View PDF version of this page

EXCERPTA CYPRIA. STRABO. Strabo, born at Amasela in Cappadocia in B.C. 66, completed the seventeen books of hin Geographica. in Rome about A.D, 23. I translate his account of Cyprus from Book xiv. 6 fee. 681—665), ed. A. Meincke, 1866. Eratosthenes, born at Cyreiie, flourished between 275 and 104 B.C. Pausanias, a native of Lydia, composed lüs Perieyevis at Rome in the second half of the second century after Christ. The stadioii-100 òpyvia\=GQQ Attic woSft—5S2 English feet. An English mile=9/f stadia. We have still to make the circuit of the island of Cyprus, which lies on the South of this peninsula (Asia Minor). We have said that the waters which are enclosed by Egypt and Phoenicia and Syria and the rest of the coast as fer as that of Rhodes are made up of the Egyptian sea, tuie Pamphylian and that over against the gulf of Issus. In these lies Cyprus, of which the northern parts, for on this side it is nearest to the mainland, are close to Cilicia Tracheia. Its eastern parts face the gulf of Issus, the western are washed by the Pamphylian sea, the southern by that of Egypt, litis latter joins the Libyan and Carpathian seas flowing from the West, while on the South and East lie Egypt and the adjacent coast up to Seleueia and Issns, while on the North lie Cyprus and the Pamphylian sea. This lattei* is hounded by the headlands of Cilicia Tracheia, Paiuphyh'a and Lycia, up to that of Rhodes : on the West by the island of Rhodes, on the East by Cyprus, on the side of Paphos and Acamas : on the South it joins the Egyptian sea. To anyone following the line of its bays the circuit of Cyprus is 3420 stadia. Its length to a man walking from East to West from Cleides to Acamas is 1400 stadia. The Cleides are two small islands lying off Cyprus on the East coast of the island, 700 stadia from Pyrainos. Acamas is a promontory showing two rounded hills and a vast forest, situated on the West of the island, and stretching northwards ; it is the nearest point to Seliuus in Cilicia Tracheia, 1000 stadia distant; from Side in Pa in ph y lia it is 1600, and from Chelidonia 1900. We have said already that the Cyprian promontory called Cape Crommyon lay opposite Anemonrion, a cape of Cilicia Tracheia, at a distance of 350 stadia. The course thence of a vessel which has already on its right the island and on its left the continent is N. and E. to the Cleides, a straight run of 900 stadia. Midway lies Lapathos, a town with a roadstead and docks, built by the Laconians and Praxander; opposite it is Xagidos. Then Aphrodision, where the island is narrow, the distance across to Salamis being 70 stadia. Then Acte Achaion, where Teucer landed who first founded Salamis in Cyprus, when he was cast out, as the story goes, by his father Telamon. Then a city Carpasia, which has a harbour; it lies opposite C. Sarpedon. From Carpasia to the Carpasian islands and the southern sea the distance across the isthmus is 30 stadia. Then a cape and a mountain. The peak is called

View PDF version of this page