Page:The Natural History of Pliny.djvu/517

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Chap. 36.] ACCOTJNT OF COTJNTEIES, ETC. 483 Strongyle, and over against Sidyma^ the isle of Antiocluis. Towards the mouth of the river Grlaucus", there are Lagussa^, Macris, Didymae, Helbo, Scope, Aspis, Telandria, the town of which no longer exists, and, in the vicinity of Caunus^, Khodussa. CHAP. 36. — EHODES. But the fairest of them all is the free island of Eliodes, 125, or, if we would rather believe Isidorus, 103 miles in circumference. It contains the inhabited cities of Lindos, Camii^us^, and lalysus^, now called Ehodos. It is distant from Alexandria in Egypt, according to Isidorus, 583 miles ; but, according to Eratosthenes, 469. Mucianus says, that its distance from Cyprus is 166. This island was formerly called Ophiussa, Asteria^, JEthria^, Trinacrie^", Corymbia^ Poeeessa^^, AtabjTia^^, from the name of one of its kings ; and, in later times, Macaria^"* and Oloessa^^ The islands of the Hhodians are Carpathus^^, which has given its name to the ^ On the coast of Lycia. 2 In Lycia. See C. 29 of the present Book. ^ Probably so called from the number of hares found there. ^ On the coast of Caria. ^ Still knoATi as Lindo and Camiro, according to D'Anville. ^ One of the three ancient Doric cities of Rhodes. It lay three-quarters of a mile to the south-west of the city of Rhodes, willi which Pliny seems here to confound it. Its site is occupied by a Aillage which still bears the name of laliso, and where a few ancient renuims are to be foimd. "^ From its productiveness of serpents. 8 Either from Asterius, its former king, or from its being a *' constella- tion" of the sea. 9 Probably because of the clearness and serenity of its atmosphere. See B. ii. c. 62. ^^ From its three-cornered shape. ^^ Perhaps so called from its fruitfulness in ivy, in Greek tcopv^jSi'iOpay or else from Kopv^Pos, " a summit," from its elevated position. ^- From its verdant and grassy soil. ^3 Either from King Atabyrius, or the mountain Atabyrion ; or else from the temple of Jupiter Tabyrius, which Appian speaks of as situate in this island, » The " fortunate," or " blessed" island. ^5 " Venomous," or " deadly." This name it most probably lud in early times (and not more recently, as Phny says), when it was covered with dense forests, the retreats of sei-pents and noxious reptiles. ^^ Now known as Skarpanto. 2i2