B. ix. c. v. 8. THESSALY. 135 der the command of Protesilaus as belonging to Phthia, from Dolopia and Pindus to the sea of Magnesia ; but as far as the city Antron, (now written in the plural number,) which was subject to Protesilaus, beginning from Trachinia and (Eta, is the width of the territory belonging to Peleus and Achilles. But this is nearly the whole length of the Maliac Gulf. 8. They entertain doubts respecting Halus and Alope, whether Homer means the places which are now comprised in the Phthiotic government, or those among the Locri, since the dominion of Achilles extended hither as well as to Tra- chin and the OEtaean territory. For Halus and Halius, as well as Alope, are on the coast of the Locri. But some sub- stitute Halius for Alope, and write the verse in this manner ; " they who inhabited Halus, and Halius, and Trachin." l But the Phthiotic Halus lies under the extremity of the moun- tain Othrys, which lies to the north of Phthiotis, and borders upon the mountain Typhrestus and the Dolopians, and thence stretches along to the country near the Maliac Gulf. Halus, 2 either masculine or feminine, for it is used in both genders, is distant from Itonus 3 about 60 stadia. Athamas founded Halus ; it was destroyed, but subsequently [restored by the Pharsalii]. It is situated above the Grecian plain, and the river Amphrysus 4 flows by its walls. Below the Grecian plain lies Thebce Phthiotides ; Halus likewise, which is in Achaia, is called Phthiotis ; this, as well as the foot of Mount Othrys, approaches close to the Malienses. A* Phylace too, which was under the command of Protesilaus, so Halus also belongs to Phthiotis, which adjoins to the Malienses. Halus is distant from Thebes about 100 stadia, and lies in the middle between Phar- salus and Thebae Phthiotides. Philip, however, took it from the latter, and assigned it to the Pharsalii. Thus it happens, as we have said before, that boundaries and the distribution of nations and places are in a state of continual change. Thus Sophocles also called Phthiotis, Trachinia, Artemidorus places Halus on the coast beyond the Maliac Gulf,- but as belonging to Phthiotis. For proceeding thence in the direction of the Peneius, he places Pteleum after Antron, then Halus at the distance of 110 stadia from Pteleum. ' II. ii. 682. 2 6 "AXoe, or / "AXof. 3 Armyrus. 4 Hence Virgil, Geor. 3, calls Apollo, Pastor ab Amphryso.
