Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/522

 508 STRABO. FRAGM. 1821. distant. Near Dium is a village Pimplea, where Orpheus lived. EPIT. 18. Beneath Olympus is Dium ; near it is a village, Pim- plea, where it is said Orpheus lived. He was a Cicon (of the tribe of the Cicones) and was a diviner. At first he drew people about him by the practice of music and witchcraft, and by the introduction of mysterious ceremonies in religious worship. After a time, obtaining a greater degree of self- importance, he collected a multitude of followers, and acquired influence. He had many willing followers, but becoming suspected by a few of entertaining secret designs, and of an intention of taking forcible possession of power, he was at- tacked by them and put to death. Near this place is Libe- thra. E. 1 9. Anciently diviners practised the art of music. EPIT. 20. After Dium follow the mouths of the Haliacmon; then Pydna, Methone, Alorus, and the rivers Erigon and Lu- dias. The Ludias flows from Triclari, through the.Oresti and the Pellaean country (Pelagonia) : leaving the city on the left it falls into the Axius. The Ludias is navigable up the stream to Pella 120 stadia. Methone is situated in the middle, about 40 stadia distant from Pydna, and 70 stadia from Alorus. Alorus is situated in the farthest recess of the Thermcean Gulf. It was called Thessalonica on account of the splendid [victory obtained over the Thessalians]. Alorus is considered as belonging to Bottiaea and Pydna to Pieria. Pella is in Lower Macedonia, which was in possession of the Bottiasi. Here was formerly the Macedonian Treasury. Philip, who was brought up in this place, raised it from an inconsiderable city to some importance. . It has a citadel situated on a lake called Ludias. From this lake issues the river Ludias, which is filled by a branch of the Axius. The Axius discharges itself between Chalastra and Therma. Near this river is a fortified place, now called Abydos ; Homer calls it Amydon, and says that the Paeonians came from hence to assist the Trojans during the siege of Troy. " From afar, from Amydon, from Axius' wide stream." It was razed by the Argeadae. E. 21. The water of the Axius is turbid. Homer, however, says that the water is " most beautiful," probably on account