Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 2.djvu/113

 B. ix. c. ii. 25. BCEOTIA. 105 Just above this part of the Crisaean Gulf, Helicon, As- cra, Thespise, and its arsenal Creusa, are situated. This is considered as the part of the Crisaean and of the Corinthian Gulf which recedes most inland. The coast extends 90 stadia from the recess of the harbour to Creusa, and thence 120 as far as the promontory called Holmiae. In the most retired part of the Crisaean Gulf, Pagse and CEnoa, which I have already mentioned, are situated. Helicon, not far distant from Parnassus, rivals it in height l and circumference. Both mountains are covered with snow, and are rocky. They do not occupy a circuit of ground of great extent. There are, the fane of the Muses, the Horse-fountain Hippocrene, 2 and the grottoes of the nymphs, the Leibethrides. Hence it might be conjectured, that Helicon was consecrated to the Muses, by Thracians, who dedicated also Pieris, the Leibethrum, and Pimpleia to the same goddesses. The Thracians were called Pieres, and since their expulsion, the Macedonians possess these places. It has been remarked, that the Thracians, (having expelled the Bosotians by force,) and the Pelasgi, and other barbarous people, settled in this part of Boeotia. Thespise was formerly celebrated for a statue of Cupid by Praxiteles. Glycera the courtesan, a native of Thespiae, re- ceived it as a present from the artist, and dedicated it as a public offering to her fellow-citizens. Persons formerly used to repair thither to see the Cupid, where there was nothing else worth seeing. This city, and Tanagra, alone of the Boeotian cities exist at present, while of others there remain nothing but ruins and names. 1 This is a mistake, since the loftiest summit of Helicon is barely 5000 feet high, whilst that of Parnassus is upwards of 8000 feet. Smith. He- licon is a range of mountains with several summits, of which the loftiest is a round mountain now called Paleovuni. Smith. The Austrian map gives the modern name Zagora to Helicon. 2 Twenty stadia from the Grove of the Muses was the fountain Hip- pocrene, which was said to have been produced by the horse. Pegasus striking the ground with his foot. Paus. b. ix. ch. 31. Hippocrene was probably at Makariotissa, which is noted for a fine spring of water. Smith. The Austrian map places it at Kukuva. Leibethrum, or Leibethreium, is described by Pausanias as distant 40 stadia from Coroneia, and is therefore probably the mount Zagora. Smith.