HKB
had failed to discover silver in Hymettus. It is not impossible that Strabo has adopted literally some proverb or saying of the miners, such as, “Ours is the best honey.”
[328] In the following description of Greece, Strabo employs the term belts or bands ταινίας for the territory intercepted between the lines forming the peninsulas. See note, chap. i. § 1, of this book.
[329] About 67 yards. See also b. x. ch. i. § 8.
[330] Leuctra and Mantineia.
[331] The Thebans, who were formerly the allies of the Macedonians, were opposed to Philip of Macedon at the battle of Chæroneia. On the accession to the throne of Alexander, the city was destroyed, B. C. 335; 6000 of the inhabitants were killed, and 30,000 sold as slaves. The city was rebuilt, B. C. 316, by Casander. Pausanias, ix. 7. The ravages committed by Sylla in the war against Mithridates, which completed the final ruin of Thebes, must have been fresh in the memory of Strabo.
[332] Hieros Limen.
[333] New Eretria stood at Paleocastro, and old Eretria at Vathy.
[334] Dramesi.
[335] Athenæus, v. 15.
[336] Livy states (xlv. 27) that Aulis was distant three miles from Chalcis; by Homer (Il. ii. 303) it is called Αὐλὶς πετρήεσσα. About three miles south of Chalcis, on the Bœotian coast, are two bays, separated from each other by a rocky peninsula: the northern is small and winding, the southern spreads out at the end of a channel into a large circular basin. The latter harbour, as well as a village situated a mile to the southward of it, is called Vathy, a name evidently derived from βαθὺς λιμὴν. We may therefore conclude that Aulis was situated on the rocky peninsula between these two bays. Leake and Smith.
[337] See above, c. ii. § 2.
[338] διῳκοδόμηται δ’ εἰς αὐτοὺς σῦριγξ The passage does not give a clear explanation of the fact. Livy, b. xxviii. c. 6.
[339] Thucydides, b. ii. ch. 23, says that Graia is on the road leading from Oropus to Athens.
[340] In modern maps a modern town, Skoimandri, is laid down near the ruins of Tanagra. Pausanias, b. ix. ch. 20, informs us why Tanagra was called both Poimandria and Graia. Tanagra was the daughter of Æolus and wife of Poimandrus; she arrived at such an extreme old age, as to receive the title of Graia, the Old.
[341] Argyrokastro.
[342] The exact site of Harma is uncertain. Leake supposes it to have occupied the important pass on the road from Thebes to Chalcis, leading to the maritime plain. Pausanias, b. ix. ch. 19, says that it obtained its name from the chariot of Amphiaraus having disappeared there.
[343] We should perhaps read Harma, says Kramer; but in that case Tanagra of Bœotia would be upon the right hand. The reading Argos is a manifest error, and the whole passage is corrupt.
[344] Il. ii. 508.
[345] Leake supposes Ægæ to have stood near Limni. Strabo, below, ch. vii. § 4, says that probably the Ægæan Sea had its name from this place.
[346] Of this place, although mentioned by Thucydides, b. iii. ch. 89, very little is known, in consequence no doubt of its having almost entirely disappeared by an earthquake, which took place about 426 or 425 years B. C.
[347] Ktypa-vuna.
[348] Near Anthedon was a place called the Leap of Glaucus, where he threw himself into the sea. Pausanias, ix. 22. The ruins of Anthedon are situated 1-1/2 mile from Lukisi. Smith.
[349] This passage is very corrupt.
[350] The sites of these places are unknown.
[351] Mauro-potamos.
[352] Lake of Livadhia.
[353] Κώπη, an oar.
[354] That is, by natural or artificial subterraneous channels.
[355] Mauroneri.
[356] Pliny, b. xvi. c. 36.
[357] Il. ii. 503.
[358] There were several rivers of this name. See below, c. iii. § 16.
[359] Il. ii. 523.
[360] See below, ch. iii. § 15. Elateia is represented by the modern village of Elefta.
[361] See ch. ii. § 26.