CHAP. 14.—PHTHIOTIS.
Hæmonia follows, a country which has often changed its
name, having been successively called Pelasgic Argos, Hellas, Thessaly, and Dryopis, always taking its surname from
its kings. In this country was born the king whose name
was Græcus; and from whom Græcia was so called; and here
too was born Hellen[1], from whom the Hellenes derive their
name. The same people Homer has called by three different
names, Myrmidones, Hellenes, and Achæi.
That portion of these people which inhabit the country
adjacent to Doris are called Phthiotæ. Their towns are
Echinus[2], at the mouth of the river Sperchius, and, at four
miles from the narrow pass of Thermopylæ[3], Heraclea, which
from it takes its surname of Trachin[4]. Here too is Mount
Callidromus[5], and the celebrated towns of Hellas[6], Halos[7],
Lamia[8], Phthia[9], and Arne[10].
1. He seems to think that the name Græcus is older than that of
Hellen, in which he is supported by Apollodorus.
2. So called from Echion, fabled to have sprung from the dragon's
teeth. Its site is marked by the modern village called Akhino. The
Sperchius is now called the Ellada.
3. This famous spot still retains its name. It is also called
Bocca di Lupo.
4. From tracu\s, "narrow," in allusion to the narrowness of
the mountain passes. Brotier places it on the site of the modern
Zeitoun, but he is probably in error.
5. A peak of the range of Œta.
6. The name of a town and small district of Phthiotis: it eventually
gave its name to the whole of Greece, which by its inhabitants was called
Hellas.
7. Near the river Amphrysus. Leake places it at Kefalosi, at the
extremity of Mount Othrys.
8. The modern Zeitoun.
9. Said to have been the city of Achilles.
10. According to Stephanus of Byzantium, Cierium was identical with
Arne. Leake places it at the modern Mataranga.