Greek Texts & Translations

road is paved from Rome to Brundusium, ^note and has great traffic. Of the maritime cities, these alone are situated on it; Tarracina, beyond it Formiae, ^note Minturnae, ^note Sinuessa, ^note and towards its extremity Tarentum and Brundusium. Near to Tarracina, advancing in the direction of Rome, a canal runs by the side of the Via Appia, which is supplied at intervals by water from the marshes and rivers. Travellers generally sail up it by night, embarking in the evening, and landing in the morning to travel the rest of their journey by the way; however, during the day the passage boat is towed by mules. ^note Beyond is Formiae, founded by the Lacedaemonians, and formerly called Hormiae, on account of its excellent port. Between these [two cities], ^note is a gulf which they have named Caiata, ^note in fact all gulfs are called by the Lacedaemonians Caietae: some, however, say that the gulf received this appellation from [Caieta], the nurse of Aeneas. From Tarracina to the promontory of Caiata is a length of 100 stadia. Here ^note are opened vast caverns, which contain large and sumptuous mansions. From hence to Formiae is a distance of 40 stadia. Between this city and Sinuessa, at a distance of about 80 stadia from each, is Minturnae. The river Liris, ^note formerly named the Clanis, flows through it. It descends from the Apennines, passes through the country of the Vescini, ^note and by the village of Fregellae, (formerly a famous city,) and so into a sacred grove situated below the city, and held in great veneration by the people of Minturnae. There are two islands, named Pandataria and Pontia, ^note lying in the high sea, and clearly discernible from the caverns. Although small, they are well inhabited, are not at any great distance from each other, and at 250 stadia from the mainland. Caecubum is situated on the gulf of Caiata, and next to it Fundi, a city on the Via Appia. All these places produce excellent wines; but those of Caecubum, Fundi, and Setia ^note are most in repute, and so are the Falernian, Alban, ^note and Statanian wines. Sinuessa is situated in a gulf from which it takes its name, sinus signify-