Greek Texts & Translations

commodious for their meetings, should be properly fortified for their reception.—And indeed they say that the misfortune ^note of that prince was chiefly due to a want of good feeling on their part. They were deprived of their liberty during the wars ^note of Hannibal, but have since received a Roman colony, ^note and now live in peace and are in a more prosperous state than ever. They also engaged in war with the Messapii concerning Heraclea, when they counted the kings of the Daunii and of the Peucetii as allies. ^note 5

The remainder of the country of the Iapygii is very fair, notwithstanding unfavourable appearances; for although, for the most part, it appears rugged, yet when it is broken up the soil is found to be deep; and although it lacks water, yet it appears well-suited for pasture, and is furnished with trees. At one time it was thickly inhabited throughout its whole extent, and possessed thirteen cities, but now it is so depopulated that, with the exception of Tarentum and Brentesium, ^note they only deserve the name of hamlets. They say that the Salentini are a colony of Cretans. Here is the temple of Minerva, ^note which formerly was rich, and the rock called Acra Iapygia, ^note which juts out far into the sea towards the rising of the sun in winter, ^note and turning, as it were, towards