40 STRABO. CASAUB. 362. The whole voyage along the Messenian coast comprises about 800 stadia, including the measurement of the bays. 11. I have exceeded the limits of moderation in this de- scription, by attending to the multitude of facts which are re- lated of a country, the greatest part of which is deserted. Even Laconia itself is deficient in population, if we compare its present state with its ancient populousness. For, with the exception of Sparta, the remaining small cities are about thirty ; but, anciently, Laconia had the name of Hecatompolis, and that for this reason hecatombs were annually sacrificed. CHAPTER V. 1. NEXT after the Messenian is the Laconian Gulf, situated between TaBnarum and Maleae, declining a little from the south to the east. Thy rides, a precipitous rock, beaten by the waves, is in the Messenian Gulf, and distant from Trena- rum 100 stadia. Above is Taygetum, a lofty and perpendi- cular mountain, at a short distance from the sea, approaching on the northern side close to the Arcadian mountains, so as to leave between them a valley, where Messenia is continuous with Laconia. At the foot of Taygetum, in the inland parts, lie Sparta and Amyclae, 1 where is the temple of Apollo, and Pharis. The site of Sparta is in rather a hollow, although it comprises mountains within it ; no part of it, however, is marshy, although, anciently, the suburbs were so, which were called Limnse. The temple of Bacchus, also in Liinnas, was in a wet situation, but now stands on a dry ground. In the bay on the coast is Tasnarum, a promontory pro- jecting into the sea. 2 Upon it, in a grove, is the temple of Neptune, and near the temple a cave, through which, accord- ing to the fable, Cerberus was brought up by Hercules from 1 Leake supposes Amyclae to have been situated between Iklavokhori and Sparta, on the hill of Agia Kyriaki, half a mile from the Eurotas. At this place he discovered on an imperfect inscription the letters AMY following a proper name, and leaving little doubt that the incomplete word was AMYKAAIOT. See Smith. 2 Cape Matapan.
