Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography Volume II.djvu/607

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PHARSALUS.

terpretation of Caesar’s description, which have been coinmented upon by Leake in an essay printed in the Transactions of the Royal Society of Literature (vol. iv. p. 68, seq., 2nd Series), from which the fol- lowing account is taken. :

A few days previous to the battle Caesar had taken possession of Metropolis, a city westward of Phar- salus, and had encamped in the plain between these two cities. Meantime Pompey arrived at Larissa, and from thence advanced southwards towards Phar- salus; he crossed the Enipeus, and encamped at the foot of the heights, which are adjacent to the modern Feérsala on the east. Caesar’s camp, or rather his last position before the battle, was in the plain be- tween Pharsalus and the Enipeus, at the distance of about 3 miles from the still extant north-western angle of the walls of Pharsalus. There was a dis- tance of 30 stadia, or about 4 Roman miles, from the two camps. (Appian, B. C. ii. 65.) Appian adds that the army of Pompey, when drawn up for battle, extended from the city of Pharsalus to the Enipeus, and that Caesar drew up his forces opposite tohim. (B.C. ii. 75.) The battle was fought in the plain immediately below the city of Pharsalus tothe north. There is a level of about 25 miles in breadth between the Enipeus and the elevation or bank upon which stood the northern walls of Phar- salus. Merivale is mistaken in saying that ‘ the plain of Pharsalus, 5 or 6 miles in breadth, extends along the Jefé bank of the Enipeus.” It is true that 5 or 6 miles is about the breadth of the plain, but this breadth is equally divided between the two sides of the river; nor is there anything to support Merivale’s conjecture that the course of the river may have changed since the time of the battle. Leake observes that the plain of 23 miles in breadth was amply sufficient for 45,000 men drawn up in the usual manner of three orders, each ten in depth, and that there would be still space enough for the 10,000 cavalry, upon which Pompey founded chiefly his hopes of victory; for the breadth of the plain being too great for Caesar's numbers, he thought himself sure of being able, by his commanding force of cavalry, to turn the enemy’s right.

At first Pompey drew up his forces at the foot of the hills; but when Caesar refused to fight in this pesition, and began to move towards Scotussa, Pom- pey descended into the plain, and arranged his army in the position already described. His right wing being protected by the Enipeus, which has preci- pitous banks, he placed his cavalry, as well as all his archers and slingers, on the left. Caesar's left wing was in like manner protected by the Enipeus; and in the rear of his right wing, behind his small body of horse, he stationed six cohorts, in order to sustain the anticipated attack of the enemy’s cavalry. Pompey resolved to await the charge. Caesar's line advanced running, halted midway to recover their breath, and then charged the enemy. While the two lines were thus occupied, Pompey’s cavalry on the left began to execute the movement upon which he placed his hopes of victory; but after driving back Caesar’s sinall body of horse, they were unexpectedly assailed by the six cohorts and put to flight. These cohorts now advanced against the rear of Pompey’s left; while Caesar at the same time brought up to his front the third line, which had been kept in reserve. Pompey’s troops now gave way in every direction. Caesar then advanced to attack the fortified camp of the enemy, which was defended for some time by the cohorts left in charge

PHARUSII. 591

of it; but at lencth they fled to the mountains at the back of the camp. Pompey proceeded straicht- way to Larissa, and from thence by night to the sea-coast. The hill where the Pompeians had taken refuge being without water, they soon quitted it and took the road towards Larissa. Caesar ful- lowed them with four legions, and, by taking a shorter road, came up with them at the distance of 6 miles. The fugitives now retired into another mountain, at the foot of which there was a river; but Caesar having cut off their approach to the water before nightfall, they descended from their position in the morning and Jaid down their arms, Caesar proceeded on the same day to Larissa. Leake observes that the mountain towards Larissa to which the Pompeians retired was probably near Scotussa, since in that direction alone is any moun- tain to be found with a river at the foot of it.

In the time of Pliny, Pharsalus was a free state (iv. 8. s. 15). It is also mentioned by Hic- rocles (p. 642) in the sixth century. It is now named Férsala (7& bépoada), and the modern town lies at the fuct of the ancient Acrop§lis.

ST NAGIAIL

COIN OF PHARSALUS.

PHARU'SII (@apotciot, Strab. ii. p. 131, xvii. pp- 826, 828; Ptol. iv. 6. § 17; Polyb. ap. Plin. v. 1. s. 8, vi. 35), a people on the W. coast of N. Africa, about the situation of whom Strabo, Pliny, and Ptolemy are in perfect agreement with one another, if the thirty journeys of Strabo (p. 826) between them and Lixus (£/-Araish), on the W. coast of Aforocco, to the S. of Cape Spartel, be set aside as an error either of his information or of the text; which latter is not improbable, as numbers in MSS. are so often corrupt. Nor is this mere con- jecture, because Strabo contradicts himself by as- serting in another place (p. 828) that the Pharusii had a great desert between then and Mauretania, which they crossed, like natives of the present day, with bags of water hung from the bellies of their horses. (Leake, London Geog. Journ. vol. ii. p. 16.) This locality, extending from beyond Cape Bojador to the banks of the Senegal, was the seat of the many towns of the Tyrians, amounting, according to some (Strab. p. 826), to as many as 300, which were destroyed by the Pharusii and Nigritae. (Comp. Humboldt, Cosmos, vol. ii. p. 129, note 123, trans.) Strabo reckons this number of 300 commercial set- tleinents, from which this part of the coast of the Atlantic received the name of Srxus Emporicus, as an exaggeration. He appears in this to have followed the criticism of Artemidorus upon Erato- sthenes, whom Strabo depreciates. The number 300 may be an exaggeration, or one not intended to be literally taken; but it is incredible that Eratosthenes should represent a coast as covered with Phoenician factories where none existed.

When Ezekiel prophesies the fall of Tyre, it is said (xxvii. 10) “The men of Pheres (the common version reads Versia), and Lud, and Phut were in thine armies.” These Pheres thus joined with the Phut or Mauretanians, and the Ludi, who were