Greek Texts & Translations

from the sea, and of 30 from Thronium, but at a little [less from its harbour.] ^note Next are Nicaea and Thermopylae. 5

It is not worth while to speak of any of the other cities. Of those mentioned by Homer, Calliarus is no longer inhabited, it is now a well-cultivated plain. Bessa, a sort of plain, does not now exist. It has its name from an accidental quality, for it abounds with woods. χώαν ἔχουσι σκαρφιεῖς, &c. It ought to be written with a double s, for it has its name from Bessa, a wooded valley, like Napē, ^note in the plain of Methymna, ^note which Hellanicus, through ignorance of the local circumstances, improperly calls Lapē; but the demus in Attica, from which the burghers are called Besaeenses, is written with a single s. 6

Tarphe is situated upon a height, at the distance of 20 stadia from [Thronium]. It has a territory, productive and well wooded; for this place also has its name from its being thickly wooded. It is now called Pharygae. A temple of Juno Pharygaea is there, called so from the Argive Juno at Pharygae; and the inhabitants assert that they are of Argive origin. 7

Homer does not mention, at least not in express words the Locri Hesperii, but only seems to distinguish them from the people of whom we have spoken; Locri, who dwell beyond the sacred Euboea; ^note
Il. ii. 535. as if there were other Locri. They occupied the cities Amphissa ^note and Naupactus. ^note The latter still subsists near Antirrhium. ^note It has its name from the ships that were built there, either because the Heraclidae constructed their fleet at this place, or because the Locri, as Ephorus states, had built vessels there long before that time. At present it belongs to the Aetolians, by a decree of Philip. 8

There also is Chalcis, mentioned by the poet ^note in the Aetolian Catalogue. It is below Calydon. There also is the hill Taphiassus, on which is the monument of Nessus, and of the other Centaurs. From the putrefaction of the bodies of these people there flows, it is said, from beneath the foot of that hill a stream of water, which exhales a foetid odour, and