Greek Texts & Translations

stadia, and from the (Zeugma ^note bridge in Commagene, where Mesopotamia begins, to Thapsacus, is not less than 2000 stadia. 23

The country lying at the foot of the mountains is very fertile. The people, called by the Macedonians Mygdones, occupy the parts towards the Euphrates, and both Zeugmata, that is, the Zeugma in Commagene, and the ancient Zeugma at Thapsacus. In their territory is Nisibis, ^note which they called also Antioch in Mygdonia, situated below Mount Masius, ^note and Tigranocerta, ^note and the places about Carrhae, Nicephorium, ^note Chordiraza, ^note and Sinnaca, where Crassus was taken prisoner by stratagem, and put to death by Surena, the Parthian general. ^note 24

Near the Tigris are the places belonging to the Gordyaei, ^note whom the ancients called Carduchi; their cities are Sareisa, Satalca, and Pinaca, a very strong fortress with three citadels, each enclosed by its own wall, so that it is as it were a triple city. It was, however, subject to the king of Armenia; the Romans also took it by storm, although the Gordyaei had the reputation of excelling in the art of building, and to be skilful in the construction of siege engines. It was for this reason Tigranes took them into his service. The rest of Mesopotamia (Gordyaea?) was subject to the Romans. Pompey assigned to Tigranes the largest and best portion of the country; for it has fine pastures, is rich in plants, and produces ever-greens and an aromatic, the amomum. It breeds lions also. It furnishes naphtha, and the stone called Gangitis, ^note which drives away reptiles. 25

Gordys, the son of Triptolemus, is related to have colonized Gordyene. The Eretrians ^note afterwards, who were carried away by force by the Persians, settled here. We shall soon speak of Triptolemus in our description of Syria. 26

The parts of Mesopotamia inclining to the south, and