ἐφεξῆς δʼ ἐστὶν ἡ Λοκρίς, ὥστε περὶ ταύτης λεκτέον. διῄρηται δὲ δίχα· τὸ μὲν γὰρ αὐτῆς ἐστιν οἱ πρὸς Εὔβοιαν Λοκροί, γομεν σχίζεσθαί ποτε ἐφʼ ἑκάτερα τοῦ Δαφνοῦντος· ἐπεκαλοῦντο δʼ οἱ μὲν Ὀπούντιοι ἀπὸ τῆς μητροπόλεως, οἱ δʼ Ἐπικνημίδιοι ἀπὸ ὄρους τινὸς Κνημῖδος· τὸ δὲ λοιπὸν οἱ ἑσπέριοί εἰσι Λοκροί, οἱ δʼ αὐτοὶ καὶ Ὀζόλαι καλοῦνται. χωρίζει δʼ αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ τῶν Ὀπουντίων καὶ τῶν Ἐπικνημιδίων ὅ τε Παρνασσὸς μεταξὺ ἱδρυμένος καὶ ἡ τῶν Δωριέων τετράπολις. ἀρκτέον δʼ ἀπὸ τῶν Ὀπουντίων.
LOCRIS, which we are now to describe, follows next in order.
It is divided into two parts, one of which is occupied by the Locri opposite Euboea, and, as we have already said, formerly consisted of two bodies, situated one on each side of Daphnus. The Locri Opuntii had their surname from Opus, the capital; the Epicnemidii from a mountain called Cnemis. The rest are the Locri Hesperii, who are called also Locri Ozolae. These are separated from the Locri Opuntii and Epicnemidii by Parnassus, which lies between them, and by the Tetrapolis of the Dorians. We shall first speak of the Opuntii.
ἐφεξῆς τοίνυν ταῖς Ἁλαῖς, εἰς ἃς κατέληγεν ἡ Βοιωτιακὴ παραλία ἡ πρὸς Εὐβοίᾳ, τὸν Ὀπούντιον κόλπον κεῖσθαι συμβαίνει. ὁ δʼ Ὀποῦς ἐστι μητρόπολις, καθάπερ καὶ τὸ ἐπίγραμμα δηλοῖ τὸ ἐπὶ τῇ πρώτῃ τῶν πέντε στηλῶν τῶν περὶ Θερμοπύλας ἐπιγεγραμμένον πρὸς τῷ πολυανδρίῳ τούσδε ποθεῖ φθιμένους ὑπὲρ Ἑλλάδος ἀντία Μήδων, μητρόπολις Λοκρῶν εὐθυνόμων Ὀπόεις. ἀπέχει δὲ τῆς θαλάττης περὶ πεντεκαίδεκα σταδίους, τοῦ δʼ ἐπινείου καὶ ἑξήκοντα. Κῦνος δʼ ἐστὶ τὸ ἐπίνειον, ἄκρα τερματίζουσα τὸν Ὀπούντιον κόλπον σταδίων ὄντα περὶ τετταράκοντα· μεταξὺ δὲ Ὀποῦντος καὶ Κύνου πεδίον εὔδαιμον· κεῖται δὲ κατὰ Αἰδηψὸν τῆς Εὐβοίας, ὅπου τὰ θερμὰ τὰ Ἡρακλέους, πορθμῷ διειργόμενος σταδίων ἑξήκοντα καὶ ἑκατόν. ἐν δὲ τῷ Κύνῳ Δευκαλίωνά φασιν οἰκῆσαι, καὶ τῆς Πύρρας αὐτόθι δείκνυται σῆμα, τοῦ δὲ Δευκαλίωνος Ἀθήνησι. διέχει δὲ τῆς Κνημῖδος ὁ Κῦνος ὅσον πεντήκοντα σταδίους. καὶ ἡ Ἀταλάντη δὲ νῆσος κατὰ Ὀποῦντα ἵδρυται, ὁμώνυμος τῇ πρὸ τῆς Ἀττικῆς. λέγεσθαι δʼ Ὀπουντίους τινὰς καὶ ἐν τῇ Ἠλείᾳ φασίν, ὧν οὐκ ἄξιον μεμνῆσθαι, πλὴν ὅτι συγγένειαν αὐτῶν ἐξανανεοῦνται τοῖς Ὀπουντίοις ὑπάρχουσαν. ὅτι δʼ ἐξ Ὀποῦντος ἦν ὁ Πάτροκλος λέγει Ὅμηρος, καὶ διότι φόνον ἀκούσιον πράξας ἔφυγεν εἰς Πηλέα, ὁ δὲ πατὴρ Μενοίτιος ἔμεινεν ἐν τῇ πατρίδι· ἐκεῖσε γάρ φησιν ὁ Ἀχιλλεὺς ὑποσχέσθαι τῷ Μενοιτίῳ κατάξειν τὸν Πάτροκλον ἐκ τῆς στρατείας ἐπανελθόντα. οὐ μὴν ἐβασίλευέ γε ἐκεῖνος τῶν Ὀπουντίων, ἀλλʼ Αἴας ὁ Λοκρός, πατρίδος ὤν, ὥς φασι, Ναρύκου. Αἰάνην δʼ ὀνομάζουσι τὸν ἀναιρεθέντα ὑπὸ τοῦ Πατρόκλου, ἀφʼ οὗ καὶ τέμενος Αἰάνειον δείκνυται καὶ κρήνη τις Αἰανίς.
Immediately after Halae, where the Boeotian coast opposite Euboea terminates, is the Opuntian bay. Opus is the capital, as the inscription intimates, which is engraved on the first of the five pillars at Thermopylae, near the Polyandrium: Opoeis, the capital of the Locri, hides in its bosom those who died in defence of Greece against the Medes. It is distant from the sea about 15 stadia, and 60 from the naval arsenal. The arsenal is Cynus, a promontory, which forms the boundary of the Opuntian bay. The latter is 40 stadia in extent. Between Opus and Cynus is a fertile plain, opposite to Aedepsus in Euboea, where are the warm baths of Hercules, and is separated by a strait of 160 stadia. Deucalion is said to have lived at Cynus. There also is shown the tomb of Pyrrha; but that of Deucalion is at Athens. Cynus is distant from Mount Cnemis about 50 stadia. The island Atalanta is opposite to Opus, having the same name as the island in front of Attica. It is said, that some Opuntii are to be found in the Eleian territory, whom it is not worth while to notice, except that they pretend to trace some affinity subsisting between themselves and the Locri Opuntii. Homer says that Patroclus was from Opus, and that having committed murder undesignedly, he fled to Peleus, but that the father Menoetius remained in his native country; for it is to Opus that Achilles promised Menoetius that he would bring back Patroclus on his return from the Trojan expedition. Not that Menoetius was king of the Opuntii, but Ajax the Locrian, who, according to report, was born at Narycus. The name of the person killed by Patroclus was Aeanes; a grove, called after him Aeaneium, and a fountain, Aeanis, are shown.
ἑξῆς μετὰ τὸν Κῦνον Ἀλόπη ἐστὶ καὶ ὁ Δαφνοῦς, ὃν ἔφαμεν κατεσπάσθαι· λιμὴν δʼ ἐστὶν αὐτόθι διέχων Κύνου περὶ ἐνενήκοντα σταδίους, Ἐλατείας δὲ πεζεύοντι εἰς τὴν μεσόγαιαν ἑκατὸν εἴκοσιν. ἤδη δʼ ἐστὶ ταῦτα τοῦ Μαλιακοῦ κόλπου· μετὰ γὰρ τὸν Ὀπούντιον συνεχής ἐστιν οὗτος.
Next after Cynus is Alopē and Daphnus, which last, we have said, is in ruins. At Alopē is a harbour, distant from Cynus about 90 stadia, and 120 from Elateia, in the interior of the country. But these belong to the Maliac, which is continuous with the Opuntian Gulf.
μετὰ δὲ Δαφνοῦντα Κνημῖδες χωρίον ἐρυμνὸν ὅσον σταδίους εἴκοσι πλεύσαντι· καθʼ ὃ τὸ Κήναιον ἐκ τῆς Εὐβοίας ἀντίκειται ἄκρα βλέπουσα πρὸς ἑσπέραν καὶ τὸν Μαλιέα κόλπον, πορθμῷ διειργομένη σχεδὸν εἰκοσασταδίῳ. ταῦτα δʼ ἤδη τῶν Ἐπικνημιδίων ἐστὶ Λοκρῶν. ἐνταῦθα καὶ αἱ Λιχάδες καλούμεναι τρεῖς νῆσοι πρόκεινται ἀπὸ Λίχα τοὔνομα ἔχουσαι. καὶ ἄλλαι δʼ εἰσὶν ἐν τῷ λεχθέντι παράπλῳ, ἃς ἑκόντες παραλείπομεν. μετὰ δὲ εἴκοσι σταδίους ἀπὸ Κνημίδων λιμήν, ὑπὲρ οὗ κεῖται τὸ Θρόνιον ἐν σταδίοις τοῖς ἴσοις κατὰ τὴν μεσόγαιαν. εἶθʼ ὁ Βοάγριος ποταμὸς ἐκδίδωσιν ὁ παραρρέων τὸ Θρόνιον, Μάνην δʼ ἐπονομάζουσιν αὐτόν· ἔστι δὲ χειμάρρους ὥστʼ ἀβρόχοις ἐμβαίνειν τοῖς ποσίν, ἄλλοτε δὲ καὶ δίπλεθρον ἴσχειν πλάτος. μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα Σκάρφεια σταδίοις ὑπερκειμένη τῆς θαλάττης δέκα, διέχουσα δὲ τοῦ Θρονίου τριάκοντα, ἐλάττοσι δὲ μικρῷ […] ἔπειτα Νίκαιά ἐστι καὶ αἱ Θερμοπύλαι.
Next to Daphnus, at the distance of about 20 stadia by sea, is Cnemides, a strong place, opposite to which in Euboea is Cenaeum, a promontory, looking towards the west and the Maliac Gulf, and separated by a strait of nearly 20 stadia.
At Cnemides we are in the territory of the Locri Epicnemidii. Here are the Lichades, as they are called, three islands, having their name from Lichas; they lie in front of Cnemides. Other islands also are met with in sailing along this coast, which we purposely pass over.
At the distance of 20 stadia from Cnemides is a harbour, above which at the same distance, in the interior, is situated Thronium. Then the Boagrius, which flows beside Thronium, empties itself into the sea. It has another name also, that of Manes. It is a winter torrent; whence its bed may be crossed at times dry-shod, and at another it is two plethra in width.
Then after these is Scarpheia, at a distance of 10 stadia from the sea, and of 30 from Thronium, but at a little [less from its harbour.] Next are Nicaea and Thermopylae.
τῶν δὲ λοιπῶν πόλεων τῶν μὲν ἄλλων οὐκ ἄξιον μεμνῆσθαι· ὧν δʼ Ὅμηρος μέμνηται Καλλίαρος μὲν οὐκέτι οἰκεῖται, τι πεδίον· καλοῦσι δʼ οὕτως ἀπὸ τοῦ οὐκ ἔστι, δρυμώδης τις τόπος· οὐδʼ ραν ἔχουσι Σκαρφιεῖς· ταύτην μὲν οὖν τὴν Βῆσσαν ἐν τοῖς δυσὶ γραπτέον σίγμα (ἀπὸ γὰρ τοῦ δρυμώδους ὠνόμασται ὁμωνύμως, ὥσπερ καὶ Νάπη ἐν τῷ Μηθύμνης πεδίῳ, ἣν Ἑλλάνικος ἀγνοῶν […] Λάπην ὀνομάζει), τὸν δʼ ἐν τῇ Ἀττικῇ δῆμον, ἀφʼ οὗ Βησαιεῖς οἱ δημόται λέγονται, ἐν τῷ ἑνὶ σίγμα.
It is not worth while to speak of any of the other cities. Of those mentioned by Homer, Calliarus is no longer inhabited, it is now a well-cultivated plain. Bessa, a sort of plain, does not now exist. It has its name from an accidental quality, for it abounds with woods. χώραν ἔχουσι σκαρφιεῖς, etc. It ought to be written with a double s, for it has its name from Bessa, a wooded valley, like Napē, in the plain of Methymna, which Hellanicus, through ignorance of the local circumstances, improperly calls Lapē; but the demus in Attica, from which the burghers are called Besaeenses, is written with a single s.
ἡ δὲ Τάρφη κεῖται ἐφʼ ὕψους, διέχουσα σταδίους εἴκοσι, χώραν δʼ εὔκαρπόν τε καὶ εὔδενδρον ἔχει· ἤδη γὰρ καὶ αὕτη ἀπὸ τοῦ δάσους ὠνόμασται. καλεῖται δὲ νῦν Φαρύγαι· ἵδρυται δʼ αὐτόθι Ἥρας Φαρυγαίας ἱερὸν ἀπὸ τῆς ἐν Φαρύγαις τῆς Ἀργείας· καὶ δὴ καὶ ἄποικοί φασιν εἶναι Ἀργείων.
Tarphe is situated upon a height, at the distance of 20 stadia from [Thronium]. It has a territory, productive and well wooded; for this place also has its name from its being thickly wooded. It is now called Pharygae. A temple of Juno Pharygaea is there, called so from the Argive Juno at Pharygae; and the inhabitants assert that they are of Argive origin.
τῶν γε μὴν ἑσπερίων Λοκρῶν Ὅμηρος οὐ μέμνηται, ἢ οὐ ῥητῶς γε, ἀλλὰ μόνον τῷ δοκεῖν ἀντιδιαστέλλεσθαι τούτοις ἐκείνους περὶ ὧν εἰρήκαμεν Λοκρῶν, οἳ ναίουσι πέρην ἱερῆς Εὐβοίης, ὡς καὶ ἑτέρων ὄντων. ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὑπὸ τῶν ἄλλων τεθρύληνται πολλῶν· πόλεις δʼ ἔσχον Ἄμφισσάν τε καὶ Ναύπακτον, ὧν ἡ Ναύπακτος συμμένει τοῦ Ἀντιρρίου πλησίον, ὠνόμασται δʼ ἀπὸ τῆς ναυπηγίας τῆς ἐκεῖ γενομένης, εἴτε τῶν Ἡρακλειδῶν ἐκεῖ ναυπηγησαμένων τὸν στόλον, εἴθʼ (ὥς φησιν Ἔφορος) Λοκρῶν ἔτι πρότερον παρασκευασάντων· ἔστι δὲ νῦν Αἰτωλῶν Φιλίππου προσκρίναντος.
Homer does not mention, at least not in express words the Locri Hesperii, but only seems to distinguish them from the people of whom we have spoken; Locri, who dwell beyond the sacred Euboea; / as if there were other Locri. They occupied the cities Amphissa and Naupactus. The latter still subsists near Antirrhium. It has its name from the ships that were built there, either because the Heraclidae constructed their fleet at this place, or because the Locri, as Ephorus states, had built vessels there long before that time. At present it belongs to the Aetolians, by a decree of Philip.
αὐτοῦ δὲ καὶ ἡ Χαλκίς, ἧς μέμνηται καὶ ὁ ποιητὴς ἐν τῷ Αἰτωλικῷ καταλόγῳ, ὑποκάτω Καλυδῶνος· αὐτοῦ δὲ καὶ ὁ Ταφιασσὸς λόφος, ἐν ᾧ τὸ τοῦ Νέσσου μνῆμα καὶ τῶν ἄλλων Κενταύρων, ὧν ἀπὸ τῆς σηπεδόνος φασὶ τὸ ὑπὸ τῇ ῥίζῃ τοῦ λόφου προχεόμενον δυσῶδες καὶ θρόμβους ἔχον ὕδωρ ῥεῖν· διὰ δὲ τοῦτο καὶ Ὀζόλας καλεῖσθαι τὸ ἔθνος. καὶ ἡ Μολύκρεια δʼ ἐστὶ κατὰ τὸ Ἀντίρριον, Αἰτωλικὸν πολίχνιον. ἡ δʼ Ἄμφισσα ἐπὶ τοῖς ἄκροις ἵδρυται τοῦ Κρισαίου πεδίου, κατέσπασαν δʼ αὐτὴν οἱ Ἀμφικτύονες, καθάπερ εἰρήκαμεν· α δὲ καὶ Εὐπάλιον Λοκρῶν εἰσίν. ὁ δὲ πᾶς παράπλους ὁ Λοκρικὸς μικρὸν ὑπερβάλλει τῶν διακοσίων σταδίων.
There also is Chalcis, mentioned by the poet in the Aetolian Catalogue. It is below Calydon. There also is the hill Taphiassus, on which is the monument of Nessus, and of the other Centaurs. From the putrefaction of the bodies of these people there flows, it is said, from beneath the foot of that hill a stream of water, which exhales a foetid odour, and contains clots of blood. Hence also the nation had the name of Ozolae. Opposite Antirrhium is Molycreia, a small Aetolian city.
Amphissa is situated at the extremity of the Crissaean plain. It was razed, as we have said before, by the Amphictyons. Oeanthia and Eupalium belong to the Locri. The whole voyage along the coast of the Locri is a little more than 200 stadia.
Ἀλόπην δὲ καὶ ἐνταῦθα καὶ ἐν τοῖς Ἐπικνημιδίοις ὀνομάζουσι καὶ ἐν τῇ Φθιώτιδι· οὗτοι μὲν οὖν ἄποικοι τῶν Ἐπικνημιδίων εἰσίν, οἱ δʼ Ἐπιζεφύριοι τούτων.
There is an Alopē both here among the Locri Ozole, as also among the Epicnemidii, and in the Phthiotis. These are a colony of the Epicnemidii, and the Epizephyrii a colony of the Ozolae.
Cite This Text