Greek Texts & Translations

Sestos is a small but well-fortified place, and is connected with the harbour by a wall of two plethra in extent, and for this reason, and by its situation above the current, it commands the passage of the strait. 23

In the Troad, above the territory of Abydos is Astyra, which now belongs to the Abydeni,—a city in ruins, but it was formerly an independent place, and had gold-mines, which are now nearly exhausted, like those in Mount Tmolus near the Pactolus.

From Abydos to the Aesepus are, it is said, about 700 stadia, but not so much in sailing in a direct line. 24

Beyond Abydos are the parts about Ilium, the seacoast as far as Lectum, the places in the Trojan plain, and the country at the foot of Ida, which was subject to Aeneas. The poet names the Dardanii in two ways, speaking of them as Dardanii governed by the brave son of Anchises, ^note
Il. ii. 819. calling them Dardanii, and also Dardani; Troes, and Lycii, and close-fighting Dardani. ^note
Il. xv. 425.

It is probable that the Dardania, ^note so called by the poet, was anciently situated there; Dardanus, the son of cloud-compelling Jupiter, founded Dardania: ^note
Il. xx. 215. at present there is not a vestige of a city. 25

Plato conjectures that, after the deluges, three kinds of communities were established; the first on the heights of the mountains, consisting of a simple and savage race, who had taken refuge there through dread of the waters, which overflowed the plains; the second, at the toot of the mountains, who regained courage by degrees, as the plains began to dry; the third, in the plains. But a fourth, and perhaps a fifth, or more communities might be supposed to be formed, the last of which might be on the sea-coast, and in the islands, after all fear of deluge was dissipated. For as men approached the sea with a greater or less degree of courage, we should have greater variety in forms of government, diversity also in manners and habits, accord-