Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 2.djvu/319

 I. PONTUS. 311 which extends as far as the Halys, and which Pompey called Neapolitis. He raised the village Phazemon to the rank of a city, and increasing its extent gave to it the name of Nea- polis. 1 The northern side of this tract is bounded by the Ga- zelonitis, and by the country of the Amiseni ; the western side by the Halys ; the eastern by Phanaroea ; the remainder by the territory of Amasis, my native country, which surpasses all the rest in extent and fertility. The part of Phazemonitis towards Phanaroea is occupied by a lake, sea-like in magnitude, called Stiphane, 2 which abounds with fish, and has around it a large range of pasture adapted to all kinds of animals. Close upon it is a strong fortress, Cizari, [Icizari,] at present deserted, and near it a royal seat in ruins. The rest of the country in general is bare, but pro- duces corn. Above the district of Amasis are the hot springs 3 of the Phazemonitas, highly salubrious, and the Sagylium, 4 a strong- hold situated on a lofty perpendicular hill, stretching upwards and terminating in a sharp peak. In this fortress is a reser- voir well supplied with water, which is at present neglected, but was useful, on many occasions, to the kings. Here the sons of Pharnaces the king captured and put to death Arsaces, who was governing without the authority of the Roman ge- nerals, and endeavouring to produce a revolution in the state. The fortress was taken by Polemo and Lycomedes, both of them kings, by famine and not by storm. Arsaces, being pre- vented from escaping into the plains, fled to the mountains without provisions. There he found the wells choked up with large pieces of rock. This had been done by order of Pompey, who had directed the fortresses to be demolished, and to leave nothing in them that could be serviceable to robbers, who might use them as places of refuge. Such was the settlement of the Phazemonitis made by Pompey. Those who came af- terwards divided this district among various kings. 39. My native city, Amaseia, lies in a deep and extensive valley, through which runs the river Iris. 5 It is indebted to nature and art for its admirable position and construction. It 1 Mersivan. The text is corrupt. Groskurd's emendation is followed in the translation. 2 Ladik-Gol. 3 Kawsa. 4 Ijan (Tauschan) Kalessi. Tusanlu-su, a branch of the leschil Irmak.