962 Strabo mentions the Gelæ again, c. vii. § 1, but in a manner which does not agree with what he here says of their position. We must perhaps suppose that this people, in part at least, have changed their place of residence, and that now the greater part of their descendants are to be found in Ghilan, under the name of Gelé, or Gelaki. The name of Leges, or Legæ, who have continued to occupy these regions, is recognised in that of Legi, Leski. Gossellin.
963 The Mermadalis seems to be the same river called below by Strabo Mermodas. Critics and modern travellers differ respecting its present name. One asserts that it is the Marubias, or Marabias, of Ptolemy, another takes it to be the Manitsch, called in Austrian maps Calaus. Others believe it to be the small stream Mermedik, which flows into the Terek. Others again recognise the Mermadalis in the Egorlik. Gossellin.
964 Unknown. Pallas thought that he had discovered their name in that of the Tscherkess, who occupied the country where Strabo places the Gargarenses, and might be their descendants.
965 The same river probably before called the Mermadalis.
966 This sentence has been supposed by some critics to be an interpolation. Strabo above, c. ii. § 1, has already spoken of the Siraci, who would seem to have been the inhabitants of Siracena, and may sometimes have been called Siraceni. In c. ii. § 11, he speaks of the Sittaceni, and assigns them a position which would indicate them as a different people from the Seraci, or Siraceni. Gossellin.
967 Groskurd reads ἀπορία, want, instead of εὐπορία, plenty.
968 Χαμαικοῖται People who lie on the ground.
969 Panxani, Paxani, Penzani.
970 The text is here corrupt.
971 The country occupied by the Cadusii of whom Eratosthenes speaks appears to have been the Ghilan, a name probably derived from the Gelæ, who are constantly associated with the Cadusii.
972 The Gihon.
973 The Sihon.
974 i. e. the Hyperboreans above the Adriatic, the Sauromatæ above the Danube, and the Arimaspi above the Euxine.
975 The name Sacæ is to be traced in Sakita, a district on the confines of those of Vash and Gil, situated on the north of the Gihon or Oxus, consequently in ancient Sogdiana. D’Anville.
976 C. viii. § 2.
977 At ubi cœpit in latitudinem pandi lunatis obliquatur cornibus. Pliny, N. H.
978 See b. ii. c. i. § 14.
979 These names have here probably undergone some change. Talabroce may be the Tambrace or Tembrax of Polybius; Samariane, the Soconax of Ptolemy; Carta, Zadra-Carta; and Tape, the Syrinx of Polybius.
980 The text is here corrupt.
981 About 7 gallons.
982 About 12 gallons.
983 B. ii. c. i. § 14.
984 πεύκη
985 ἐλάτη
986 πίτυς
987 The country here spoken of appears to be that celebrated from the earliest times for its breed of horses to which the epithet Nesæan was applied by ancient writers. See c. xiii. § 7.
988 The modern name is uncertain.
989 The same statement was made to Pompey, when in these regions in pursuit of Mithridates.
990 αὐτοῦ in this passage, as Kramer remarks, is singular.
991 From what point our author does not say.
992 There is some confusion in the text, which Groskurd attempts to amend as follows: “But among the barbarians the heights of Ariana, and the northern mountains of India, are separately called Emoda, &c.
993 B. xv. c. i. § 11. The name is derived from the Sanscrit himavat, which is preserved in the Latin hiems, winter, and in the modern name Himalaya. See Smith, art. Imaus.
994 On advancing from the S. E. of the Hyrcanian Sea towards the E.
995 The Syr-Daria.
996 Aparni, Xanthii, and Pissuri, in this passage, seem to be the same as Parni, Xandii, and Parii, in c. ix. § 3, if we may understand in the present passage these people to be referred to only by name, but not as living in the country here described.
997 These gods, otherwise unknown, are mentioned again in b. xv. c. iii. § 15.
998 The Northern Ocean.
999 διαδήματα
1000 τοῖς ὅλοις ἐδάφεσιν
1001 There is great doubt where it was situated; the distances recorded by ancient writers not corresponding accurately with known ruins. It has been supposed that Damgham corresponds best with this place; but Damgham is too near the Pylæ Caspiæ: on the whole it is probable that any remains of Hecatompylos ought to be sought in the neighbourhood of a place now called Jah Jirm. Smith, art. Hecatompylos.
1002 Now Herat, the capital of Khorassan. See Smith, art. Aria Civitas.
1003 Zarang.
1004 Sigistan.
1005 Ulan Robât, but see Smith, art. Arachotus.
1006 Balkh. See Smith.
1007 The sum total is 15,210 stadia, and not 15,300 stadia. This latter sum total is to be found again in b. xv. c. ii. § 8, but the passage there referred to has served to correct a still greater error in the reading of this chapter, viz. 15,500. Corrections of the text have been proposed, but their value is doubtful.
1008 Its present name is said to be Comis.
1009 The Rents.
1010 Adopting Tyrwhitt’s conjecture, πρὸς ἄλλοις.
1011 The Parapomisus. Kramer’s proposed correction is adopted.
1012 For Isamus in the text, Imaus is adopted by Groskurd, and Kramer considers this reading highly probable. Isamus is not found in any other passage, but Mannert, (Geogr. v. p. 295,) finding in Pliny (N. H. vi. 21, § 17) the river Iomanes, proposes to read in this passage Ἰομάνου, in which he recognises the Jumna.
1013 Tatta or Sindi.
1014 Adraspa. B. xv. c. ii. § 10.
1015 Mentioned nowhere else. Kramer seems to approve of Du Theil’s proposed correction, Tapuria.
1016 ἐνταφιαστὰς
1017 B. x. c. v. § 6.
1018 The text is corrupt.
1019 παρωνόμασαν
1020 i. e. on the same parallel.
1021 That is, from the Caspian Gates to Thinæ. Gossellin.
1022 Strabo does not here determine either the parallel from which we are to measure, nor the meridian we are to follow to discover this greatest breadth, which according to him is “less than 10,000 stadia.” This passage therefore seems to present great difficulties. The difficulties respecting the parallel can only be perceived by an examination and comparison of the numerous passages where our author indicates the direction of the chain of mountains which form the Taurus.
1023 I do not see where this statement is to be found, except implicitly. Strabo seems to refer us in general to various passages where he endeavours to determine the greatest length of the habitable world, in b. ii. Du Theil.
1024 I am unable to fix upon the author’s train of thought. For immediately after having assigned to this portion of the Habitable Earth (whose dimensions he wishes to determine) 30,000 stadia as its “greatest length,” and 10,000 stadia as its “greatest breadth,” Strabo proceeds to prove what he had just advanced respecting its greatest length. Then he should, it seems, have endeavoured to furnish us, in the same manner, with a proof that its greatest breadth is not more, as he says, than 10,000. But in what follows there is nothing advanced on this point; all that he says is to develope another proposition, viz. that the extent of the Hyrcanian—Caspian Sea is at the utmost 6000 stadia.
The arguments contained in this paragraph on the whole appear to me strange; they rest on a basis which it is difficult to comprehend; they establish explicitly a proposition which disagrees with what the author has said elsewhere, and lastly they present an enormous geographical error.
It will therefore be useful to the reader to explain, as far as I understand it, the argument of our author.
1. The exact form of the chlamys is unknown to us, but it was such, that its greatest breadth was to be found, if not exactly in, at least near, the middle of its length. The Habitable Earth being of the form of a Chlamys, its greatest breadth would be found about the middle of its greatest length.
2. The greatest length of the Habitable World being 70,000 stadia, its greatest breadth ought to be found at the distance of 35,000 stadia from its eastern or western extremity, but this greatest breadth is only 30,000 stadia, and it does not extend, on the north, beyond the parallel of the mouth of the Hyrcanian Sea. B. ii.
3. The meridian which passes at the distance of 35,000 stadia from the eastern or western extremities of the Habitable Earth, is that which, drawn from the mouth of the Hyrcanian Sea to the Northern Ocean, and prolonged in another direction through the mouth of the Persian Gulf to the sea called Erythræan, would pass through the city Artemita. Consequently it is on the meridian of Artemita that we must look for the greatest breadth of the Habitable Earth.
4. On this same meridian, we must reckon from the parallel of the last habitable country in the south to the mouth of the Persian Gulf, about 8000 stadia; then from the mouth of the Persian Gulf to Artemita, 8000 stadia; and from Artemita to the bottom of the Hyrcanian Sea, 8000 stadia: total 24,000 stadia.
5. It being established that the breadth of the Habitable Earth is 30,000 stadia, and not to extend it northwards beyond the parallel of the mouth of the Hyrcanian Sea, where it communicates with the Northern Ocean, the distance to this point from the bottom of this same sea must be calculated at 6000 stadia. Du Theil.
1025 The modern Shirban is supposed to occupy its site.
1026 Namely 6000. B. ii. c. i. § 17.
1027 Introduced from the margin according to Groskurd’s opinion, supported also by Kramer.
1029 There are five islands off the Hiera Acta, which is now Cape Khelidonia. The Greeks still call them Cheledoniæ, of which the Italians make Celidoni; and the Turks have adopted the Italian name, and call them Shelidan. Smith, art. Chelidoniæ Insulæ.
1030 Amanus descends from the mass of Taurus, and surrounds the Gulf of Issus.
1031 Dudschik Dagh.
1032 It is generally supposed that the modern town Al Bostan on the Sikoon, Seihun, or Sarus, is or is near the site of Comana of Cappadocia. Smith, art. Comana.
1033 Malatia.
1034 Dzophok.
1035 Azerbaijan.
1036 The range overhanging Cerasus, now Kerasun.
1037 Camasch. The country situated N. W. of the Euphrates in about 38° lat.
1038 The range of Kurdistan on the E. of the Tigris.
1039 The range lying between the Euphrates and the Tigris, between 37° and 38° lat.
1040 Nisibin or Netzid.
1041 Meja-Farkin, by “above” these cities, would appear to mean overhanging them both, as it is situated between them.
1042 Nepat-Learn.
1043 B. ii. c. i. § 22.
1044 Hamadan.
1045 An interpolation; probably introduced from Matiane below. Falconer. Kramer.
1046 Its ancient name according to Kramer was Kapotan. Kaputan-Dzow, The Blue Lake, now the Lake Urmiah.
1047 καπυρωθεῖσιν Kramer observes that the meaning of the word in this passage is not clear. It may possibly mean some colour to which the name of the lake was given.
1048 It is uncertain whether this is a place, or a district.
1049 Adopting Groskurd’s emendation χειμάδιον.
1050 In the text χειμάδιον. Kramer suggests the reading βασίλειον.
1051 Lucerne?
1052 Groskurd proposes “length.”
1053 πῖλος
1054 Heroic monuments of Jason.
1055 Kharput.
1056 An almost uniform tradition has pointed out an isolated peak of this range as the Ararat of Scripture. It is still called Ararat or Agri-Dagh, and by the Persians Kuh-il-Nuh, mountain of Noah. Smith.
1057 Formerly the mass of ruins called Takt-Tiridate, (Throne of Tiridates,) near the junction of the Aras and the Zengue, were supposed to represent the ancient Artaxata. Col. Monteith fixes the site at a remarkable bend of the river somewhat lower down than this. See Smith, art. Artaxata.
1058 Kars is the capital of this country.
1059 σκώληκας and θρῖπας, species of worms. See Smith, art. Chorzene.
1060 Melitene. Groskurd.
1061 It corresponds, Kramer observes, with Táron, a province of Armenia, which is called by Tacitus, Ann. xiv. 24, Taraunitium (not Taranitium) regio.
1062 We should read probably Matiane. The meaning of the word proposed by Strabo may easily be proved to be incorrect, by reference to the Armenian language, in which no such word is to be found bearing this sense. As Kapoit in the Armenian tongue signifies “blue,” this explanation of Strabo’s appears to refer to the lake Spauta or Kapauta, above, c. xiii. § 2. Kramer.
1063 The lake Arsissa, Thospitis or Van.
1064 This is an error; one of the branches of the Tigris rises among the mountains on the S. W. of the lake Van, and which form part of the range of Nepat-Learn or Niphates.
1065 The Kurds.
1066 Groskurd proposes Syspiritis.
1067 ἀπήγχθη Meineke.
1068 It is doubtful whether this colour was red, blue, or purple.
1069 Herod. i. 202.
1070 Arbil.
1071 That this is an error is manifest. Falconer proposes Armenia; Groskurd, Assyria; but what name is to be supplied is altogether uncertain. The name of the city is also wanting, according to Kramer, who proposes Nisibis.
1072 The beginning is wanting, according to the opinion of critics, Xylander, Casaubon, and others.
1073 The range of mountains to the S. of Caramania.
1074 Kizil-Irmak.
1075 Itsch-Ili.
1076 Archelaus received from Augustus (B. C. 20) some parts of Cilicia on the coast and the Lesser Armenia. In A. D. 15 Tiberius treacherously invited him to Rome, and kept him there. He died, probably about A. D. 17, and his kingdom was made a Roman province.
1077 Herod. i. 6, 28.
1078 Eregli near the lake Al-gol.
1079 That is, surrounded by mountains, as below.
1080 The range on the west of the river Sarus, Seichun, now bearing various names.
1081 Supposed to be Al-Bostan.
1082 The Crimea.
1083 Dschehan-Tschai.
1084 The text is here corrupt.
1085 The reading is doubtful.
1086 The passage is corrupt. Groskurd proposes Asbamean in place of Dacian, mention being made of a temple of Asbamean Jove in Amm. Marcell. xxiii. 6. Kramer also suggests the transposition of this sentence to the end of § 6.
1087 Probably the Kermel-su, a branch of the Pyramus.
1088 There is some confusion in this statement.
1089 Kara-Hissar.
1090 Between the mountains Bulghar-Dagh and Allah-Dagh.
1091 Kaisarieh.
1092 Edsehise-Dagh, the highest peak, has been estimated at 13,000 feet above the sea.
1093 The Karasu, the black river, a branch of the Kizil-Irmak. The modern name appears common to many rivers.
1094 χρημάτων, the reading proposed by Kramer.
1095 i. e. the kingdom of Pontus.
1096 Kara-Hissar.
1097 Du Theil quotes Justin, 38, c. 2, where it is stated that Ariobarzanes was appointed king by the Romans. Probably the election was confirmed by the Senate.
1098 Kizil-Irmak.
1099 Who lived on the west of the river Sidenus (Siddin).
1100 Amassera.
1101 Erekli, or Benderegli.
1102 Erekli.
1103 The Bithynians, or rather Thyni, occupied the sea-coast from the Bosphorus to the river Sagaris (Sakaria). The Mariandyni extended to Heracleia (Erekli); and the Caucones to the east as far as the river Parthenius (Tschati-su).
1104 Sizeboli, south of the Gulf of Burgas.
1105 Midjeh.
1106 B. vii. c. iii. § 2.
1107 Kramer is of opinion that Strabo is mistaken in this account of the origin of Heracleia.
1108 Athenæus, b. vi. c. 85, vol. i. p. 414, Bohn’s Class. Library.
1109 Tilijos.