Page:The Natural History of Pliny.djvu/358

 324 PLINT's NATURAL HISTORY. [Book IV. and, at its outlet, Atalante^ The Cyclades and the Sporades are bounded on the east by the Asiatic shores of the Icarian Sea, on the west by the Attic shores of the Myrtoan Sea, on the north by the ^gean, and on the south by the Cretan and Carpathian seas, extending 700 miles in length, and 200 in breadth. The Gulf of Pagasa^ has in front of it Euthia^, Cicynethus^, Scyros, previously mentioned^, and the very furthermost of the Cyclades and Sporades, Grerontia and Scandila^; the Gulf of Thermie'', Iraesia, Solimnia, Eudemia, and Nea, which last is sacred to Minerva. Athos has before it four islands ; Peparethus^, formerly called Evoenus,with a city of that name, at a distance from Athos of nine miles ; Sciathus^, at a distance of fifteen, and Imbros^", with a city of the same name, at a distance of eighty-eight, miles. This last island is distant from Mastusia, in the Chersonesus, twenty-five miles ; it is sixty-two ^^ miles in circumference, and is washed by the river Ilisus. At a distance of twenty-two miles from it is Lemnos^^, being distant from Mount Athos eighty- seven; it is 112 miles in circumference, and has the cities of Hephaestia and Myrina^^ ; into the market-place of which last city Athos throws its shadow at the summer solstice. The island of Thasos^^, constituting a free state, is six miles ■ 1 I^ow Talanti, giving name to the Channel of Talanti. 2 The present Gulf of Volo, mentioned in ,C. 15 of the present Book. 3 Ansart suggests that this may possibly be the small island now called Agios Nicolaos. 4 Now Trikeri. 5 In the present Chapter. ^ Now Scangero, or Skaiitzoura, accordmg to Ansart. 7 Now the G-ulf of Saloniki, mentioned in C. 17. The islands here mentioned have apparently not been identified. s Off the coast of Thessaly, now Piperi. ^ Now Skiathos. It was famous for its wine. ^^ Now called Embro, or Imru. Both the island and city of Imbros are mentioned by Homer. 11 This is double the actual circumference of the island. 12 Now called StaUmene. 1' Its site is now called Palseo Eastro. Hephsestia, or Yulcan's Town, stood near the modern Rapanidi. That god was said to have fallen into this island when tln"own from heaven by Jupiter. 1^ Now Thaso, or Tasso. Its gold mines were in early periods very valuable.