Page:The Natural History of Pliny.djvu/528

 494 PLINX'S NATTJEAL HISTOET. [Book V. Olbia, and situate at the bottom of the Ascanian Gulf; as also ii second place called Prusa at the foot of Mount Hypius. Pythopolis, Parthenopolis, and Coiyphanta are no longer in existence. Along the coast we find the rivers ^sms, Bryazon, Plataneus, Areus, ^syros, Geodos, also called Chrjsorroas^, and the promontory ^ upon which once stood the town of Megarice. The gulf that here runs inland received the name of Craspedites from the circum- stance of that to^Ti lying, as it were, upon its skirts Asta- cum^ also, formerly stood here, from which the same gulf has received the name of the ' Astacenian' : the town of Libyssa^ formerly stood at the spot where we now see nothing but the tomb of Hannibal. At the bottom of the gulf lies Nicomedia'', a famous city of Bithynia ; then comes the Promontory of Leucatas^ by which the Asta- cenian G-ulf IS bounded, and thirty-seven miles distant from Nicomedia; and then, the land again approaching the other side, the straits'-* which extend as far as the city are stiU in existence. Littre seems to think that there are two ]Nicseas meant m these passages ; but it would seem that the same place 13 aUuded to m both Hues. The only tiling that seems to give counte- nance to Littre's supposition (in which he is supported by Hardouin) IS, the expression " Et Prusa item altera." 1 It has been suggested, that this is only another name for the town ot Uos, previously mentioned ; but it is most proljable that they were distinct places, and that this was originaUy caUed Cierus, and belon^red to the territory of Heraclea, but was conquered by King Prusias, who named it after hhnself. It stood to the north-west of the other Prusa. 2 Or the " Golden Stream." •' Suggested by Parisot to be the modern Cape Fagma. 4 Prom the Greek Kpd(T7reSov, a " sku-t." s OrAstacus, a colony originaUy from Megara and Athens. From bcyiax it would appear that this city was also caUed Olbia. Its site is placed by some of the modem geographers at a spot caUed Ovaschik. and also Bashkele. * 6 CaUed Gebiseh, according to Busbequis,— at least in his day. The modern Hereket, on the coast, has been suggested. 7 Its ruins now bear the name of Izmid, or Iznikmid, at the north- eastern corner of the Smus Astacenus, or Gulf of Izmid. It was the chief residence of the kings of Bithynia, and one of the most splendid cities m the world. Under the Eomans it was made a colony, and was a favourite residence of Diocletian and Constantme the Great. Arrian tne historian was born here. I m^^c^^''^^^- ^^ ^"^ ^I'o caUed Akritas by Ptolemy, ihe Straits, or Channel of Constantmople.