Greek Texts & Translations

on which is a city of the same name; then Neapolis; then Cape Taphitis, ^note on which is a hillock named Aspis, from its resemblance (to a shield), at which place Agathocles, tyrant of Sicily, collected inhabitants when he made his expedition against Carthage. These cities were destroyed by the Romans, together with Carthage. At the distance of 400 stadia from Taphitis is an island Cossuros, with a city of the same name, lying opposite to the river Selinus in Sicily. Its circuit is 150 stadia, and its distance from Sicily about 600 stadia. Melite, ^note an island, is 500 stadia distant from Cossuros. Then follows the city Adrumes, ^note with a naval arsenal; then the Taracheiae, numerous small islands; then the city Thapsus. ^note and near it Lopadussa, ^note an island situated far from the coast; then the promontory of Ammon Balithon, near which is a look-out for ^note the approach of thunny; then the city Thena, lying at the entrance of the Little Syrtis. ^note There are many small cities in the intervening parts, which are not worthy of notice. At the entrance of the Syrtis, a long island stretches parallel to the coast, called Cercinna; it is of considerable size, with a city of the same name; there is also another smaller island Cercinnitis. 17

Close, in the neighbourhood (of these islands), is the Little Syrtis, which is also called the Syrtis Lotophagitis (or the lotus-eating Syrtis). The circuit of this gulf is 1600, and the breadth of the entrance 600 stadia; at each of the promontories which form the entrance and close to the mainland is an island, one of which, just mentioned, is Cercinna, and the other Meninx; ^note they are nearly equal in size. Meninx is supposed to be the land of the lotus-eaters ^note mentioned by Homer. Certain tokens (of this) are shown, such as an altar of Ulysses and the fruit itself. For the tree called the lotus-tree is found in abundance in the island, and the fruit is very sweet to the taste. There are many small cities in it, one of which bears the same name as the island. On the coast of the Syrtis itself are also some small cities. In the recess (of