CHAP. 11. (10.)—ALBANIA, IBERIA, AND THE ADJOINING NATIONS.
The whole plain which extends away from the river Cyrus
is inhabited by the nation of the Albani,[1] and, after them,[2]
by that of the Iberi,[3] who are separated from them by the river
Alazon,[4] which flows into the Cyrus from the Caucasian
chain. The chief cities are Cabalaca,[5] in Albania, Harmastis,[6]
near a river[7] of Iberia, and Neoris; there is the region also
of Thasie, and that of Triare, extending as far as the mountains known as the Paryadres. Beyond these[8] are the deserts
of Colchios, on the side of which that looks towards the Ceraunian Mountains dwell the Armenochalybes;[9] and there is
the country of the Moschi, extending to the river Iberus,
which flows into the Cyrus; below them are the Sacassani,
and after them the Macrones, upon the river Absarus. Such
is the manner in which the plains and low country are parcelled out. Again, after passing the confines of Albania, the
wild tribes of the Silvi inhabit the face of the mountains,
below them those of the Lubieni, and after them the Diduri
and the Sodii.
1. According to Strabo, Albania was bounded on the east by the Caspian,
and on the north by the Caucasus. On the west it joined Iberia, while on
the south it was divided from the Greater Armenia by the river Cyrus.
By later writers, the northern and western boundaries are differently
given. It was found to be the fact that the Albani occupied the country
on both sides of the Caucasus, and accordingly Pliny, in c. 15, carries
the country further north, as far as the river Casius, while in this Chapter
he makes the river Alazon, the modern Alasan, the western boundary towards Iberia. To the west of Albania.
2. To the west of Albania
3. Iberia lay south of the great chain of the Caucasus, forming an extensive tract bounded on the west by Colchis, on the east by Albania, and
on the south by Armenia, and watered by the river Cyrus. It corresponded
very nearly with modern Georgia.
4. The modern Alasan.
5. Now called Kablas-Var, according to Parisot.
6. Parisot says that this can be no other than Harmoza on the river
Cyrus, in the vicinity of the modern Akhalzik.
7. Probably meaning "of the same name."
8. To the west.
9. "The Armenian workers in iron," or "Chalybes of Armenia." See p. 9.