Greek Texts & Translations

The Pactolus flows from the Tmolus. ^note It anciently brought down a large quantity of gold-dust, whence, it is said, the proverbial wealth of Croesus and his ancestors obtained renown. No gold-dust is found at present. The Pactolus descends into the Hermus, into which also the Hyllus, now called Phrygius, discharges itself: These three and other less considerable rivers unite in one stream, and, according to Herodotus, empty themselves into the sea at Phocaea.

The Hermus takes its rise in Mysia, descending from the sacred mountain of Dindymene; after traversing the Catacecaumene, it enters the Sardian territory, and passes through the contiguous plains to the sea, mentioned above. Below the city lie the plains of Sardes, of the Cyrus, of the Hermus, and of the Caÿster, which are contiguous to one another and the most fertile anywhere to be found.

At the distance of 40 stadia from the city is the lake Gygaea, as it is called by the poet. ^note Its name was afterwards altered to Coloë. Here was a temple of Artemis Coloëne, held in the highest veneration. It is said that at the feasts celebrated here the baskets dance. ^note I know not whether this is circulated as a strange story, or as truth. 6

The verses in Homer are to this effect, Mesthles and Antiphus, sons of Talaemenes, born of the lake Gygaea, were the leaders of the Meones, who live below Tmolus. ^note Some persons add a fourth verse to these, below snowy Tmolus, in the rich district of Hyde.
But no Hyde ^note is to be found among the Lydians. Others make this the birth-place of Tychius, mentioned by the poet, he was the best leather-cutter in Hyde. ^note
Il. vii. 221. They add that the place is woody, and frequently struck with lightning, and that here also were the dwellings of the Arimi; for to this verse, Among the Arimi, where they say is the bed of Typhoëus, ^note