Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 2.djvu/225

 B. xi. c. i. 6. ASIA. 217 confines of Albania and Armenia, where the rivers Cyrus 1 and Araxes 2 empty themselves; the latter flowing through Armenia, and the Cyrus through Iberia 3 and Albania ; 4 on the south is the tract of country extending from the mouth of the Cyrus as far as Colchis, and comprising about 3000 stadia from sea to sea, across the territory of the Albani, and Iberes, 5 so as to represent an isthmus. 6 Those writers do not deserve attention who contract the isthmus as much as Cleitarchus, according to whom it is sub- ject to inundations of the sea from either side. According to Posidonius the isthmus is 1500 stadia in extent, that is, as large as the isthmus from Pelusium to the Red Sea. And I think, says he, that the isthmus between the Palus Mseotis and the Ocean is not very different from this in extent. 6. I know not how any one can rely upon his authority respecting what is uncertain, when he has nothing probable to advance on the subject ; for he reasons so falsely respecting things which are evident, and this too when he enjoyed the friendship of Pompey, who had carried on war against the Iberes and Albani, and was acquainted with both the Cas- pian and Colchian 7 Seas on each side of the isthmus. It is related, that when Pompey 8 was at Rhodes, on his expedi- tion against the pirates, (he was soon afterwards to carry on war against Mithridates and the nations as far as- the Caspian Sea,) he accidentally heard a philosophical lecture of Posido- nius ; and on his departure he asked Posidonius if he had any commands ; to which he replied, 1 The Kur or Kour. 2 Eraskh or Aras. 3 Georgia. 4 Shirvan. 5 See b. ii. c. v. 31. 6 To understand how this part of Asia formed a peninsula, according to the ideas of our author, we must bear in mind, that (1) he supposed the source of the Don to have been situated in the neighbourhood of the Northern Ocean ; (2) he imagined the Caspian Sea to communicate with the same Ocean. Thus all the territory comprehended between the Don and the Caspian formed a sort of peninsula, united to the continent by an isthmus which separated the Euxine from the Caspian, and on which was situated Colchis, Iberia, and Albania. The 3000 stadia assigned to the breadth of this isthmus appears to be measured by stadia of 1111 9 to a de- gree. GoKsellin. 7 The Euxine. 8 Pompey appears to have visited this philosopher twice on this occa- sion, B. c. 62, and B. c. 67, on the termination of his eastern cam- paigns.