Greek Texts & Translations

for want of water; this he found out before it was too late, and returned. At a subsequent period, when Lysimachus was waging war against the Getae and their king Dromichaetes, he not only incurred the risk, ^note but he fell into the hands of the enemy; but his life was spared by the courtesy of the barbarian, as I have before related. 15

Near the mouths of the Danube is the large island called Peuce. ^note This the Bastarnae possessed, and were hence called Peucini. There are also other islands much smaller, some above this, and others nearer the sea. The Danube has seven mouths, the largest is called the Sacred Mouth, ^note the passage by which to Peuce is 120 stadia. ^note At the lower part of this island Darius made his bridge. It might likewise have been constructed at the upper part. This is the first mouth on the left-hand side as you sail into the Black Sea; the rest are passed while sailing along towards the Dniester; the seventh mouth is distant from this first mouth about 300 stadia. These mouths form several islands. The first three mouths next after the Sacred Mouth are but small, the remainder are much less than it, but greater than any of the three. Ephorus states that the Danube has five mouths. From hence to the Dniester, ^note which is a navigable river, there are 900 stadia. ^note In the district intervening there are two great lakes; one is open to the sea, and is used as a harbour, ^note the other has no outlet. 16

At the mouth of the Dniester there is a tower called the Tower of Neoptolemus, and a village called Hermōnax. ^note As you sail up the river 140 stadia, there are cities on both sides; the one is Niconia, ^note and that on the left Ophiussa. ^note Those who dwell on the spot say that the city is but 120