Greek Texts & Translations

Hades. Thence to the promontory Phycus in Cyrenaica, is a passage across towards the south of 3000 stadia; and to Pachynus, towards the west, the promontory of Sicily, 4600, or, according to some writers, 4000 stadia; to Maleae, towards the east, including the measurement of the bays, 670 stadia; to Onugnathus, ^note a low peninsula a little within Maleae, 520 stadia. (In front of Onugnathus, at the distance of 40 stadia, lies Cythera, ^note an island with a good harbour, and a city of the same name, which was the private property of Eurycles, the commander of the Lacedaemonians in our time. It is surrounded by several small islands, some near it, others lying somewhat farther off.) To Corycus, a promontory of Crete, the nearest passage by sea is 250 stadia. ^note 2

Next to Taenarum on the voyage to Onugnathus and to Maleae ^note is Amathus, (Psamathus,) a city; then follow Asine, and Gythium, ^note the naval arsenal of Sparta, situated at an interval of 240 stadia. Its station for vessels, they say, is excavated by art. Farther on, between Gythium and Acraea, is the mouth of the Eurotas. ^note To this place the voyage along the coast is about 240 stadia; then succeeds a marshy tract, and a village, Helos, which formerly was a city, according to Homer; They who occupied Amyclae, and Helos, a small town on the sea-coast. ^note
Il. ii. 584. They say that it was founded by Helius the son of Perseus. There is a plain also call Leuce; then Cyparissia, ^note a city upon a peninsula, with a harbour; then Onugnathus with a harbour; next Boea, a city; then Maleae. From these cities to Onugnathus are 150 stadia. There is also Asopus, ^note a city in Laconia. 3

Among the places enumerated by Homer in the Catalogue of the Ships, Messa, they say, is no longer to be found; and that Messoa is not a part of Laconia, but a part of Sparta itself, as was the Limnaeum near Thornax. Some understand