CHAP. 8.—LACONIA.
At Tænarum begins the territory of Laconia, inhabited by
a free nation, and situate on a gulf 106 miles in circuit, and
38 across. The towns are, Tænarum[1], Amyclæ[2], Pheræ[3],
and Leuctra[4]; and, in the interior, Sparta[5], Theramne[6], and
the spots where Cardamyle[7], Pitane[8], and Anthea formerly
stood; the former site of Thyrea[9], and Gerania[10]. Here is
also Mount Taygetus[11], the river Eurotas, the Gulf of
Egilodes[12], the town of Psamathus, the Gulf of
Gytheum[13], so
called from the town of that name, from which place the
passage is the safest across to the island of Crete. All these
places are bounded by the Promontory of Malea[14].
1. Or Tænarus, afterwards called Cænopolis. The present town of
Kisternes, or Kimaros, occupies its site.
2. Its site is generally placed at Sklavokhori, six miles from Sparta;
but Leake supposes it to have been situate on the hill called Aghia
Kyriaki, between that place and Sparta.
3. Or Pharis. The present Chitries occupies its site.
4. Or Leuctrum, on the river Pamisus, now called Levtros. It must
not be confounded with the town in Bœotia where the Thebans defeated
the Spartans, B.C. 371.
5. Or Lacedæmon. Its site is occupied by the modern villages of
Magula and Psykhiko. The principal modern town in the vicinity
is Mistra.
6. Or Therapne, on the left bank of the Eurotas. Some ruins of it
are still to be seen.
7. Considerable ruins of it are still to be seen to the N.E. of the modern
town of Skarhamula.
8. Authors are not agreed as to the site of this town and that of
Anthea or Anthene.
9. Memorable for the pitched battle between 300 Argives and 300
Spartans,—Othryades being the sole survivor of the Spartans, and
Alcenor and Chromius of the Argives.
10. By Homer called Enope.
11. Pente Dactylon, or Pente Dactyli, the "Five Fingers," is the
present name of the range of Taygetus. Its principal summits are now
St.
Elias and Paixamadhi. The river Eurotas is now called Iris and Niris in
its upper and middle course, and Basili-potamo from the Spartan plain
to the sea.
12. Ægila, according to Leake, occupied the site of the present Scutari;
if so, this gulf was probably the Gulf of Scutari. Psamathus was near
the point of Tænarum.
13. Or Gythium, near the mouth of the Eurotas. It was famous for its
cheeses. The ruins are called Paleopoli, a little to the north of
Marathonisi.
14. Now Capo Santo Angelo.