Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 2.djvu/19

 B. vin. c. in. 7. GREECE. ELIS. PYLUS. 1 1 the Thracian was met by the Muses, and deprived of the power of song," for he says, " Coming from CEchalia, from the dwelling of Eurytus, the CEchalian." 1 If this were the city in Thessaly, the Scepsian is mistaken in mentioning some city in Arcadia, which is now called Andania. If he is not mistaken, still the Arcadian CEchalia is said to be the city of Eurytus, so that there is not one city only of that name, although Apollodorus asserts that there is but one. 7. There existed between the mouths of the Peneius and the Selleis near Scollis, a Pylus, not the city of Nestor, but another of that name, having nothing in common with that on the Alpheius, nor even with that on the Pamisus, or, if we must so call it, the Amathus. Some writers, through their solicitude for the fame and noble descent of Nestor, give a forced meaning to these words. Since there are three places in Peloponnesus of the name of Pylus, (whence the saying originated, " There is a Pylus in front of Pylus, and still there is another Pylus,") namely, this and the Lepreatic Pylus in Triphylia, and a third, the Messeniac near Coryphasium, 2 the advocates for each place endeavour to show that the river in his own coun- try is (Emathois) ?//ia0oa, or sandy, and declare that to be the country of Nestor. The greater number of other writers, both historians and poets, say, that Nestor was a Messenian, assigning as his birth- place the Pylus, which continued to exist to their times. Those, however, who adhere to Homer and follow his poem as their guide, say, that the Pylus of Nestor is where the terri- tory is traversed by the Alpheius. Now this river passes through the Pisatis and Triphylia. The inhabitants of the Hollow Elis were emulous of the same honour respecting the Pylus in their own country, and point out distinctive marks, as a place called Gerenus, and a river Geron, and another river Geranius, and endeavour to confirm this opinion by pretending that Nestor had the epithet Gerenius from these places. The Messenians argue in the very same manner, but ap- II. ii. 591. 2 This is supposed to be the modern Navarino. The Coryphasium is Mount St. Nicholas. G.