Strabo · c. 20 CE (Books I–VI likely composed/available by this period)
primary
passage 215 of 384 · BOOK I. (1/12)
ITALY.
SUMMARY.
The Sixth Book contains the remainder of Italy, and the regions
within the Adriatic, as far as Macedonia; likewise a description
of Apulia, Calabria, the country by the Ionian Gulf, together
with the adjacent islands, from Sicily to the Ceraunian
mountains, and on the other side as far as Carthage, and the
small islands lying near to it.
- After the mouth of the Silaro,[2062] is Leucania, and the temple of
Argive Juno, founded by Jason. Near to this, within 50 stadia, is
Posidonia.[2063] Sailing thence, towards the high sea, is the island of
Leucosia,[2064] at a little distance from the mainland. It bears the name of one of the Sirens, who according to the mythology was cast up here, after having been precipitated with her companions into the deep.
The promontory[2065] of the island projects opposite the
Sirenussæ,[2066] forming the bay of Posidonium.[2067] After having made this cape there is another contiguous bay, on which is built the city which the Phocæans called Hyela when they founded it, but others Ela from a certain fountain. People in the present day call it Elea. It is here that Parmenides and Zeno, the Pythagorean philosophers, were born.
And it is my opinion that through the instrumentality of those men, as well as by previous good management, the government of that place was well arranged, so that they successfully resisted the Leucani and the
Posidoniatæ, notwithstanding the smallness of their district and the inferiority of their numbers. They are [CAS. 252] compelled, therefore, on account of the barrenness of the soil, to apply to maritime trade chiefly, to employ themselves in the salting of fish, and in such other occupations. Antiochus[2068] says that when Phocea was taken by
Harpagus, the general of Cyrus, those who had the means embarked with their families, and sailed under the conduct of Creontiades, first to
Cyrnos and Marseilles, but having been driven thence, they founded
Elea;[2069] the name of which some say is derived from the river
Elees.[2070] The city is distant about two hundred stadia from
Posidonia. After this city is the promontory of Palinurus. But in front of the Eleatis are the Œnotrides, two islands[2071] having good anchorage.[2072] And beyond Palinurus are the promontory, harbour, and river of Pyxus;[2073] the three having the same name. This colony was founded[2074] by Micythus, then governor of Messina in Sicily; but those who were located here, except a few, abandoned the place. After Pyxus are the gulf,[2075] the river,[2076] and the city[2077] of Laüs. This, the last[2078] city of the Leucani, situate a little above the sea, is a colony[2079] of the Sybarites, and is distant from Elea 400 stadia. The whole circuit of Leucania, by sea is 650 stadia. Near to Laüs is seen the tomb of Draco, one of the companions of Ulysses, and the oracular response, given to the Italian Greeks, alludes to him:
“Some day, around the Dragon’s stony tomb,
A mighty multitude shall meet their doom.”
For the Greeks of Italy, enticed by this prophecy, marched against Laüs and were defeated by the Leucani.[2080]
HKB