Greek Texts & Translations

Tarentum to Brentesium is like a peninsula. The road by land from Brentesium to Tarentum is but a day's journey for a light person on foot, it constitutes the isthmus of the said peninsula, which people in general call Messapia, lapygia, Calabria, or Salentinum, without being at all particular; but some, as we have said before, do make a distinction. Thus have we described the towns on the sea-coast. 6

In the inland are Rudiae and Lupiae, and at a short distance from the sea Aletia; ^note about the middle of the isthmus is Uria, ^note in which is still shown the palace of a certain famous nobleman. ^note As Hyria ^note is described by Herodotus as situated in Iapygia, and as founded by the Cretans who strayed from the fleet of Minos while sailing to Sicily; ^note we must suppose that he meant either this place [Uria] or Veretum. It is said that a colony of Cretans settled in Brentesium, ^note but the tradition varies; some say they were those who came with Theseus from Cnossus; ^note others, that they were some out of Sicily who had come with Iapyx; they agree however in saying that they did not abide there, but went thence to Bottiaea. At a later period, when the state was under the government of a monarch, it lost a large portion of its territories, which was taken by the Lacedaemonians who came over under Phalanthus; notwithstanding this the Brundusians received him when he was expelled from Tarentum, and honoured him with a splendid tomb at his death. They possess a district of superior fertility to that of the Tarentines; for its soil is light, still it is fruitful, and its honey and wools are amongst the most esteemed; further, the harbour of Brentesium is superior to that of Tarentum, for many havens are protected by the single entrance, ^note and rendered perfectly smooth, many