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The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 1 (of 6)

Chapter 217: CHAP. 30.—LYDIA.
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The text assembles a systematic survey of the natural world, opening with cosmological and geographical discussions and proceeding through plants, animals, minerals, and human uses of natural substances. It synthesizes reports from earlier authors, travelers, and craftsmen, combining empirical observation, hearsay, and learned commentary to describe physical phenomena, medicinal remedies, technologies, and curiosities. Organized as an encyclopedic sequence of books and chapters, it catalogues facts and theories, cites authorities, and balances practical instruction with natural-philosophical reflection.

CHAP. 30.—LYDIA.

Lydia, bathed by the sinuous and ever-recurring windings of the river Mæander, lies extended above Ionia; it is joined by Phrygia on the east and Mysia on the north, while on the south it runs up to Caria: it formerly had the name of Mæonia4008. Its place of the greatest celebrity is Sardes4009, which lies on the side of Mount Tmolus4010, formerly called Timolus. From this mountain, which is covered with vineyards, flows the river Pactolus4011, also called the Chrysorroas, and the sources of the Tarnus: this famous city, which is situate upon the Gygæan Lake4012, used to be called Hyde4013 by the people of Mæonia. This jurisdiction is now called that of Sardes, and besides the people of the places already mentioned, the following now resort to it—the Macedonian Cadueni4014, the Loreni, the Philadelpheni4015, the Mæonii, situate on the river Cogamus at the foot of Mount Tmolus, the Tripolitani, who are also called the Antoniopolitæ, situate on the banks of the Mæander, the Apollonihieritæ4016, the Mesotimolitæ4017, and some others of no note.