CHAP. 30.—LYDIA.
Lydia, bathed by the sinuous and ever-recurring windings
of the river Mæander, lies extended above Ionia; it is joined
by Phrygia on the east and Mysia on the north, while on the
south it runs up to Caria: it formerly had the name of Mæonia[1].
Its place of the greatest celebrity is Sardes[2], which lies on
the side of Mount Tmolus[3], formerly called Timolus. From
this mountain, which is covered with vineyards, flows the
river Pactolus[4], also called the Chrysorroas, and the sources
of the Tarnus: this famous city, which is situate upon the
Gygæan Lake[5], used to be called Hyde[6] by the people of
Mæonia. This jurisdiction is now called that of Sardes,
and besides the people of the places already mentioned, the
following now resort to it—the Macedonian Cadueni[7], the
Loreni, the Philadelpheni[8], the Mæonii, situate on the river
Cogamus at the foot of Mount Tmolus, the Tripolitani, who
are also called the Antoniopolitæ, situate on the banks of
the Mæander, the Apollonihieritæ[9], the Mesotimolitæ[10], and
some others of no note.
1. By this name alone it is known to Homer.
2. Its ruins, now called Sart, are very extensive, though presenting nothing of importance. Its citadel, situated on a rock, was considered to be almost impregnable.
3. Now called Kisilja Musa Dagh. It was famous for its wine, saffron, and gold.
4. Now called the Sarabat. It was famous for its gold-producing sands.
5. On the road between Thyatira and Sardes: near it was situate the necropolis of Sardes.
6. Strabo says that some persons called the citadel only by that name.
7. There was a city of Mysia or Phrygia of the name of Cadus or Cadi; but nothing is known of the place here alluded to, whose people would appear to have been a colony from Macedonia.
8. The people of Philadelphia, now Ala-Cher, or the "Fine City," twelve leagues south-east of Sardes, and nine leagues south of Attalia.
9. So called from the Greek )Apo/llwnos i(ero\n, "the temple of Apollo," in the vicinity of which, south-east of Pergamus, their town was probably situate. Nothing is known of these localities.
10. Dwellers in Mesotmolus, a town which, from its name, would appear to have been situate on the middle of Mount Tmolus.