Greek Texts & Translations

The whole of Euboea is subject to earthquakes, especially the part near the strait. It is also exposed to violent subterraneous blasts, like Boeotia, and other places of which I have before spoken at length. ^note The city of the same name as the island is said to have been swallowed up by an earthquake. ^note It is mentioned by Aeschylus in his tragedy of Glaucus Pontius; Euboïs near the bending shore of Jupiter Cenaeus, close to the tomb of the wretched Lichas.

There is also in Aetolia a town of the name of Chalcis, Chalcis on the sea-coast, and the rocky Calydon, ^note
Il. ii. 640. and another in the present Eleian territory; they passed along Cruni, and the rocky Chalcis, ^note
Od. xv. 295. speaking of Telemachus and his companions, when they left Nestor to return to their own country. 10

Some say, that the Eretrians were a colony from Macistus in Triphylia, under the conduct of Eretrieus; others, that they came from Eretria, in Attica, where now a market is held. There is an Eretria also near Pharsalus. In the Eretrian district there was a city, Tamynae, sacred to Apollo. The temple (which was near the strait) is said to have been built by Admetus, whom the god, according to report, served a year ^note for hire.

Eretria, ^note formerly, had the names of Melaneïs and Arotria. The village Amarynthus, at the distance of 7 stadia from the walls, belongs to it.

The Persians razed the ancient city, having enclosed with multitudes the inhabitants, according to the expression of Herodotus, ^note in a net, by spreading the Barbarians around the walls. The foundations are still shown, and the place is called ancient Eretria. The present city is built near it.

The power which the Eretrians once possessed, is evinced by a pillar which was placed in the temple of Diana Amarynthia. There is an inscription on it to this effect, that their processions upon their public festivals consisted of three thousand heavy-armed soldiers, six hundred horsemen, and