Olbia, and situate at the bottom of the Ascanian Gulf; as
also ii second place called Prusa[1], at the foot of Mount
Hypius. Pythopolis, Parthenopolis, and Coiyphanta are
no longer in existence. Along the coast we find the rivers
Æsius, Bryazon, Plataneus, Areus, Æsyros, Geodos, also
called Chrjsorroas[2], and the promontory[3] upon which once
stood the town of Megarice. The gulf that here runs
inland received the name of Craspedites from the circum-
stance of that town lying, as it were, upon its skirts Astacum[4], also, formerly stood here, from which the same gulf
has received the name of the 'Astacenian' : the town of
Libyssa[5] formerly stood at the spot where we now see
nothing but the tomb of Hannibal. At the bottom of
the gulf lies Nicomedia[6], a famous city of Bithynia; then
comes the Promontory of Leucatas[7] by which the Astacenian Gulf is bounded, and thirty-seven miles distant
from Nicomedia; and then, the land again approaching
the other side, the straits[8] which extend as far as the
- r4 Prom the Greek (
Greek characters), a "skirt."
- ↑ It has been suggested, that this is only another name for the town of Clios, previously mentioned; but it is most probable that they were distinct places, and that this was originally called Cierus, and belonged to the territory of Heraclea, but was conquered by King Prusias, who named it after himself. It stood to the north-west of the other Prusa.
- ↑ Or the "Golden Stream."
- ↑ Suggested by Parisot to be the modern Cape Fagma.
- ↑ OrAstacus, a colony originally from Megara and Athens. From bcyiax it would appear that this city was also caUed Olbia. Its site is placed by some of the modem geographers at a spot caUed Ovaschik. and also Bashkele.
- ↑ Called Gebiseh, according to Busbequis,—at least in his day. The modern Hereket, on the coast, has been suggested.
- ↑ Its ruins now bear the name of Izmid, or Iznikmid, at the north-eastern corner of the Smus Astacenus, or Gulf of Izmid. It was the chief residence of the kings of Bithynia, and one of the most splendid cities m the world. Under the Eomans it was made a colony, and was a favourite residence of Diocletian and Constantme the Great. Arrian the historian was born here.
- ↑ Now called Akritas by Ptolemy,
- ↑ The Straits, or Channel of Constantmople.
city are still in existence. Littr{{subst:e'}} seems to think that there are two Nicæas meant m these passages ; but it would seem that the same place 13 aUuded to m both Hues. The only tiling that seems to give countenance to Littre's supposition (in which he is supported by Hardouin) is, the expression " Et Prusa item altera."
