Page:The Natural History of Pliny.djvu/255

 Chap. 14] ACCOUNT OF COUKTRIES, ETC. 223 Talarienses, the Tissiiienses the Triocalini", the Tyraei- neuses, and the Zanchvi^, a Messenian colony on the Straits of Sicily. Towards Africa, its islands are Gaulos"*, jNIelita, 87 miles from Camerina, and 113 from Lilybseum, Cosyra^, Hieronnesos^ Csene', G-alata^, Lopadusa, ^thusa, ^-ritten by some iEgusa,Bucinna^, Osteodes'", distant from Soluntum 75 miles, and, opposite to Paropus, Ustica. On this side of Sicily, facing the river Metaurns, at a di- stance of nearly 25^^ miles from Italy, are the seven ^""^ islands called the -3ilolian, as also the Liparsean islands ; by the Grreeks they are called the Hephcestiades, and by our writers the Vulcanian^^ Isles ; they are called " jEolian " because in the Trojan times tEoIus was king there. (9.) Lipara^^, with a town whose inhabitants enjoy the rights of Roman citizens, is so called from Liparus, a former king who succeeded'^ ^olus, it having been previously called Melogonis or Meligunis. It is 25 miles ^^ distant from Italy, and in circumference a little less. Between this island and Sicily we find another, the name of which was formerly Therasia, but now called Hiera, because it is sacred to Vulcan^^: it contains a hill which at night vomits forth ^ Randazzo, at the foot of ^-Etna, is supposed to occupy the site of the ancient Tissa. ^ The people of Triocala, now TroccoH, near CalataBellota. 3 Zancle was the ancient Greek name of Messina, which was so called from its similarity in shape to a sickle. The Messenian colony of the Zancliri probably dwelt in its yicinity. ■» Gaiilos is the present Gozo, and Mehta the important island of !Malta. The distance here mentioned is in reality only sixty-one miles from Camerina. -^ Now Pantellaria. ^ i-i^e j^odem island of Maretirao. 7 Probably the present island of Limosa. s Galata still has the name of Calata, Lopadusa is the present Lara- pedosa, and iEthusa, accordmg to Mannert, is called Favignana. ^ Now Levanzo. ^^ According to Mannert, this is the island Ahcur, to the west of the -^ohan or Liparian islands. Ustica still retahis its ancient name. ^^ The least distance between these localities is forty-five miles. from the sea since the time of Pliny. ^3 From Vulcan the god of fire, the Greek Hephtestus. i"* Now called the Great Lipara. ^■^ According to Solinus, c. vi., ^olus succeeded him. Its name Me- logonis was by some ascribed to its great produce of honey. ^6 The shortest distance between these locahtiea is forty-six miles. ^7 Now called Volcano.
 * 2 There are now eleven, some of which are supposed to hare risen