Greek Texts & Translations

has ornamented it with numerous edifices. Such then are the maritime cities of Campania, and the islands lying opposite to it. 10

In the interior is the metropolis, Capua, being, as the etymon of the name signifies, the head; for in regard to it all the other cities appear small, excepting Teanum-Sidicinum, ^note which is a very considerable place. This city lies on the Via Appia, as also the others which lead from hence to Brundusium, [viz.] Callateria, ^note Caudium, ^note and Beneventum. ^note On the side of Rome is Casilinum, ^note situated on the river Vulturnus. ^note Here 540 men of Praeneste sustained against Hannibal in the height of his power so desperate a siege, that by reason of the famine, a rat ^note was sold for two hundred drachmae, the seller dying [of hunger], but the purchaser being saved. Hannibal observing some of them sowing turnip-seed near to the wall, admired, as well he might, the patient courage of these men, who hoped to hold out in the mean while, until these turnips should be ready for food. However, we are assured that they all survived, with the exception of a few who perished either by famine or in war. 11

In addition to those just spoken of, there are these Campanian cities which we have already mentioned, viz. Cales, ^note and Teanum-Sidicinum, the limits of which are respectively marked out by the two temples of Fortune situated on either side of the Via Latina. Besides these are Suessula, ^note Atella, ^note Nola, ^note Nuceria, ^note Acerrae, ^note Abella, ^note with