λέγομεν δʼ ἀναλαβόντες ἀπὸ τῆς πρώτης ὑποτυπώσεως ὅτι ἡ καθʼ ἡμᾶς οἰκουμένη γῆ περίρρυτος οὖσα δέχεται κόλπους εἰς ἑαυτὴν ἀπὸ τῆς ἔξω θαλάττης κατὰ τὸν ὠκεανὸν πολλούς, μεγίστους δὲ τέτταρας· ὧν ὁ μὲν βόρειος Κασπία καλεῖται θάλαττα (οἱ δʼ Ὑρκανίαν προσαγορεύουσιν), ὁ δὲ Περσικὸς καὶ Ἀράβιος ἀπὸ τῆς νοτίας ἀναχέονται θαλάττης, ὁ μὲν τῆς Κασπίας κατʼ ἀντικρὺ μάλιστα ὁ δὲ τῆς Ποντικῆς, τὸν δὲ τέταρτον, ὅσπερ πολὺ τούτους ὑπερβέβληται κατὰ τὸ μέγεθος, ἡ ἐντὸς καὶ καθʼ ἡμᾶς λεγομένη θάλαττα ἀπεργάζεται, τὴν μὲν ἀρχὴν ἀπὸ τῆς ἑσπέρας λαμβάνουσα καὶ τοῦ κατὰ τὰς Ἡρακλείους στήλας πορθμοῦ, μηκυνομένη δʼ εἰς τὸ πρὸς ἕω μέρος ἐν ἄλλῳ πλάτει, μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα σχιζομένη καὶ τελευτῶσα εἰς δύο κόλπους πελαγίους, τὸν μὲν ἐν ἀριστερᾷ, ὅνπερ Εὔξεινον πόντον προσαγορεύομεν, τὸν δʼ ἕτερον τὸν συγκείμενον ἔκ τε τοῦ Αἰγυπτίου πελάγους καὶ τοῦ Παμφυλίου καὶ τοῦ Ἰσσικοῦ. ἅπαντες δʼ οἱ λεχθέντες κόλποι ἀπὸ τῆς ἔξω θαλάττης στενὸν ἔχουσι τὸν εἴσπλουν, μᾶλλον μὲν ὅ τε Ἀράβιος καὶ ὁ κατὰ στήλας, ἧττον δʼ οἱ λοιποί. ἡ δὲ περικλείουσα αὐτοὺς γῆ τριχῆ νενέμηται, καθάπερ εἴρηται. ἡ μὲν οὖν Εὐρώπη πολυσχημονεστάτη πασῶν ἐστιν, ἡ δὲ Λιβύη τἀναντία πέπονθεν, ἡ δὲ Ἀσία μέσην πως ἀμφοῖν ἔχει τὴν διάθεσιν. ἅπασαι δʼ ἐκ τῆς ἐντὸς παραλίας ἔχουσι τὴν αἰτίαν τοῦ τε πολυσχήμονος καὶ τοῦ μή, ἡ δʼ ἐκτὸς πλὴν τῶν λεχθέντων κόλπων ἁπλῆ καὶ χλαμυδοειδής ἐστιν, ὡς εἶπον, τὰς δʼ ἄλλας ἐν μικρῷ διαφορὰς ἐατέον· οὐδὲν γὰρ ἐν τοῖς μεγάλοις τὸ μικρόν. ἔτι δʼ ἐπεὶ κατὰ τὴν γεωγραφικὴν ἱστορίαν οὐ σχήματα μόνον ζητοῦμεν καὶ μεγέθη τόπων, ἀλλὰ καὶ σχέσεις πρὸς ἄλληλα αὐτῶν, ὥσπερ ἔφαμεν, καὶ ἐνταῦθα τὸ ποικίλον ἡ ἐντὸς παραλία παρέχεται μᾶλλον ἢ ἡ ἐκτός. πολὺ δʼ ἐστὶ καὶ τὸ γνώριμον καὶ τὸ εὔκρατον καὶ τὸ πόλεσι καὶ ἔθνεσιν εὐνομουμένοις συνοικούμενον μᾶλλον ἐνταῦθα ἢ ἐκεῖ. ποθοῦμεν δὲ εἰδέναι ταῦτα, ἐν οἷς πλείους παραδίδονται πράξεις καὶ πολιτεῖαι καὶ τέχναι καὶ τἆλλα ὅσα εἰς φρόνησιν συνεργεῖ, αἵ τε χρεῖαι συνάγουσιν ἡμᾶς πρὸς ἐκεῖνα ὧν ἐν ἐφικτῷ αἱ ἐπιπλοκαὶ καὶ κοινωνίαι· ταῦτα δʼ ἐστὶν ὅσα οἰκεῖται, μᾶλλον δʼ οἰκεῖται καλῶς. πρὸς ἅπαντα δὲ τὰ τοιαῦτα, ὡς ἔφην, ἡ παρʼ ἡμῖν θάλαττα πλεονέκτημα ἔχει μέγα· καὶ δὴ καὶ ἔνθεν ἀρκτέον τῆς περιηγήσεως.
Continuing our former sketch, we now state that the earth which we inhabit contains numerous gulfs, formed by the exterior sea or ocean which surrounds it. Of these there are four principal. The northern, called the Caspian, by others designated the Hyrcanian Sea, the Persian and Arabian Gulfs, formed by the [Southern] Sea, the one being nearly opposite to the Caspian, the other to the Euxine; the fourth, which in size is much more considerable than the others, is called the Internal and Our Sea. It commences in the west at the Strait of the Pillars of Hercules, and continues in an easterly direction, but with varying breadth. Farther in, it becomes divided, and terminates in two gulfs; that on the left being called the Euxine Sea, while the other consists of the seas of Egypt, Pamphylia, and Issus. All these gulfs formed by the exterior sea, have a narrow entrance; those of the Arabian Gulf, however, and the Pillars of Hercules are smaller than the rest. The land which surrounds these, as before remarked, consists of three divisions. Of these, the configuration of Europe is the most irregular. Libya, on the contrary, is the most regular; while Asia holds a middle place between the two. In all of these continents, the regularity or irregularity of form relates merely to the interior coasts; the exterior, with the exception of the gulfs be fore mentioned, is unindented, and, as I have stated, resembles a chlamys in its form; any slight differences being of course overlooked, as in large matters what is insignificant passes for nothing. Since in geographical descriptions we not only aim at portraying the configuration and extent of various places, but also their common boundaries, we will remark here, as we have done before, that the coasts of the Internal Sea present a greater variety in their appearance than those of the Exterior [Ocean]; the former is also much better known, its climate is more temperate, and more civilized cities and nations are here than there. We are also anxious to be informed where the form of government, the arts, and whatever else ministers to intelligence, produce the greatest results. Interest will always lead us to where the relations of commerce and society are most easily established, and these are advantages to be found where government is administered, or rather where it is well administered. In each of these particulars, as before remarked, Our Sea possesses great advantages, and here therefore we will begin our description.
εἴρηται δὲ ὅτι ἀρχὴ τοῦδε τοῦ κόλπου ἐστὶν ὁ κατὰ τὰς στήλας πορθμός· τὸ δὲ στενώτατον τούτου περὶ ἑβδομήκοντα σταδίους λέγεται· παραπλεύσαντι δὲ τὸν στενωπὸν ἑκατὸν καὶ εἴκοσι σταδίων ὄντα διάστασιν λαμβάνουσιν αἱ ᾐόνες ἀθρόαν, ἡ δʼ ἐν ἀριστερᾷ μᾶλλον· εἶτʼ ὄψις μεγάλου φαίνεται πελάγους. ὁρίζεται δʼ ἐκ μὲν τοῦ δεξιοῦ πλευροῦ τῇ Λιβυκῇ παραλίᾳ μέχρι Καρχηδόνος, ἐκ δὲ θατέρου τῇ τε Ἰβηρικῇ καὶ τῇ Κελτικῇ κατὰ Νάρβωνα καὶ Μασσαλίαν, καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα τῇ Λιγυστικῇ, τελευταίᾳ δὲ τῇ Ἰταλικῇ μέχρι τοῦ Σικελικοῦ πορθμοῦ. τὸ δʼ ἑῷον τοῦ πελάγους πλευρὸν ἡ Σικελία ἐστὶ καὶ οἱ ἑκατέρωθεν αὐτῆς πορθμοί, ὁ μὲν πρὸς τῇ Ἰταλίᾳ ἑπταστάδιος, ὁ δὲ πρὸς τῇ Καρχηδόνι χιλίων καὶ πεντακοσίων σταδίων. ἡ δʼ ἀπὸ τῶν στηλῶν ἐπὶ τὸ ἑπταστάδιον γραμμὴ μέρος μέν ἐστι τῆς ἐπὶ Ῥόδον καὶ τὸν Ταῦρον, μέσον δέ πως τέμνει τὸ λεχθὲν πέλαγος· λέγεται δὲ σταδίων μυρίων καὶ δισχιλίων· τοῦτο μὲν δὴ τὸ μῆκος τοῦ πελάγους, πλάτος δὲ τὸ μέγιστον ὅσον πεντακισχιλίων σταδίων τὸ ἀπὸ τοῦ Γαλατικοῦ κόλπου μεταξὺ Μασσαλίας καὶ Νάρβωνος ἐπὶ τὴν κατʼ ἀντικρὺ Λιβύην. καλοῦσι δὲ τὸ πρὸς τῇ Λιβύῃ πᾶν μέρος τῆς θαλάττης ταύτης Λιβυκὸν πέλαγος, τὸ δὲ πρὸς τῇ κατʼ ἀντικρὺ γῇ τὸ μὲν Ἰβηρικὸν τὸ δὲ Λιγυστικὸν τὸ δὲ Σαρδόνιον, τελευταῖον δὲ μέχρι τῆς Σικελίας τὸ Τυρρηνικόν. νῆσοι δʼ εἰσὶν ἐν μὲν τῇ παραλίᾳ τῇ κατὰ τὸ Τυρρηνικὸν πέλαγος μέχρι τῆς Λιγυστικῆς συχναί, μέγισται δὲ Σαρδὼ καὶ Κύρνος, μετά γε τὴν Σικελίαν· αὕτη δὲ καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἐστὶ μεγίστη τῶν καθʼ ἡμᾶς καὶ ἀρίστη. πολὺ δὲ τούτων λειπόμεναι πελάγιαι μὲν Πανδατερία τε καὶ Ποντία, πρόσγειοι δὲ Αἰθαλία τε καὶ Πλανασία καὶ Πιθηκοῦσσα καὶ Προχύτη καὶ Καπρίαι καὶ Λευκωσία καὶ ἄλλαι τοιαῦται. ἐπὶ θάτερα δὲ τῆς Λιγυστικῆς αἱ πρὸ τῆς λοιπῆς ᾐόνος μέχρι στηλῶν οὐ πολλαί, ὧν εἰσιν ἥ τε Γυμνησία καὶ Ἔβυσος· οὐ πολλαὶ δʼ οὐδʼ αἱ πρὸ τῆς Λιβύης καὶ τῆς Σικελίας, ὧν εἰσι Κόσσουρά τε καὶ Αἰγίμουρος καὶ αἱ Λιπαραίων νῆσοι, ἃς Αἰόλου τινὲς προσαγορεύουσι.
This gulf, as before stated, commences at the Strait of the Pillars; this at its narrowest part is said to be 70 stadia. Having sailed down a distance of 120 stadia, the shores widen considerably, especially to the left, and you behold a vast sea, bounded on the right by the shore of Libya as far as Carthage, and on the opposite side by those of Iberia and Keltica as far as Narbonne and Marseilles, thence by the Ligurian, and finally by the Italian coast to the Strait of Sicily. The eastern side of this sea is formed by Sicily and the straits on either side of it. That next Italy being 7 stadia [in breadth], and that next Carthage 1500 stadia. The line drawn from the Pillars to the lesser strait of 7 stadia, forms part of the line to Rhodes and the Taurus, and intersects the sea under discussion about its middle; this line is said to be 12,000 stadia, which is accordingly the length of the sea. Its greatest breadth is about 5000 stadia, and extends from the Galatic Gulf, between Marseilles and Narbonne, to the opposite coast of Libya.
The portion of the sea which washes Libya is called the Libyan Sea; that surrounding the land opposite is designated by the respective names of the Iberian, the Ligurian, and the Sardinian Seas, while the remaining portion as far as Sicily is named the Tyrrhenian Sea. All along the coast between the Tyrrhenian and Ligurian Seas, there are numerous islands, the largest of which are Sardinia and Cyrnus, always excepting Sicily, which is larger and more fertile than any of our islands. The remainder are much smaller. Of this number are, in the high sea, Pandataria and Pontia, and close to the shore Aethalia, Planasia, Pithecussa, Prochyta, Capriae, Leucosia, and many others On the other side of the Ligurian shore, and along the rest of the coast as far as the Pillars, there are but few islands; the Gymnasisae and Ebusus are of this number. There are likewise but few islands along the coasts of Libya and Sicily. We may mention however Cossura, Aegimurus, and the Lipari Islands, likewise called the Islands of Aeolus.
μετὰ δὲ τὴν Σικελίαν καὶ τοὺς ἑκατέρωθεν πορθμοὺς ἄλλα πελάγη συνάπτει, τό τε πρὸ τῶν Σύρτεων καὶ τῆς Κυρηναίας καὶ αὐταὶ αἱ Σύρτεις καὶ τὸ Αὐσόνιον μὲν πάλαι νῦν δὲ καλούμενον Σικελικόν, σύρρουν ἐκείνῳ καὶ συνεχές. τὸ μὲν οὖν πρὸ τῶν Σύρτεων καὶ τῆς Κυρηναίας καλεῖται Λιβυκόν, τελευτᾷ δʼ εἰς τὸ Αἰγύπτιον πέλαγος. τῶν δὲ Σύρτεων ἡ μὲν ἐλάττων ἐστὶν ὅσον χιλίων καὶ ἑξακοσίων σταδίων τὴν περίμετρον· πρόκεινται δʼ ἐφʼ ἑκάτερα τοῦ στόματος νῆσοι Μῆνίγξ τε καὶ Κέρκινα· τῆς δὲ μεγάλης Σύρτεώς φησιν Ἐρατοσθένης τὸν κύκλον εἶναι πεντακισχιλίων, τὸ δὲ βάθος χιλίων ὀκτακοσίων ἀφʼ Ἑσπερίδων εἰς Αὐτόμαλα καὶ τὸ τῆς Κυρηναίας μεθόριον πρὸς τὴν ἄλλην τὴν ταύτῃ Λιβύην· ἄλλοι δὲ τὸν περίπλουν τετρακισχιλίων σταδίων εἶπον, τὸ δὲ βάθος χιλίων πεντακοσίων, ὅσον καὶ τὸ πλάτος τοῦ στόματος. τὸ δὲ Σικελικὸν πέλαγος πρὸ τῆς Σικελίας ἐστὶ καὶ τῆς Ἰταλίας ἐπὶ τὸ πρὸς ἕω μέρος καὶ ἔτι τοῦ μεταξὺ πόρου τῆς τε Ῥηγίνης μέχρι Λοκρῶν, καὶ τῆς Μεσσηνίας μέχρι Συρακουσσῶν καὶ Παχύνου. αὔξεται δʼ ἐπὶ μὲν τὸ πρὸς ἕω μέρος μέχρι τῶν ἄκρων τῆς Κρήτης, καὶ τὴν Πελοπόννησον δὲ περικλύζει τὴν πλείστην, καὶ πληροῖ τὸν Κορινθιακὸν καλούμενον κόλπον· πρὸς ἄρκτους δὲ ἐπί τε ἄκραν Ἰαπυγίαν καὶ τὸ στόμα τοῦ Ἰονίου κόλπου καὶ τῆς Ἠπείρου τὰ νότια μέρη μέχρι τοῦ Ἀμβρακικοῦ κόλπου καὶ τῆς συνεχοῦς παραλίας τῆς ποιούσης τὸν Κορινθιακὸν κόλπον πρὸς τὴν Πελοπόννησον. ὁ δʼ Ἰόνιος κόλπος μέρος ἐστὶ τοῦ νῦν Ἀδρίου λεγομένου· τούτου δὲ τὴν μὲν ἐν δεξιᾷ πλευρὰν ἡ Ἰλλυρὶς ποιεῖ, τὴν δʼ εὐώνυμον ἡ Ἰταλία μέχρι τοῦ μυχοῦ τοῦ κατὰ Ἀκυληίαν. ἔστι δὲ πρὸς ἄρκτον ἅμα καὶ πρὸς τὴν ἑσπέραν ἀνέχων στενὸς καὶ μακρός, μῆκος μὲν ὅσον ἑξακισχιλίων σταδίων, πλάτος δὲ τὸ μέγιστον διακοσίων ἐπὶ τοῖς χιλίοις. νῆσοι δέ εἰσιν ἐνταῦθα συχναὶ μὲν αἱ πρὸ τῆς Ἰλλυρίδος, αἵ τε Ἀψυρτίδες καὶ Κυρικτικὴ καὶ Λιβυρνίδες, ἔτι δʼ Ἴσσα καὶ Τραγούριον καὶ ἡ Μέλαινα Κόρκυρα καὶ Φάρος, πρὸ τῆς Ἰταλίας δὲ αἱ Διομήδειοι. τοῦ Σικελικοῦ δὲ τὸ ἐπὶ Κρήτην ἀπὸ Παχύνου τετρακισχιλίων καὶ πεντακοσίων σταδίων φασί· τοσοῦτον δὲ καὶ τὸ ἐπὶ Ταίναρον τῆς Λακωνικῆς· τὸ δὲ ἀπὸ ἄκρας Ἰαπυγίας ἐπὶ τὸν μυχὸν τοῦ Κορινθιακοῦ κόλπου τῶν μὲν τρισχιλίων ἐστὶν ἔλαττον, τὸ δʼ ἀπὸ Ἰαπυγίας εἰς τὴν Λιβύην πλέον τῶν τετρακισχιλίων ἐστί. νῆσοι δʼ εἰσὶν ἐνταῦθα ἥ τε Κόρκυρα καὶ Σύβοτα πρὸ τῆς Ἠπειρώτιδος, καὶ ἐφεξῆς πρὸ τοῦ Κορινθιακοῦ κόλπου Κεφαλληνία καὶ Ἰθάκη καὶ Ζάκυνθος καὶ Ἐχινάδες.
After Sicily and the straits on either side of it, there are other seas, for instance, that opposite the Syrtes and the Cyrenaic, the Syrtes themselves, and the sea formerly called the Ausonian, but which, as it flows into and forms part of the Sea of Sicily, is now included under the latter name. The sea opposite to the Syrtes and the Cyrenaic is called the Libyan Sea; it extends as far as the Sea of Egypt.
The Lesser Syrtes is about 1600 stadia in circumference. On either side of its mouth lie the islands of Meninx and Kerkina. The Greater Syrtes is (according to Eratosthenes) 5000 stadia in circuit, and in depth 1800, from the Hesperides to Automala, and the frontier which separates the Cyrenaic from the rest of Libya. According to others, its circumference is only 4000 stadia, its depth 1500 stadia, and the breadth at its mouth the same.
The Sea of Sicily washes Italy, from the Strait of Rhegium to Locris, and also the eastern coast of Sicily from Messene to Syracuse and Pachynus. On the eastern side it reaches to the promontories of Crete, surrounds the greater part of Peloponnesus, and fills the Gulf of Corinth. On the north it advances to the Iapygian Promontory, the mouth of the Ionian Gulf, the southern parts of Epirus, as far as the Ambracic Gulf, and the continuation of the coast which forms the Corinthian Gulf, near the Peloponnesus.
The Ionian Gulf forms part of what we now call the Adriatic. Illyria forms its right side, and Italy as far as the recess where Aquileia is situated, the left.
The Adriatic stretches north and west; it is long and narrow, being in length about 6000 stadia, and its greatest breadth 1200. There are many islands situated here opposite the coasts of Illyria, such as the Absyrtides, Cyrictica, and the Libyrnides, also Issa, Tragurium, the Black Corcyra, and Pharos. Opposite to Italy are the Islands of Diomede. The Sea of Sicily is said to be 4500 stadia from Pachynus to Crete, and the same distance to Taenarus in Laconia. From the extremities of Iapygia to the bottom of the Gulf of Corinth the distance is less than 3000 stadia, while from Iapygia to Libya it is more than 4000. In this sea are the Islands of Corcyra and Sybota, opposite the coasts of Epirus; and beyond these, opposite the Gulf of Corinth, Cephallenia, Ithaca, Zacynth, and the Echinades.
τῷ δὲ Σικελικῷ συνάπτει τὸ Κρητικὸν πέλαγος καὶ τὸ Σαρωνικὸν καὶ τὸ Μυρτῷον, ὃ μεταξὺ τῆς Κρήτης ἐστὶ καὶ τῆς Ἀργείας καὶ τῆς Ἀττικῆς, πλάτος ἔχον τὸ μέγιστον τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς Ἀττικῆς ὅσον χιλίων καὶ διακοσίων σταδίων, μῆκος δʼ ἔλαττον ἢ διπλάσιον. ἐν τούτῳ δὲ νῆσοι Κύθηρά τε καὶ Καλαυρία καὶ αἱ περὶ Αἴγιναν καὶ Σαλαμῖνα καὶ τῶν Κυκλάδων τινές. τὸ δὲ συνεχὲς τὸ Αἰγαῖόν ἐστιν ἤδη σὺν τῷ Μέλανι κόλπῳ καὶ τῷ Ἑλλησπόντῳ, καὶ τὸ Ἰκάριον καὶ Καρπάθιον μέχρι τῆς Ῥόδου καὶ Κρήτης καὶ τῶν πρώτων μερῶν τῆς Ἀσίας […] αἵ τε Κυκλάδες νῆσοι εἰσὶ καὶ αἱ Σποράδες καὶ αἱ προκείμεναι τῆς Καρίας καὶ Ἰωνίας καὶ Αἰολίδος μέχρι τῆς Τρῳάδος, λέγω δὲ Κῶ καὶ Σάμον καὶ Χίον καὶ Λέσβον καὶ Τένεδον· ὡς δʼ αὕτως αἱ προκείμεναι τῆς Ἑλλάδος μέχρι τῆς Μακεδονίας καὶ τῆς ὁμόρου Θρᾴκης Εὔβοιά τε καὶ Σκῦρος καὶ Πεπάρηθος καὶ Λῆμνος καὶ Θάσος καὶ Ἴμβρος καὶ Σαμοθρᾴκη καὶ ἄλλαι πλείους, περὶ ὧν ἐν τοῖς καθʼ ἕκαστα δηλώσομεν. ἔστι δὲ τὸ μῆκος τῆς θαλάττης ταύτης περὶ τετρακισχιλίους ἢ μικρῷ πλείους, τὸ δὲ πλάτος περὶ δισχιλίους. περιέχεται δὲ ὑπὸ τῶν λεχθέντων μερῶν τῆς Ἀσίας καὶ τῆς ἀπὸ Σουνίου μέχρι Θερμαίου κόλπου πρὸς ἄρκτον ἐχούσης τὸν πλοῦν παραλίας καὶ τῶν Μακεδονικῶν κόλπων μέχρι τῆς Θρᾳκίας χερρονήσου.
Next to the Sea of Sicily, are the Cretan, Saronic, and Myrtoan Seas, comprised between Crete, Argia, and Attica. Their greatest breadth, measured from Attica, is 1200 stadia, and their length not quite double the distance. Within are included the Islands of Cythera, Calauria, Aegina, Salamis, and certain of the Cyclades. Adjacent to these are the Aegaean Sea, the Gulf of Melas, the Hellespont, the Icarian and Carpathian Seas, as far as Rhodes, Crete, Cnidus, and the commencement of Asia. [In these seas] are the Cyclades, the Sporades, and the islands opposite Caria, Ionia, and Aeolia, as far as the Troad, namely, Cos, Samos, Chios, Lesbos, and Tenedos; likewise on the Grecian side as far as Macedonia and the borders of Thrace, Euboea, Scyros, Peparethus, Lemnos, Thasos, Imbros, Samothracia, and numerous others, of which it is our intention to speak in detail. The length of this sea is about 4000 stadia, or rather more, its breadth about 2000. It is surrounded by the coast of Asia above mentioned, and by those of Greece from Sunium northwards to the Thermaic Gulf and the Gulfs of Macedonia, and as far as the Thracian Chersonesus.
κατὰ δὲ ταύτην ἐστὶ τὸ ἑπταστάδιον τὸ κατὰ Σηστὸν καὶ Ἄβυδον, διʼ οὗ τὸ Αἰγαῖον καὶ ὁ Ἑλλήσποντος ἐκδίδωσι πρὸς ἄρκτον εἰς ἄλλο πέλαγος, ὃ καλοῦσι Προποντίδα, κἀκεῖνο εἰς ἄλλο τὸν Εὔξεινον προσαγορευόμενον πόντον. ἔστι δὲ διθάλαττος τρόπον τινὰ οὗτος· κατὰ μέσον γάρ πως ἄκραι δύο προπίπτουσιν, ἡ μὲν ἐκ τῆς Εὐρώπης καὶ τῶν βορείων μερῶν ἡ δʼ ἐκ τῆς Ἀσίας ἐναντία ταύτῃ, συνάγουσαι τὸν μεταξὺ πόρον καὶ ποιοῦσαι δύο πελάγη μεγάλα· τὸ μὲν οὖν τῆς Εὐρώπης ἀκρωτήριον καλεῖται Κριοῦ μέτωπον τὸ δὲ τῆς Ἀσίας Κάραμβις, διέχοντα ἀλλήλων περὶ χιλίους σταδίους καὶ πεντακοσίους. τὸ μὲν οὖν πρὸς ἑσπέραν πέλαγος μῆκός ἐστιν ἀπὸ Βυζαντίου μέχρι τῶν ἐκβολῶν τοῦ Βορυσθένους σταδίων τρισχιλίων ὀκτακοσίων, πλάτος δὲ δισχιλίων· ἐν τούτῳ δʼ ἡ Λευκὴ νῆσός ἐστι· τὸ δʼ ἑῷόν ἐστι παράμηκες εἰς στενὸν τελευτῶν μυχὸν τὸν κατὰ Διοσκουριάδα ἐπὶ πεντακισχιλίους ἢ μικρῷ πλείους σταδίους, τὸ δὲ πλάτος περὶ τρισχιλίους· ἡ δὲ περίμετρος τοῦ σύμπαντος πελάγους ἐστὶ δισμυρίων που καὶ πεντακισχιλίων σταδίων. εἰκάζουσι δέ τινες τὸ σχῆμα τῆς περιμέτρου ταύτης ἐντεταμένῳ Σκυθικῷ τόξῳ, τὴν μὲν νευρὰν ἐξομοιοῦντες τοῖς δεξιοῖς καλουμένοις μέρεσι τοῦ Πόντου (ταῦτα δʼ ἐστὶν ὁ παράπλους ὁ ἀπὸ τοῦ στόματος μέχρι τοῦ μυχοῦ τοῦ κατὰ Διοσκουριάδα· πλὴν γὰρ τῆς Καράμβιος ἥ γε ἄλλη πᾶσα ᾐὼν μικρὰς ἔχει εἰσοχάς τε καὶ ἐξοχὰς ὥστʼ εὐθείᾳ ἐοικέναι), τὴν δὲ λοιπὴν τῷ κέρατι τοῦ τόξου διττὴν ἔχοντι τὴν ἐπιστροφήν, τὴν μὲν ἄνω περιφερεστέραν τὴν δὲ κάτω εὐθυτέραν· οὕτω δὲ κἀκείνην ἀπεργάζεσθαι δύο κόλπους, ὧν ὁ ἑσπέριος πολὺ θατέρου περιφερέστερός ἐστιν.
Here too is the strait, seven stadia in length, which is between Sestos and Abydos, and through which the Aegaean and Hellespont communicate with another sea to the north, named the Propontis, and this again with another called the Euxine. This latter is, so to speak, a double sea, for towards its middle are two projecting promontories, one to the north, on the side of Europe, and the other opposite from the coast of Asia, which leave only a narrow passage between them, and thus form two great seas. The European promontory is named Criu-metopon; that of Asia, Carambis. They are distant from each other about 2500 stadia. The length of the western portion of this sea from Byzantium to the outlets of the Dnieper is 3800 stadia, its breadth 2000. Here is situated the Island of Leuca. The eastern portion is oblong and terminates in the narrow recess in which Dioscurias is situated. In length it is 5000 stadia, or rather more, and in breadth about 3000. The entire circumference of the Euxine is about 25,000 stadia. Some have compared the shape of its circumference to a Scythian bow when bent, the string representing the southern portions of the Euxine, (viz. the coast, from its mouth to the recess in which Dioscurias is situated; for, with the exception of Carambis, the sinuosities of the shore are but trifling, so that it may be justly compared to a straight line,) and the remainder [of the circumference representing] the wood of the bow with its double curve, the uppermost very much rounded, the lower more in a straight line. So this sea forms two gulfs, the western much more rounded than the other.
̔υπέρκειται δὲ τοῦ ἑωθινοῦ κόλπου πρὸς ἄρκτον ἡ Μαιῶτος λίμην τὴν περίμετρον ἔχουσα ἐνακισχιλίων σταδίων ἢ καὶ μικρῷ πλεόνων· ἐκδίδωσι δʼ αὕτη μὲν εἰς Πόντον κατὰ τὸν Κιμμερικὸν καλούμενον Βόσπορον, οὗτος δὲ κατὰ τὸν Θρᾴκιον εἰς τὴν Προποντίδα· τὸ γὰρ Βυζαντιακὸν στόμα οὕτω καλοῦσι Θρᾴκιον Βόσπορον, ὃ τετραστάδιόν ἐστιν. ἡ δὲ Προποντὶς χιλίων καὶ πεντακοσίων λέγεται τὸ μῆκος σταδίων τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς Τρῳάδος ἐπὶ τὸ Βυζάντιον· πάρισον δέ πώς ἐστι καὶ τὸ πλάτος. ἐνταῦθα δʼ ἡ τῶν Κυζικηνῶν ἵδρυται νῆσος καὶ τὰ περὶ αὐτὴν νησία.
To the north of the eastern Gulf of the Pontus, is the Lake Maeotis, whose perimeter is 9000 stadia or rather more. It communicates with the Euxine by means of the Cimmerian Bosphorus, and the Euxine with the Propontis by the Thracian Bosphorus, for such is the name given to the Strait of Byzantium, which is four stadia in breadth. The length of the Propontis from the Troad to Byzantium is stated to be 1500 stadia. Its breadth is about the same. It is in this sea that the Island of the Cyziceni is situated, with the other islands around it.
τοιαύτη μὲν ἡ πρὸς ἄρκτον τοῦ Αἰγαίου πελάγους ἀνάχυσις καὶ τοσαύτη, πάλιν δʼ ἀπὸ τῆς Ῥοδίας ἡ τὸ Αἰγύπτιον πέλαγος ποιοῦσα καὶ τὸ Παμφύλιον καὶ τὸ Ἰσσικὸν ἐπὶ μὲν τὴν ἕω καὶ τῆς Κιλικίας κατὰ Ἰσσὸν ἐκτείνεται μέχρι καὶ πεντακισχιλίων σταδίων παρά τε Λυκίαν καὶ Παμφυλίαν καὶ τὴν Κιλίκων παραλίαν πᾶσαν. ἐντεῦθεν δὲ Συρία τε καὶ Φοινίκη καὶ Αἴγυπτος ἐγκυκλοῖ πρὸς νότον τὴν θάλατταν καὶ πρὸς δύσιν ἕως Ἀλεξανδρείας. ἐν δὲ τῷ Ἰσσικῷ κόλπῳ καὶ τῷ Παμφυλίῳ κεῖσθαι συμβαίνει τὴν Κύπρον, συνάπτουσαν τῷ Αἰγυπτίῳ πελάγει. ἔστι δʼ ἀπὸ Ῥόδου δίαρμα εἰς Ἀλεξάνδρειαν βορέᾳ τετρακισχιλίων που σταδίων, ὁ δὲ περίπλους διπλάσιος. ὁ δʼ Ἐρατοσθένης ταύτην μὲν τῶν ναυτικῶν εἶναί φησι τὴν ὑπόληψιν περὶ τοῦ διάρματος τοῦ πελάγους, τῶν μὲν οὕτω λεγόντων, τῶν δὲ καὶ πεντακισχιλίους οὐκ ὀκνούντων εἰπεῖν, αὐτὸς δὲ διὰ τῶν σκιοθηρικῶν γνωμόνων ἀνευρεῖν τρισχιλίους ἑπτακοσίους πεντήκοντα. τούτου δὴ τοῦ πελάγους τὸ πρὸς τῇ Κιλικίᾳ καὶ Παμφυλίᾳ καὶ τοῦ Ποντικοῦ τὰ καλούμενα δεξιὰ μέρη καὶ ἡ Προποντὶς καὶ ἡ ἐφεξῆς παραλία μέχρι Παμφυλίας ποιεῖ τινα χερρόνησον μεγάλην καὶ μέγαν ταύτης ἰσθμόν, τὸν ἀπὸ τῆς πρὸς Ταρσῷ θαλάττης ἐπὶ πόλιν Ἀμισὸν καὶ τὸ τῶν Ἀμαζόνων πεδίον τὴν Θεμίσκυραν. ἡ γὰρ ἐντὸς τῆς γραμμῆς ταύτης χώρα μέχρι Καρίας καὶ Ἰωνίας καὶ τῶν ἐντὸς Ἅλυος νεμομένων ἐθνῶν περίκλυστος ἅπασά ἐστιν ὑπὸ τοῦ Αἰγαίου καὶ τῶν ἑκατέρωθεν λεχθέντων τῆς θαλάττης μερῶν· καὶ δὴ καὶ καλοῦμεν Ἀσίαν ταύτην ἰδίως καὶ ὁμωνύμως τῇ ὅλῃ.
Such and so great is the extent of the Aegaean Sea towards the north. Again, starting from Rhodes, the [Mediterranean] forms the seas of Egypt, Pamphylia, and Issus, extending in an easterly direction from Cilicia to Issus, a distance of 5000 stadia, along the coasts of Lycia, Pamphylia, and the whole of Cilicia. From thence Syria, Phoenicia, and Egypt surround the sea to the south and west as far as Alexandria. The Island of Cyprus is situated in the Gulfs of Issus and Pamphylia, close to the Sea of Egypt. The passage between Rhodes and Alexandria from north [to south] is about 4000 stadia; sailing round the coasts it is double this distance. Eratosthenes informs us that, although the above is the distance according to some mariners, others avow distinctly that it amounts to 5000 stadia; while he himself, from observations of the shadows indicated by the gnomon, calculates it at 3750.
That part of the Mediterranean Sea which washes the coasts of Cilicia and Pamphylia together with the right side of the Euxine, the Propontis, and the sea-coast beyond this as far as Pamphylia, form a kind of extensive Chersonesus, the isthmus of which is also large, and reaches from the sea near Tarsus to the city of Amisus, and thence to the Themiscyran plain of the Amazons. In fact the whole region within this line as far as Caria and Ionia, and the nations dwelling on this side the Halys, is entirely surrounded by the Aegaean and the aforementioned parts of the Mediterranean and Euxine Seas. This is what we call Asia properly, although the whole continent bears the same name.
συλλήβδην δʼ εἰπεῖν, τῆς καθʼ ἡμᾶς θαλάττης νοτιώτατον μέν ἐστι σημεῖον ὁ τῆς μεγάλης Σύρτεως μυχός, καὶ μετὰ τοῦτον ἡ κατʼ Αἴγυπτον Ἀλεξάνδρεια καὶ τοῦ Νείλου προχοαί, βορειότατον δὲ τὸ τοῦ Βορυσθένους · εἰ δὲ καὶ τὴν Μαιῶτιν προστιθείη τῷ πελάγει τις (καὶ γάρ ἐστιν ὡς ἂν μέρος), τὸ τοῦ Τανάιδος· δυσμικώτατον δὲ ὁ κατὰ τὰς στήλας πορθμός, ἑωθινώτατον δʼ ὁ λεχθεὶς μυχὸς κατὰ Διοσκουριάδα· Ἐρατοσθένης δʼ οὐκ εὖ τὸν Ἰσσικὸν κόλπον φησίν. ὁ μὲν γὰρ ἐπὶ τοῦ αὐτοῦ μεσημβρινοῦ ἵδρυται ἐφʼ οὗπερ ἥ τε Ἀμισὸς καὶ Θεμίσκυρα· εἰ δὲ βούλει, πρόσλαβε καὶ τὴν Σιδήνην μέχρι Φαρνακείας. ἀπὸ δὲ τούτων τῶν μερῶν πρὸς ἕω πλοῦς ἐστι πλειόνων ἢ τρισχιλίων σταδίων εἰς Διοσκουριάδα, ὡς ἔσται μᾶλλον ἐκ τῆς ἐν μέρει περιοδείας φανερόν. ἡ μὲν δὴ καθʼ ἡμᾶς θάλαττα τοιαύτη τις.
To speak shortly, the southernmost point of Our Sea is the recess of the Greater Syrtes; next to this Alexandria in Egypt, and the mouths of the Nile; while the most northerly is the mouth of the Dnieper, or if the Maeotis be considered to belong to the Euxine, (and it certainly does appear to form a part of it,) the mouth of the Don. The Strait at the Pillars is the most westerly point, and the most easterly is the said recess, in which Dioscurias is situated; and not, as Eratosthenes falsely states, the Gulf of Issus, which is under the same meridian as Amisus and Themiscyra, and, if you will have it so, Sidene as far as Pharnacia. Proceeding thence in an easterly direction to Dioscurias, the distance by sea is above 3000 stadia, as will be seen more plainly in my detailed account of those countries. Such then is the Mediterranean.
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