Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 2.djvu/342

 334 STRABO. CASAUB. 578. Soter transferred the inhabitants to the present Apameia, and called the city after his mother Apama, who was the daughter of Artabazus. She was given in marriage to Seleucus Nica- tor. Here is laid the scene of the fable of Olympus and Marsyas, and of the contest between Marsyas and Apollo. Above is situated a lake ! on which grows a reed, which is suited to the mouth-pieces of pipes. From this lake, it is said, spring the Marsyas and the Maeander. 16. Laodiceia, 2 formerly a small town, has increased in our time, and in that of our ancestors, although it received great injury when it was besieged by Mithridates Eupator; the fertility however of the soil and the prosperity of some of its citizens have aggrandized it. First, Hiero embellished the city with many offerings, and bequeathed to the people more than 2000 talents ; then Zeno the rhetorician, and his son Polemo, were an ornament and support to it ; the latter was thought by Antony, and afterwards by Augustus Csesar, worthy even of the rank of king in consequence of his valiant and upright conduct. The country around Laodiceia breeds excellent sheep, re- markable not only for the softness of their wool, in which they surpass the Milesian flocks, but for their dark or raven co- lour. The Laodiceans derive a large revenue from them, as the Colosseni do from their flocks, of a colour of the same name. Here the Caprus and the Lycus, a large river, enter the Maeander. From the Lycus, a considerable river, Laodiceia has the name of Laodiceia on the Lycus. Above the city is the mountain Cadmus, from which the Lycus issues, and another river of the same name as the mountain. The greater part of its course is under-ground ; it then emerges, and unites with other rivers, showing that the country abounds with caverns and is liable to earthquakes. For of all countries Laodi- ceia is very subject to earthquakes, as also the neighbouring district Carura. 17. Carura 3 is the boundary of Phrygia and Caria. It is 1 The lake above Celsenae bore the name of Aulocrene or Pipe Foun- tain, probably from the reeds which grew there. Pliny, b. v. c. 29. 2 Urumluk. 3 The place is identified by the hot springs about 12 miles from De- nizli or Jenidscheh.