitants of the plains below Hestiseotis, who are called Pelasgiotas, and approach close to the Lower Macedonians ; by the [Thessalians] also, who possess the country next in order, as far as the coast of Magnesia. .The names of many cities might here be enumerated, which are celebrated on other accounts, but particularly as being mentioned by Homer ; few of them, however, but most of all Larisa, preserve their ancient importance. 4. The poet having divided the whole of the country, which we call Thessaly, into ten 2 parts and dynasties, and having taken in addition some portion of the CEtaean and Locrian ter- ritory, and of that also which is now assigned to the Macedon- ians, shows (what commonly happened to every country) the changes which, entirely or in part, they undergo according to the power possessed by their respective governors. 5. The poet first enumerates the Thessalians subject to Achilles, who occupied the southern side, and adjoined CEta, and the Locri Epicnemidii ; " All who dwelt in Pelasgic Argos ; they who occupied Alus, Alope, and Trachin ; they who possessed Phthia, and Hellas, abounding with beauti- ful women, were called Myrmidones, Hellenes, and Achaei." 3 He joins together with these the people under the command of Phoenix, and makes them compose one common expedition. The poet nowhere mentions the Dolopian forces in the battles near Ilium, neither does he introduce their leader Phoenix, as undertaking, like Nestor, dangerous enterprises. But Phoenix is mentioned by others, as by Pindar, 1 G. of Zeitun. 2 The ten states or dynasties mentioned by Homer were those of, ]. Achilles. 2. Protesilau's. 3. Eumelus. 4. Philoctetes. 5. Podaliriua and Machaon. 6. Eurypylus. 7. Polypoetes. 8. Guneus. 9. Pro- thoiis. These are named in the Catalogue in the 2nd Book of the Iliad ; the 10th, Dolopia, of which Phoenix was chief, in II. xvi. 196. 3 II. ii. 681.