μετὰ τοίνυν Ἄβδηρα ἔστι Καρχηδὼν ἡ νέα, κτίσμα Ἀσδρούβα τοῦ διαδεξαμένου Βάρκαν τὸν Ἀννίβα πατέρα, κρατίστη πολὺ τῶν ταύτῃ πόλεων· καὶ γὰρ ἐρυμνή τʼ ἐστὶ καὶ τείχει κατεσκευασμένῳ καλῶς καὶ λιμέσι καὶ λίμνῃ κεκόσμηται καὶ τοῖς τῶν ἀργυρίων μετάλλοις, περὶ ὧν εἰρήκαμεν· κἀνταῦθα δὲ καὶ ἐν τοῖς πλησίον τόποις πολλὴ ἡ ταριχεία· καὶ ἔστι τοῦτο μέγιστον ἐμπόριον τῶν μὲν ἐκ θαλάττης τοῖς ἐν τῇ μεσογαίᾳ, τῶν δʼ ἐκεῖθεν τοῖς ἔξω πᾶσιν. ἡ δʼ ἐνθένδε μέχρι τοῦ Ἴβηρος παραλία κατὰ μέσον πως τὸ διάστημα ἔχει τὸν Σούκρωνα ποταμὸν καὶ τὴν ἐκβολὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ πόλιν ὁμώνυμον· ῥεῖ δὲ ἐκ τοῦ συνεχοῦς ὄρους τῇ ὑπερκειμένῃ ῥάχει τῆς τε Μαλάκας καὶ τῶν περὶ Καρχηδόνα τόπων, περατὸς πεζῇ, παράλληλος δέ πως τῷ Ἴβηρι, μικρὸν δὲ διέχει τῆς Καρχηδόνος ἢ τοῦ Ἴβηρος. μεταξὺ μὲν οὖν τοῦ Σούκρωνος καὶ τῆς Καρχηδόνος τρία πολίχνια Μασσαλιωτῶν ἔστιν οὐ πολὺ ἄπωθεν τοῦ ποταμοῦ· τούτων δʼ ἐστὶ γνωριμώτατον τὸ Ἡμεροσκοπεῖον ἔχον ἐπὶ τῇ ἄκρᾳ τῆς Ἐφεσίας Ἀρτέμιδος ἱερὸν σφόδρα τιμώμενον, ᾧ ἐχρήσατο Σερτώριος ὁρμητηρίῳ κατὰ θάλατταν· ἐρυμνὸν γάρ ἐστι καὶ λῃστρικόν, κάτοπτον δὲ ἐκ πολλοῦ τοῖς προσπλέουσι, καλεῖται δὲ Διάνιον, οἷον Ἀρτεμίσιον, ἔχον σιδηρεῖα εὐφυῆ πλησίον καὶ νησίδια Πλανησίαν καὶ Πλουμβαρίαν καὶ λιμνοθάλατταν ὑπερκειμένην, ἔχουσαν ἐν κύκλῳ σταδίους τετρακοσίους. εἶθʼ ἡ τοῦ Ἡρακλέους νῆσος ἤδη πρὸς Καρχηδόνι, ἣν καλοῦσι Σκομβραρίαν ἀπὸ τῶν ἁλισκομένων σκόμβρων, ἐξ ὧν τὸ ἄριστον σκευάζεται γάρον· εἴκοσι δὲ διέχει σταδίους καὶ τέτταρας τῆς Καρχηδόνος. πάλιν δʼ ἐπὶ θάτερα τοῦ Σούκρωνος ἰόντι ἐπὶ τὴν ἐκβολὴν τοῦ Ἴβηρος Σάγουντον κτίσμα Ζακυνθίων, ἣν Ἀννίβας κατασκάψας παρὰ τὰ συγκείμενα πρὸς Ῥωμαίους τὸν δεύτερον αὐτοῖς ἐξῆψε πόλεμον πρὸς Καρχηδονίους. πλησίον δὲ πόλεις εἰσὶ Χερρόνησός τε καὶ Ὀλέαστρον καὶ Καρταλίας· ἐπʼ αὐτῇ δὲ τῇ διαβάσει τοῦ Ἴβηρος Δέρτωσσα κατοικία. ῥεῖ δὲ ὁ Ἴβηρ ἀπὸ Καντάβρων ἔχων τὰς ἀρχὰς ἐπὶ μεσημβρίαν διὰ πολλοῦ πεδίου παράλληλος τοῖς Πυρηναίοις ὄρεσι.
After Abdera is New Carthage, founded by Asdrubal, who succeeded Bareas, the father of Hannibal. It is by far the most powerful city of this country, being impregnable, and furnished with a noble wall, harbours, and a lake, besides the silver mines already mentioned. The places in the vicinity have an abundance of salted fish, and it is besides the great emporium of the sea merchandise for the interior, and likewise for the merchandise from the interior for exportation. About midway along the coast between this city and the Ebro, we meet with the outlet of the river Xucar, and a city bearing the same name. It rises in a mountain belonging to the chain which overlooks Malaca, and the regions around Carthage, and may be forded on foot; it is nearly parallel to the Ebro, but not quite so far distant from Carthage as from the Ebro. Between the Xucar and Carthage are three small towns of the people of Marseilles, not far from the river. Of these the best known is Hemeroscopium. On the promontory there is a temple to Diana of Ephesus, held in great veneration. Sertorius used it as an arsenal, convenient to the sea, both on account of its being fortified and fitted for piratical uses, and because it is visible from a great distance to vessels approaching. It is called Dianium, from Diana. Near to it are some fine iron-works, and two small islands, Planesia and Plumbaria, with a sea-water lake lying above, of 400 stadia in circumference. Next is the island of Hercules, near to Carthage, and called Scombraria, on account of the mackerel taken there, from which the finest garum is made. It is distant 24 stadia from Carthage. On the other side of the Xucar, going towards the outlet of the Ebro, is Saguntum, founded by the Zacynthians. The destruction of this city by Hannibal, contrary to his treaties with the Romans, kindled the second Punic war. Near to it are the cities of Cherronesus, Oleastrum, and Cartalia, and the colony of Dertossa, on the very passage of the Ebro. The Ebro takes its source amongst the Cantabrians; it flows through an extended plain towards the south, running parallel with the Pyrenees.
μεταξὺ δὲ τῶν τοῦ Ἴβηρος ἐκτροπῶν καὶ τῶν ἄκρων τῆς Πυρήνης, ἐφʼ ὧν ἵδρυται τὰ ἀναθήματα τοῦ Πομπηίου, πρώτη Ταρράκων ἐστὶ πόλις, ἀλίμενος μὲν ἐν κόλπῳ δὲ ἱδρυμένη καὶ κατεσκευασμένη τοῖς ἄλλοις ἱκανῶς καὶ οὐχ ἧττον εὐανδροῦσα νυνὶ τῆς Καρχηδόνος. πρὸς γὰρ τὰς τῶν ἡγεμόνων ἐπιδημίας εὐφυῶς ἔχει, καὶ ἔστιν ὥσπερ μητρόπολις οὐ τῆς ἐντὸς Ἴβηρος μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ τῆς ἐκτὸς τῆς πολλῆς. αἵ τε Γυμνήσιαι νῆσοι προκείμεναι πλησίον καὶ ἡ Ἔβυσος, ἀξιόλογοι νῆσοι, τὴν θέσιν εὔκαιρον τῆς πόλεως ὑπαγορεύουσιν. Ἐρατοσθένης δὲ καὶ ναύσταθμον ἔχειν φησὶν αὐτήν, οὐδὲ ἀγκυροβολίοις σφόδρα εὐτυχοῦσαν, ὡς ἀντιλέγων εἴρηκεν Ἀρτεμίδωρος.
The first city between the windings of the Ebro and the extremities of the Pyrenees, near to where the Trophies of Pompey are erected, is Tarraco; it has no harbour, but is situated on a bay, and possessed of many other advantages. At the present day it is as well peopled as Carthage; for it is admirably suited for the stay of the prefects, and is as it were the metropolis, not only of [the country lying] on this side the Ebro, but also of a great part of what lies beyond. The near vicinity of the Gymnesian Islands, and Ebusus, which are all of considerable importance, are sufficient to inform one of the felicitous position of the city. Eratosthenes tells us that it has a road-stead, but Artemidorus contradicts this, and affirms that it scarcely possesses an anchorage.
καὶ ἡ σύμπασα δʼ ἀπὸ στηλῶν σπανίζεται λιμέσι μέχρι δεῦρο, ἐντεῦθεν δʼ ἤδη τὰ ἑξῆς εὐλίμενα καὶ χώρα ἀγαθὴ τῶν τε Λεητανῶν καὶ Λαρτολαιητῶν καὶ ἄλλων τοιούτων μέχρι Ἐμπορίου. αὐτὸ δʼ ἐστὶ Μασσαλιωτῶν κτίσμα, ὅσον τετταράκοντα διέχον τῆς Πυρήνης σταδίους καὶ τῶν μεθορίων τῆς Ἰβηρίας πρὸς τὴν Κελτικήν· καὶ αὕτη δʼ ἐστὶ πᾶσα ἀγαθὴ καὶ εὐλίμενος. ἐνταῦθα δʼ ἔστι καὶ ἡ Ῥόδη πολίχνιον, Ἐμποριτῶν κτίσμα, τινὲς δὲ Ῥοδίων φασί· κἀνταῦθα δὲ καὶ ἐν τῷ Ἐμπορίῳ τὴν Ἄρτεμιν τὴν Ἐφεσίαν τιμῶσιν· ἐροῦμεν δὲ τὴν αἰτίαν ἐν τοῖς περὶ Μασσαλίαν. ᾤκουν δʼ οἱ Ἐμπορῖται πρότερον νησίον τι προκείμενον, ὃ νῦν καλεῖται παλαιὰ πόλις, νῦν δʼ οἰκοῦσιν ἐν τῇ ἠπείρῳ. δίπολις δʼ ἐστὶ τείχει διωρισμένη, πρότερον τῶν Ἰνδικητῶν τινας προσοίκους ἔχουσα, οἳ καίπερ ἰδίᾳ πολιτευόμενοι κοινὸν ὅμως περίβολον ἔχειν ἐβούλοντο πρὸς τοὺς Ἕλληνας ἀσφαλείας χάριν, τῷ χρόνῳ δʼ εἰς ταὐτὸ πολίτευμα συνῆλθον μικτόν τι ἔκ τε βαρβάρων καὶ Ἑλληνικῶν νομίμων, ὅπερ καὶ ἐπʼ ἄλλων πολλῶν συνέβη.
The whole coast from the Pillars up to this place wants harbours, but all the way from here to Emporium, the countries of the Leëtani, the Lartolaeetae, and others, are both furnished with excellent harbours and fertile. Emporium was founded by the people of Marseilles, and is about 4000 stadia distant from the Pyrenees, and the confines of Iberia and Keltica. This is a very fine region, and possesses good ports. Here also is Rhodope, a small town of the Emporitae, but some say it was founded by the Rhodians. Both here and in Emporium they reverence the Ephesian Diana. The cause of this we will explain when we come to speak of Massalia. in former times the Emporitae dwelt on a small island opposite, now called the old city, but at the present day they inhabit the mainland. The city is double, being divided by a wall, for in past times some of the Indiceti dwelt close by, who, although they had a separate polity to themselves, desired, for the sake of safety, to be shut in by a common enclosure with the Grecians; but at the same time that this enclosure should be two-fold, being divided through its middle by a wall. In time, however, they came to have but one government, a mixture of Barbarian and Grecian laws; a result which has taken place in many other [states].
̔ρεῖ δὲ καὶ ποταμὸς πλησίον, ἐκ τῆς Πυρήνης ἔχων τὰς ἀρχάς, ἡ δὲ ἐκβολὴ λιμήν ἐστι τοῖς Ἐμπορίταις. λινουργοὶ δὲ ἱκανῶς οἱ Ἐμπορῖται· χώραν δὲ τὴν μεσόγαιαν ἔχουσι τὴν μὲν ἀγαθὴν τὴν δὲ σπαρτοφόρον τῆς ἀχρηστοτέρας καὶ ἑλείας σχοίνου, καλοῦσι δὲ Ἰουγκάριον πεδίον· τινὲς δὲ καὶ τῶν τῆς Πυρήνης ἄκρων νέμονται μέχρι τῶν ἀναθημάτων τοῦ Πομπηίου, διʼ ὧν βαδίζουσιν εἰς τὴν ἔξω καλουμένην Ἰβηρίαν ἐκ τῆς Ἰταλίας καὶ μάλιστα τὴν Βαιτικήν. αὕτη δʼ ἡ ὁδὸς ποτὲ μὲν πλησιάζει τῇ θαλάττῃ ποτὲ δʼ ἀφέστηκε, καὶ μάλιστα ἐν τοῖς πρὸς ἑσπέραν μέρεσι. φέρεται δὲ ἐπὶ Ταρράκωνα, ἀπὸ τῶν ἀναθημάτων τοῦ Πομπηίου διὰ τοῦ Ἰουγκαρίου πεδίου καὶ Βετέρων καὶ τοῦ Μαραθῶνος καλουμένου πεδίου τῇ Λατίνῃ γλώττῃ, φύοντος πολὺ τὸ μάραθον· ἐκ δὲ τοῦ Ταρράκωνος ἐπὶ τὸν πόρον τοῦ Ἴβηρος κατὰ Δέρτωσσαν πόλιν· ἐντεῦθεν διὰ Σαγούντου καὶ Σαιτάβιος πόλεως ἐνεχθεῖσα κατὰ μικρὸν ἀφίσταται τῆς θαλάττης καὶ συνάπτει τῷ Σπαρταρίῳ ὡς ἂν Σχοινοῦντι καλουμένῳ πεδίῳ· τοῦτο δʼ ἐστὶ μέγα καὶ ἄνυδρον, τὴν σχοινοπλοκικὴν φύον σπάρτον ἐξαγωγὴν ἔχουσαν εἰς πάντα τόπον καὶ μάλιστα εἰς τὴν Ἰταλίαν. πρότερον μὲν οὖν διὰ μέσου τοῦ πεδίου καὶ Ἐγελάστας συνέβαινεν εἶναι τὴν ὁδὸν χαλεπὴν καὶ πολλήν, νυνὶ δὲ ἐπὶ τὰ πρὸς θαλάττῃ μέρη πεποιήκασιν αὐτήν, ἐπιψαύουσαν μόνον τοῦ Σχοινοῦντος, εἰς ταὐτὸ δὲ τείνουσαν τῇ προτέρᾳ, τὰ περὶ Καστλῶνα καὶ Ὀβούλκωνα, διʼ ὧν εἴς τε Κορδύβην καὶ εἰς Γάδειρα ἡ ὁδός, τὰ μέγιστα τῶν ἐμπορίων. διέχει δὲ τῆς Κορδύβης ἡ Ὀβούλκων περὶ τριακοσίους σταδίους. φασὶ δʼ οἱ συγγραφεῖς ἐλθεῖν Καίσαρα ἐκ Ῥώμης ἑπτὰ καὶ εἴκοσιν ἡμέραις εἰς τὴν Ὀβούλκωνα καὶ τὸ στρατόπεδον τὸ ἐνταῦθα, ἡνίκα ἔμελλε συνάπτειν τὸν περὶ τὴν Μοῦνδαν πόλεμον.
A river flows near to it, which has its sources in the Pyrenees; its outlet forms a port for the Emporitae, who are skilful workers in flax. Of the interior of their country some parts are fertile, others covered with spartum, a rush which flourishes in marshes, and is entirely useless: they call this the June Plain. There are some who inhabit the Pyrenean mountains as far as the Trophies of Pompey, on the route which leads from Italy into Ulterior Iberia, and particularly into Baetica. This road runs sometimes close to the sea, sometimes at a distance therefrom, particularly in the western parts. From the Trophies of Pompey it leads to Tarraco, through the June Plain, the Betteres, and the plain called in the Latin tongue [the plain] of Marathon, on account of the quantity of fennel growing there. From Tarraco [the road runs] towards the passage of the Ebro at the city of Dertossa; from thence having traversed the city of Saguntum, and Setabis, it follows a course more and more distant from the sea, till it approaches the Plain of Spartarium, which signifies the Plain of Rushes. This is a vast arid plain, producing the species of rush from which cords are made, and which are exported to all parts, but particularly to Italy. Formerly the road passed on through the midst of the plain, and [the city of] Egelastae, which was both difficult and long, but they have now constructed a new road close to the sea, which merely touches upon the Plain of Rushes, and leads to the same places as the former, [viz.] Castlon, and Obulco, through which runs the road to Corduba and Gades, the two greatest emporia [of Iberia]. Obulco is distant about 300 stadia from Corduba. Historians report that Caesar came from Rome to Obulco, and to his army there, within the space of twenty-seven days, when about to fight the battle of Munda.
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