Greek Texts & Translations

Heleon, a Tanagrian village, has its name from (Hele) the marshes there. 13

After Salganeus is Anthedon, a city with a harbour, the last on the Boeotian coast towards Euboea, as the poet says, Anthedon at the extremity. ^note
Il. ii. 508. As we proceed a little farther, there are besides two small towns, belonging to the Boeotians, Larymna, near which the Cephissus discharges its waters; and farther above, Halae, of the same name as the Attic demus. Opposite to this coast is situated, it is said, Aegae ^note in Euboea, where is the temple of the Aegaean Neptune, of which we have before spoken. There is a passage across from Anthedon to Aegae of 120 stadia, and from the other places much less than this. The temple is situated upon a lofty hill, where was once a city. Near Aegae was Orobiae. ^note In the Anthedonian territory is the mountain Messapius, ^note which has its name from Messapus, who when he came into Iapygia called it Messapia. Here is laid the scene of the fable respecting the Anthedonian Glaucus, who, it is said, was transformed into a sea-monster. ^note 14

Near Anthedon is a place called Isus, and esteemed sacred, belonging to Boeotia; it contains remains of a city, and the first syllable of Isus is short. Some persons are of opinion, that the verse ought to be written, ισόν τε ζαθέην ανθηδόνα τ ἐσχατόωσαν, The sacred Isus, and the extreme Anthedon,
lengthening the first syllable by poetical licence for the sake of the metre, instead of νῖσάν τε ζαθέην, The sacred Nisa;
for Nisa is not to be found anywhere in Boeotia, as Apollodorus says in his observations on the Catalogue of the Ships;