Latin Texts & Translations

At a distance of ninety-four miles from Samos is the free island of Chios ^[Note], its equal in fame, with a town of the same name. Ephorus says, that the ancient name of this island was Æthalia: Metrodorus and Cleobulus tell us, that it had the name of Chia from the nymph Chione; others again say, that it was so called from the word signifying snow ^[Note]; it was also called Macris and Pityusa ^[Note]. It has a mountain called Pelennæus; and the Chian Marble is well known. It is 125 ^[Note] miles in circumference, according to the ancient writers; Isidorus however makes it nine more. It is situate between Samos and Lesbos, and, for the most part, lies opposite to Erythræ ^[Note].

The adjacent islands are Thallusa ^[Note], by some writers called Daphnusa ^[Note], Œnussa, Elaphitis, Euryanassa, and Arginusa, with a town of that name. All these islands are in the vicinity of Ephesus, as also those called the Islands of Pisistratus, Anthinæ, Myonnesos, Diarreusa,—in both of these last there were cities, now no longer in existence,—Poroselene ^[Note],

with a city of that name, Cerciæ, Halone ^[Note], Commone, Illetia, Lepria and Rhesperia, Procusæ, Bolbulæ, Phanæ, Priapos, Syce, Melane, Ænare, Sidusa, Pele, Drymusa ^[Note], Anhydros, Scopelos ^[Note], Sycussa, Marathussa, Psile, Perirreusa, and many others of no note. In the main sea lies the celebrated island of Teos, with a city ^[Note] of that name, seventy-one miles and a half distant from Chios, and the same from the Erythræ.

In the vicinity of Smyrna are the Peristerides ^[Note], Carteria, Alopece, Elæussa, Bachina, Pystira, Crommyonnesos, and Megale ^[Note]. Facing Troas there are the Ascaniæ, and the three islands called Plateæ. We find also the Lamiæ, the two islands called Plitaniæ, Plate, Scopelos, Getone, Arthedon, Cœlæ, Lagussæ, and Didymæ.