Greek Texts & Translations

The Inopus, ^note not a large river, for the island is small, flows through it. Anciently, even from the heroic times, this island has been held in veneration on account of the divinities worshipped here. Here, according to the fable, Latona was relieved from the pains of labour, and gave birth to Apollo and Diana. Before this time, (says Pindar, ^note) Delos was carried about by the waves, and by winds blowing from every quarter, but when the daughter of Coeus set her foot upon it, who was then suffering the sharp pangs of approaching child-birth, at that instant four upright columns, resting on adamant, sprang from the depths of the earth and retained it fast on the rugged rock; there she brought forth, and beheld her happy offspring. The islands lying about it, called Cyclades, gave it celebrity, since they were in the habit of sending at the public charge, as a testimony of respect, sacred delegates, (Theori,) sacrifices, and bands of virgins; they also repaired thither in great multitudes to celebrate festivals. ^note 3

Originally, there were said to be twelve Cyclades, but many others were added to them. Artemidorus enumerates (fifteen?) where he is speaking of the island Helena, ^note and of which he says that it extends from Thoricus ^note to Sunium, ^note and is about 60 stadia in length; it is from this island, he says, the Cyclades, as they are called, begin. He names Ceos, ^note as the nearest island to Helena, and next to this Cythnus, Seriphus, ^note Melos, Siphnus, Cimolus, Prepesinthus, ^note Oliarus, ^note and besides these Paros, ^note "Naxos, ^note Syros, ^note Myconus, ^note Tenos, ^note Andros, ^note Gyarus. ^note The rest I consider as belonging to the Twelve, but not Prepesinthus, Oliarus, and Gyarus. When I put in at the latter island I found a small village inhabited by fishermen. When we left it we took in a fisherman, deputed from the inhabitants to go to C$esar, who was at Corinth on his way to celebrate his triumph after the victory at Actium. ^note He told his fellow-passengers, that he was