Page:The Natural History of Pliny.djvu/319

 Chap. 10.] ACCOUNT OF COrNTKIESj ETC, 285 cliian," sometimes " Dipsian"^ Argos. Then comes tlie port of Schoenites-, and the Saronic G-uIf, which was formerly encircled with a grove of oaks^, from which it derives its present name, oaks in ancient Greece having been so called. Upon this gulf is the town of Epidaurus, famous for its temple of ^.sculapius"*, the Promontory of Spirseum^, the port of Anthedus^, Bucej)halus^, and then Cenchreae, previously mentioned, on this side of the Isthmus, with its temple of Neptune^, famous for the games celebrated there every five years. So many are the gulfs which penetrate the shores of the Peloponnesus, so many the seas which howl around it. Invaded by the Ionian on the north, it is beaten by the Sicilian on the west, buffeted by the Cretan on the south, by the ^Egean on the S.E., and by the Myrtoan on the N.E. ; which last sea begins at the Grulf of Megara, and washes all the coast of Attica. CHAP. 10. (6.) AECADIA, Its interior is occupied for the greater part by Arcadia, which, remote from the sea on every side, was ori- was a promontory of that name in Messenia ; but it cannot be the place here spoken of. ^ It is supposed that Phny here alludes to Argos Hippium, which he has previously mentioned ; but only in connection with the rivers Inaehus and Erasinus, and not as included in the hst of the towns of Argolis. The origin of the term " Dipsian" is probably unknown. It could hardly allude to drought, as Argos was abundantly suppUed with water. But 6ee B. vii. c. 57. 2 Ancart says that tliis is the modem Porto Estremo, at the mouth of tbe Saronic Gulf. 3 Hesycliius says that oaks were called aapiavi^es in the language of ancient Greece. Tliis gulf is now called tJie Gidf of Egijia, or of j^thens. ^ He was worshipped here mider the form of a serpent ; and his temple, five miles from Epidaurus, was resorted to by patients from all pai'ts of Greece for the cure of their diseases. The ruins of this tomplo are still to be seen, and those of the theatre at Epidaurus are very ex- tensive. The village of Pidliarvo stands in the midst of the ruins. ^ The modem Capo Franco. ^ Lapie takes Anthedus, or Anthedon, to be the place now called Porto d' At hone. 7 This appears to have been a port of Corinth, on a promontory of the same name, meaning, probably from its shape, the " Bull's Head Point." The Isthmian Sanctuary was especially famous as a place of refuge.
 * » Called the 'Posideium'; in its vicinity the games were celebrated.