Strabo, Geography (English) (XML Header) [genre: prose] [word count] [lemma count] [Str.]. | ||
<<Str. 5.1.1 | Str. 5.1.5 (Greek English(2)) | >>Str. 5.1.7 |
[Italy], however, may be described in the following manner. The roots of the Alps are curved, and in the form of a gulf, the head turned towards Italy; the middle of the gulf in the country of the Salassi, and its extremities turned, the one towards Ocra and the head of the Adriatic, the other towards the coast of Liguria as far as Genoa, a mercantile city of the Ligurians, where the Apennines fall in with the Alps. Immediately under [the Alps] there is a considerable plain, of about an equal extent of 2100 stadia both in breadth and length; its southern side is closed by the coast of the Heneti note and the Apennines, which extend to Ariminum and
Ancona; for these mountains, commencing at Liguria, enter
Tyrrhenia, leaving but a narrow sea-coast; they afterwards
retire by degrees into the interior, and having reached the
territory of Pisa, turn towards the east in the direction of
the Adriatic as far as the country about Ariminum and
Ancona, where they approach the sea-coast of the Heneti at
right angles. Cisalpine Keltica is enclosed within these
limits, and the length of the coast joined to that of the mountains is 6300 stadia; its breadth rather less than 2000. The
remainder of Italy is long and narrow, and terminates in two
promontories, one note extending to the Strait of Sicily, the other note to Iapygia. It is embraced on one side by the Adriatic, note on
the other by the Tyrrhenian Sea. note The form and size of the
Adriatic resembles that portion of Italy bounded by the
Apennines and the two seas, and extending as far as Iapygia
and the isthmus which separates the Gulf of Taranto from
that of Posidonium. note The greatest breadth of both is about
5.1.4
This is a superb plain variegated with fruitful hills.
The Po divides it almost through its midst, one side being
denominated Cispadana, and the other Transpadana. Cispadana comprehends that part next the Apennines and Liguria,
and Transpadana the remainder. The former [division] is
inhabited by Ligurian and Keltic nations, the former inhabiting the mountains and the latter the plains; and the latter
[division] by Kelts and Heneti. These Kelts are of the
same race as the Transalpine Kelts. Concerning the Heneti
there are two traditions, some saying that they are a colony
of those Kelts of the same name who dwell by the ocean. note
Others say that they are descended from the Veneti of Paphlagonia, who took refuge here with Antenor after the Trojan
war; and they give as a proof of this the attention these people bestow on rearing horses; which, though now entirely
abandoned, was formerly in great esteem among them, resulting from the ancient rage for breeding mules, which Homer
thus mentions:
From the Eneti for forest mules renowned. note
Iliad ii. 857.
The whole of this country note is full of rivers and marshes, especially the district of the Heneti, which likewise experiences the tides of the sea. This is almost the only part of our sea note which is influenced in the same manner as the ocean, and, like it, has ebb and flood tides. In consequence most of the plain is covered with lagoons. note The inhabitants have dug canals and dikes, after the manner of Lower Egypt, so that part of the country is drained and cultivated, and the rest is navigable. Some of their cities stand in the midst of water like islands, others are only partially surrounded. Such as lie above the marshes in the interior are situated on rivers navigable for a surprising distance, the Po in particular,
which is both a large river, and also continually swelled by the rains and snows. As it expands into numerous outlets, its mouth is not easily perceptible and is difficult to enter. But experience surmounts even the greatest difficulties.
Strabo, Geography (English) (XML Header) [genre: prose] [word count] [lemma count] [Str.]. | ||
<<Str. 5.1.1 | Str. 5.1.5 (Greek English(2)) | >>Str. 5.1.7 |