Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 2.djvu/337

 B. xii. c. viii. 7, 8. MYSIA AND PHRYGIA. 329 7. After the Trojan times, the migrations of Greeks and of Treres, the inroads of Cimmerians and Lydians, after- wards of Persians and Macedonians, and lastly of Gala- tians, threw everything into confusion. An obscurity arose not from these changes only, but from the disagreement be- tween authors in their narration of the same events, and in their description of the same persons; for they called Trojans Phrygians, like the Tragic poets ; and Lycians Carians, and similarly in other instances. The Trojans who, from a small beginning, increased so much in power that they became kings of kings, furnished a motive to the poet and his interpret- ers, for determining what country ought to be called Troy. For the poet calls by the common name of Trojans all their auxiliaries, as he calls their enemies Danai and Achsei. But certainly we should not give the name of Troy to Paphla- gonia, or to Caria, or to Lycia, which borders upon it. I mean when the poet says, "the Trojans advanced with the clashing of armour and shouts," l and where he speaks of their enemies, "but the Achaei advanced silently, breathing forth warlike ardour," 3 and thus frequently in other passages. We must endeavour, however, to distinguish as far as we are able one nation from another, notwithstanding this uncer- tainty. If anything relative to ancient history escapes my notice, it must be pardoned, for this is not the province of the geographer ; my concern is with the present state of people and places. 8. There are two mountains situated above the Propontis, the Mysian Olympus 3 and Ida. 4 At the foot of Olympus is Bithynia, and, contiguous to the mountain, between Ida and the sea, is Troy. We shall afterwards speak of Troy, and of the places con- tinuous with it on the south. At present we shall give an account of the places about Olympus, and of the adjoining country as far as the Taurus, and parallel to the parts which we have previously described. The country lying around Olympus is not well 'inhabited. On its heights are immense forests and strongholds, well adapt- 1 II. iii. 2. 2 II. iii. 8. 3 Keschisch Dagh. 4 Kas-Dagh.