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 278 flint's natural history. [Book lY^ vicinity of Helicon ^ The tliird town of Boeotia on this sea is that of Pagae^, from which point the Isthmus of the Peloponnesus projects in the form of a neck. CHAP. 5. (4.) THE PELOPONNESUS. The Peloponnesus, which was formerly called Apia^ and Pelasgia, is a peninsula, inferior in fame to no land upon the face of the earth. Situate between the two seas, the JEgaean and the Ionian, it is in shape like the leaf of a plane-tree, in consequence of the angular indentations made in its shores. According to Isidorus, it is 563 miles in circumference ; and nearly as much again, allowing for the sea-line on the margin of its gulfs. The narrow pass at which it commences is know by the name of the Isthmus. At this spot the two seas, which we have previously mentioned, running from the north and the east, invade the land from opposite sides'*, and swallow up its entire breadth, the result being that through these inroads in opposite directions of such vast bodies of water, the sides of the land are eaten away to such an extent, that Hellas^ only holds on to the Peloponnesus by the narrow neck, five miles in width, which intervenes. The Grulfs thus formed, the one on this side, the other on that, are known as the Corinthian^ and the Saronic Gulfs. The ports of Lechese^, on the one side, and of Cenchreae on the other, form the frontiers of this narrow passage, which thus compels to a tedious and perilous circanmavigation such vessels as from their magnitude cannot be carried across by land on vehicles. Por this reason it is that both King ^ Helicon is a range of mountains with several summits, the loftiest of which is now called Paleovuni. Helicon was a grove of the Muses, and the fountain of Aganippe was supposed to impart poetic inspiration to those who drank of it. 2 gee p. 288. 3 From Apis, the son of Phoroneus, or Telcliines, according to Pau- sanias. After the arrival of Pelops, it took from him its name of Pelo- ponnesus, or the " Island of Pelops." ■* The Ionian from the north, and the jEgean, or rather, Myrtoan, Sea from the east. 5 That part of Greece proper which lies to the north of the Isthmus, ^ Now the Gulfs of Lepanto and Egina. 7 Lechese was the harbour of Corinth on the Corinthian, and Cenclu'ese on the Saronic Gulf. The name of the latter is stOl preserved in the modem appellation Kechries, which is given to its ruins. :