CHAP. 9.—ARGOLIS.
The next gulf, which extends as far as Scyllæum[1], is called
the Argolic Gulf, being fifty miles across, and 162 in circuit.
The towns upon it are, Bœa[2], Epidaurus[3], surnamed Limera,
Zarax[4], and the port of Cyphanta[5]. The rivers are the
Inachus[6] and the Erasinus, between which lies Argos, surnamed
Hippium[7], situate beyond the place called Lerna[8], and
at a distance of two miles from the sea. Nine miles farther is
Mycenæ[9], and the place where, it is said, Tiryns[10] stood; the
site, too, of Mantinea[11]. The mountains are, Artemius,
Apesantus[12], Asterion[13], Parparus, and some others,
eleven in
number. The fountains are those of Niobe[14], Amymone, and
Psamathe.
From Scyllæum to the Isthmus of Corinth is a distance
of 177 miles. We find here the towns of Hermione[15],
Trœzen[16], Coryphasium[17], and Argos, sometimes called "Ina-
chian," sometimes "Dipsian"[18] Argos. Then comes the port
of Schœnites[19], and the Saronic Gulf, which was formerly
encircled with a grove of oaks[20], from which it derives its
present name, oaks in ancient Greece having been so called.
Upon this gulf is the town of Epidaurus, famous for its
temple of Æsculapius[21], the Promontory of Spiræum[22], the port
of Anthedus[23], Bucephalus[24], and then Cenchreæ, previously
mentioned, on this side of the Isthmus, with its temple of
Neptune[25], famous for the games celebrated there every five
years. So many are the gulfs which penetrate the shores of
the Peloponnesus, so many the seas which howl around it.
Invaded by the Ionian on the north, it is beaten by the
Sicilian on the west, buffeted by the Cretan on the south,
by the Ægean on the S.E., and by the Myrtoan on the N.E.;
which last sea begins at the Gulf of Megara, and washes all
the coast of Attica.
1. Now Capo Skillo.
2. Or BϾ. Its ruins are to be seen at the head of the Gulf of
Vatika.
3. It stood on the site of the place called Palee-Emvasia, above
Monembasia.
4. Its site is the modern Porto Kari, according to Ansart.
5. Leake places Cyphanta either at Cyparissi, or farther north, at
Lenidhi. Ansart makes it the modern Porto Botte, or Stilo.
6. Now the Banitza. The Erasinus is the modern Kephalari.
7. So called from its breed of horses. It is now also called Argos;
three leagues from Napoli di Romania.
8. Its site is now called Milos. In the marshes in its vicinity Hercules
was said to have killed the Lernæan Hydra.
9. Karvata is the name of the place on its site. Its ruins are numerous,
and of great magnificence.
10. Its ruins are of the most interesting nature, presenting enormous
masses of stone, of Cyclopian architecture. The spot is at the present day
called Palæ-Nauplia.
11. It must not be confounded with the place in Arcadia, where
Epaminondas fell. Its site appears to be unknown.
12. Or Apesas, in the territory of Cleonæ, now called Fuka. Artemius
is probably the present Malvouni, or Malcyo.
13. A river of the same name rose in this mountain; its identity is
unknown.
14. So called from Niobe, the sister of Pelops and wife of Amphion,
king of Thebes. The spring of Amymone ran into the lake of Lerna.
15. Its ruins are to be seen in the vicinity of the modem village of Castri:
they are very extensive.
16. The modern Dhamala occupies the site of Trœzen.
17. The identity of this Coryphasium seems to be unascertained. There
was a promontory of that name in Messenia; but it cannot be the place
here spoken of.
18. It is supposed that Pliny here alludes to Argos Hippium, which he
has previously mentioned; but only in connection with the rivers Inachus
and Erasinus, and not as included in the list of the towns of Argolis.
The origin of the term "Dipsian" is probably unknown. It could hardly
allude to drought, as Argos was abundantly supplied with water. But
see B. vii. c. 57.
19. Ansart says that this is the modern Porto Estremo, at the mouth of
the Saronic Gulf.
20. Hesychius says that oaks were called sarwnide\s in
the language of
ancient Greece. This gulf is now called the Gulf of Egina, or of
Athens.
21. He was worshipped here under the form of a serpent; and his
temple, five miles from Epidaurus, was resorted to by patients from all
parts of Greece for the cure of their diseases. The ruins of this temple
are still to be seen, and those of the theatre at Epidaurus are very
extensive. The village of Pidharvo stands in the midst of the ruins.
22. The modern Capo Franco.
23. Lapie takes Anthedus, or Anthedon, to be the place now called
Porto d'Athene.
24. This appears to have been a port of Corinth, on a promontory of the
same name, meaning, probably from its shape, the "Bull's Head Point."
25. Called the 'Posideium'; in its vicinity the games were celebrated.
The Isthmian Sanctuary was especially famous as a place of refuge.