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9. It has upon it the temple of Apollo Leucatas, and the
Leap, which, it was thought, was a termination of love.
Here Sappho first 'tis said, (according to Menander,) in pursuit of
the haughty Phaon, and urged on by maddening desire, threw herself note
from the aerial rock, imploring Thee, Lord, and King.
Menander then says that Sappho was the first who took the
leap, but persons better acquainted with ancient accounts assert that it was Cephalus, who was in love with Pterelas, the
son of Deioneus. note It was also a custom of the country among
the Leucadians at the annual sacrifice performed in honour of
Apollo, to precipitate from the rock one of the condemned
criminals, with a view to avert evil. Various kinds of wings
were attached to him, and even birds were suspended from his
body, to lighten by their fluttering the fall of the leap. Below many persons were stationed around in small fishing boats
to receive, and to preserve his life, if possible, and to carry
him beyond the boundaries of the country. The author of
the Alcmaeonis says that Icarius, the father of Penelope, had
two sons, Alyzeus, and Leucadius, who reigned after their
father in Acarnania, whence Ephorus thinks that the cities
were called after their names.
10
At present those are called Cephallenians who inhabit
Cepliallenia. But Homer calls all those under the command
of Ulysses by this name, among whom are the Acarnanians;
for when he says,
Ulysses led the Cephallenians, those who possessed Ithaca, and Neritum, waving with woods, note
(the remarkable mountain in this island; so also,
they who came from Dulichium, and the sacred Echinades, note
Il. ii. 625.
Buprasium and Elis, note
Il. ii. 615.
they who inhabited Euboea, Chalcis, and Eretria, note
Il. ii. 536.
Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanians, note
Il. viii. 173.
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Strabo, Geography (English) (XML Header) [genre: prose] [word count] [lemma count] [Str.].