Ο Στρυμόνας και η περιοχή μας στο Naturalis historia του Gaius Plinius Secundus. 77 μ.Χ.

Ο Στρυμόνας και η περιοχή μας στο Naturalis historia του Gaius Plinius Secundus. 77 μ.Χ.

Ο Γάιος Πλίνιος Σεκούνδος (Gaius Plinius Secundus, 23 - 24 Αυγούστου 79), περισσότερο γνωστός ως Πλίνιος ο Πρεσβύτερος, ήταν Ρωμαίος συγγραφέας, φυσιοδίφης και φυσικός φιλόσοφος, καθώς και στρατιωτικός και ναυτικός διοικητής των πρώτων χρόνων της Ρωμαϊκής αυτοκρατορίας και φίλος του αυτοκράτορα Βεσπασιανού.

Η Φυσική Ιστορία (λατ. Naturalis historia ή και Historia naturalis) είναι μία εγκυκλοπαιδική συλλογή της αρχαίας επιστημονικής γνώσεως σε 37 βιβλία, που συντάχθηκε περί το έτος 77 μ.Χ. από τον Ρωμαίο ιστορικό και συγγραφέα Πλίνιο τον Πρεσβύτερο. Πρόκειται για την αρχαιότερη πλήρως σωζόμενη συστηματική εγκυκλοπαιδική εργασία της ανθρωπότητας. 

Ο Γάιος Πλίνιος Σεκούνδος στο μνημειώδες έργο του «Φυσική Ιστορία», παρότι ήταν στην Ρώμη ,αφιερώνει αρκετές αναφορές στον ποταμό Στρυμόνα και τη γύρω περιοχή. Σημειώνει ότι το ποτάμι ήταν μια σημαντική πηγή ψαριών και άλλων υδρόβιων πλασμάτων και περιγράφει διάφορα φυτά και ζώα που είναι ιθαγενή της περιοχής. 

Σε σύνολο δύο χιλιάδων τετρακοσίων ενενήντα τριών κεφαλαίων συγκεντρώνει τη γνώση πεντακοσίων περίπου συγγραφέων.

33

Macedonia postea CL populorum, duobus incluta regibus quondamque terrarum imperio, Emathia antea dicta. haec ad Epiroticas gentes in solis occasum recedens post terga Magnesiae atque Thessaliae infestatur a Dardanis; partem eius septentrionalem Paeonia ac Pelagonia protegunt a Triballis. oppida Aegae, in quo sepeliri mos reges, Beroea et in regione, quae Pieria appellatur a nemore, Aeginium.

34

in ora Heraclea, flumen Apilas, oppida Pydna, Aloros, amnis Haliacmon. intus Aloritae, Vallaei, Phylacaei, Cyrrestae, Tyrissaei, Pella colonia, oppidum Stobi civium Romanorum, mox Antigonea, Europus ad Axium amnem, eodemque nomine per quod Rhoedias fluit, Scydra, Eordaea, Mieza, Gordyniae.

35

mox in ora Ichnae, fluvius Axius. ad hunc finem Dardani, Treres, Pieres Macedoniam accolunt. ab hoc amne Paeoniae gentes Paraxiaei, Eordenses, Almopi, Pelagones, Mygdones. montes Rhodope, Scopius, Orbelus. dein praeiacente gremio terrarum Arethusii, Antiochienses, Idomenenses, Doberi, Aestrienses, Allantenses, Audaristenses, Morylli, Garresci, Lyncestae, Othryonei et liberi Amantini atque Orestae, coloniae Bullidenses et Dienses, Xylopolitae, Scotusaei liberi, Heraclea Sintica, Tymphaei, Toronaei.

36

In ora sinus Macedonica oppidum Chalastra et intus Phloros, Lete medioque litoris flexu Thessalonice liberae condicionis — ad hanc a Dyrrhachio CCXLV —, Therme in Thermaico sinu, oppida Dicaea, Palinandrea, Scione, promunturium Canastraeum, oppida Pallene, Phlegra. qua in regione montes Hypsizonus, Epytus, Alcyon, Elaeuomne, oppida Nissos, Phryxelon, Mendae et in Pallenensi Isthmo quondam Potidaea, nunc Cassandrea colonia, Anthemus, Olophyxus,

37

sinus Mecyberna, oppida Myscella, Ampelos, Torone, Siggos, Stolos, fretum, quo montem Atho Xerxes Persarum rex continenti abscidit in longitudinem passuum MD. mons ipse a planitie excurrit in maria LXXV passuum, ambitus radicis CL colligit. oppidum in cacumine fuit Acrothoon; nunc sunt Uranopolis, Palaehorium, Thyssus, Cleonae, Apollonia, cuius incolae Macrobii cognominantur.

38 oppidum Cassera faucesque alterae Isthmi, Acanthus, Stagira, Sithone, Heraclea et regio Mygdoniae subiacens, in qua recedentes a mari Apollonia, Arethusa. in ora rursus Posidium et sinus cum oppido Cermoro, Amphipolis liberum, gens Bisaltae. dein Macedoniae terminus amnis Strymon, ortus in Haemo. memorandum in septem lacus eum fundi, priusquam derigat cursum.

39

Haec est Macedonia terrarum imperio potita quondam, haec Asiam, Armeniam, Hiberiam, Albaniam, Cappadociam, Syriam, Aegyptum, Taurum, Caucasum transgressa, haec in Bactris, Medis, Persis dominata toto oriente possesso, haec etiam Indiae victrix per vestigia Liberi Patris atque Herculis vagata. haec eadem est Macedonia, cuius uno die Paulus Aemilius imperator noster LXXII urbes direptas vendidit. tantam differentiam sortis praestitere duo homines!

40

Thrace follows, among the most powerful nations of Europe, divided into 5 stratagems. His peoples, whom he does not hesitate to name, follow the river Strymon on the right side, the Denseletes and the Maedes as far as the above-mentioned Bisaltes, on the left the Digerri Bessos and many other names to Mestum, a river at the bottom of Mount Pangaea, lying between the Haletos, Diobessos, Carbilesos, thence Brigas, Sapaeos, and Odomantos. The tribe of the Odrysari pours out Hebrew to the adherents of the Carbiletes, the Pyrogeri, the Drugeri, the Caenici, the Hypsalti, the Beni, the Corpili, the Bottiaei, and the Edoni.

Αγγλική έκδοση του 1855

PLINY THE ELDER, NATURAL HISTORY 1-11

Pliny the Elder, The Natural History, Books 1-11, translated by Henry T. Riley (1816-1878) and John Bostock (1773-1846), first published 1855, text from the Perseus Project, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike 3.0 U.S. License.

§ 4.17.3  Upon the coast of the Macedonian Gulf there are the town of Chalastra, and, more inland, Piloros; also Lete, and at the extreme bend of the Gulf, Thessalonica, a free city; (from this place to Dyrrhachium it is 245 miles,) and then Thermae. Upon the Gulf of Thermae are the towns of Dicaea, Pydna, Derra, Scione, the Promontory of Canastraion, and the towns of Pallene and Phlegra. In this region also are the mountains Hypsizorus, Epitus, Halcyone, and Elaeuomne; the towns of Nyssos, Phryxelon, Mendae, and what was formerly Potidaea on the isthmus of Pallene, but now the colony of Cassandria; Anthemus, Olophyxus, and the Gulf of Mecyberna; the towns of Miscella, Ampelos, Torone, Singos, and the canal, a mile and a half in length, by means of which Xerxes, king of the Persians, cut off Mount Athos from the main land. This mountain projects from the level plain of the adjacent country into the sea, a distance of seventy-five miles; its circumference at its base being 150 miles in extent. There was formerly upon its summit the town of Acroathon: the present towns are Uranopolis, Palaeorium, Thyssus, Kleonai, and Apollonia, the inhabitants of which have the surname of Macrobii. The town also of Cassera, and then the other side of the Isthmus, after which come Acanthus, Stagira, Sithone, Heraclea, and the country of Mygdonia that lies below, in which are situate, at some distance from the sea, Apollonia and Arethusa. Again, upon the coast we have Posidium, and the bay with the town of Cermorus, Amphipolis, a free town, and the nation of the Bisaltae. We then come to the river Strymon which takes its rise in Mount Haemus and forms the boundary of Macedonia: it is worthy of remark that it first discharges itself into seven lakes before it proceeds onward in its course.

 § 4.18.1  THRACE; THE AEGEAN SEA. Thrace now follows, divided into fifty strategies, and to be reckoned among the most powerful nations of Europe. Among its peoples whom we ought not to omit to name are the Denseletae and the Medi, dwelling upon the right bank of the Strymon, and joining up to the Bisaltae above mentioned; on the left there are the Digerri and a number of tribes of the Bessi, with various names, as far as the river Mestus, which winds around the foot of Mount Pangaion, passing among the Elethi, the Diobessi, the Carbilesi; and then the Brysae, the Sapaei, and the Odomanti. The territory of the Odrysae gives birth to the Hebrus, its banks being inhabited by the Cabyleti, the Pyrogeri, the Drugeri, the Caenici, the Hypsalti, the Beni, the Corpili, the Bottiaei, and the Edoni. In the same district are also the Selletae, the Priantae, the Doloncae, the Thyni, and the Greater Coeletae, below Mount Haemus, the Lesser at the foot of Rhodope. Between these tribes runs the river Hebrus. We then come to a town at the foot of Rhodope, first called Poneropolis, afterwards Philippopolis from the name of its founder, and now, from the peculiarity of its situation, Trimontium. To reach the summit of Haemus you have to travel six miles. The sides of it that look in the opposite direction and slope towards the Ister are inhabited by the Moesi, the Getae, the Aorsi, the Gaudae, and the Clariae; below them, are the Arraei Sarmatae, also called Arreatae, the Scythians, and, about the shores of the Euxine, the Moriseni and the Sithonii, the forefathers of the poet Orpheus, dwell.

§ 4.18.2  Thus is Thrace bounded by the Ister on the north, by the Euxine, and the Propontis on the east, and by the Aegean Sea on the south; on the coast of which, after leaving the Strymon, we come in turn to Apollonia, Oisyma, Neapolis and Datos. In the interior is the colony of Philippi, distant from Dyrrhachium 325 miles; also Scotussa, the city of Topiris, the mouth of the river Mestus, Mount Pangaeus, Heraclea, Olynthos, Abdera, a free city, the people of the Bistones and their Lake. Here was formerly the city of Tirida, which struck such terror with its stables of the horses of Diomedes. At the present day we find here Dicaea, Ismaron, the place where Parthenion stood, Phalesina, and Maronea, formerly called Orthagorea. We then come to Mount Serrium and Zone, and then the place called Doriscus, capable of containing ten thousand men, for it was in bodies of ten thousand that Xerxes here numbered his army. We then come to the mouth of the Hebrus, the Port of Stentor, and the free town of Aenos, with the tomb there of Polydorus, the region formerly of the Cicones.

Υπάρχει και η αγγλική έκδοση του 1601 από τον Philemon Holland

The Historie of the World.

Commonly called,

THE NATURALL HISTORIE OF

C. PLINIUS SECUNDUS.

Translated into English by PHILEMON HOLLAND

Doctor in Physic.

1601

Chap. X.

Macedonie.

MACEDONIE, so called afterwards (for before time it was named Emathia) is a kingdome consisting of 150 severall States, renowmed for two kings above the rest; and ennobled sometime for the Monarchie and Empire of the world. This countrey lying farre in behind Magnesia and Thessalie toward the nations of Epirus Westward, is much troubled and infested with the Dardanians. The North parts thereof, are defended by Pæonia and Pelagonia, against the Triballi. The townes be these, Aege, wherein the manner was to interre their kings: Beroea, and Aeginium, in that quarter which of the Wood is called Pieria. In the outward borders, Heraclea, and the river Apilas: more townes, Phina, and Oloros: the river Haliacmon. Within-forth, are the Haloritæ, the Vallei, Phylacei, Cyrrhestæ, Tyrrisæi: Pella the Colonie: the town Stobi of Romane citizens. Anon, Antigonia, Europus upon the river Axius, and another of the same name through which Rhædias runneth: Heordeæ, Scydra, Mieza, Gordiniæ. Soone after in the borders, Ichnæ, and the river Axius. To this bound the Dardani: Treres, and Pieres border upon Macedonie. From this river, are the nations of Pæonia, Patorei, Heordenses, Almopij, Pelagones, and Mygdones. The mountaines Rhodope, Scopius, and Orbelus. The rest is a plaine countrey, wherein Nature seemeth to set out her riches: in the lap wherof are the Arethusij, Antiochienses, Idomenenses, Doberienses, Trienses, Allantenses, Andaristenses,41 Moryllij, Garesci, Lyncestæ, Othrionei, and the free States of the Amantines and Orestæ. Colonies, Bulledensis and Diensis. Xilopolitæ, Scotussæi free; Heraclea, Sintica, Timphei and Coronæi.42 In the coast of the Macedonian sea, the towne Calastra, and within-forth, Phileros, and Lete: and in the middle bending of the coast, Thessalonica, of free estate and condition. To it from Dyrrachium, it is 114 myles; Thermæ. Upon the gulfe Thermaicus, be these townes, Dicæa, Pydna, Derrha, Scione: the promontorie Canastræum. Townes, Pallene, Pherga.43 In which region these mountaines, Hypsizorus, Epitus, Alchione, Leuomne. Townes, Nissos, Brygion, Eleon, Mendæ, and in the Isthmos of Pallene, the colonie sometime called Potidæa, and now Cassanria, Anthemus; Holophyxus the creeke, and Mecyberna.44 Townes, Phiscella,45 Ampeolos, Torone, and Singos: the Frith (where Xerxes king of the Persians cut the hill Athos from the Continent) in length a mile and a halfe.46 The mountaine it selfe shooteth out from the plaine into the sea, 75 miles. The compasse of the foot thereof, taketh 150 miles. A towne there was in the pitch of it, Acroton. Now there be Uranopolis, Palæotrium,47 Thyssus, Cleone, Apoloonia, the inhabitants whereof be named Macrobij. The towne Cassera, and a second gullet or creeke of the Isthmus, Acanthus, Stagira, Sitone, Heraclea, and the region lying under Mygdonia, wherein are seated farre out from the sea, Apollonia and Arethusa. Againe in the coast, Posidium, and a creeke with the towne Cemorus: Amphipolis a free state, and the people Bisaltæ. Then, the river Strymon, which is the bound of Macedonie, which springeth in Hæmus: of which, this is worthie to be remembred, that it runneth into seven lakes before it keepeth a direct course. This is that Macedonie, which sometime conquered the dominion over all the earth: this over-ran Asia, Armenia, Iberia, Albania, Cappadocia. Syria, and Ægypt; yea and passed over Taurus and Caucasus: this ruled over the Bactrians, Medians, and Persians, and possessed all the East: this having the conquest of India, ranged over the tracts of Father Liber and Hercules. This is the very same Macedonie, of which in one day Paulus Æmylius our Generall, sacked and sold 72 cities.48 See the difference of Fortune in two men.

Chap. XI.

Thracia.

NOW FOLLOWETH THRACIA, amongst the most valiant nations of Europe, divided into 52 regiments of souldiers. Of those States in it, the Denseletes and Medi, whome it greeves me not to name, doe inhabite neare to the river Strymon on the right side, as farre as to the Bisaltae above named: on the left, the Digeri, and many townes of the Bessi, even to the river Nestus, which environeth the bottome of the hill Pangæus, betweene the Eleti, Diobesi, and Carbilesi, and so forward to the Brysæ and Capræi. Odomanta a towne of the Odrysians, sendeth out the river Hebrus to the neighbour-borderers, the Carbiletes, Pyrogeris, Drugeri, Cænicks, Hypsalts, Beni, Corpilli, botiæi, and Edons. In the same tract the Selletæ, Priautæ, Diloncæ,49 Thyni, Celetæ, the greater under Hæmus, the lesse under Rhodope: betweene whome runneth the river hebrus. The towne situate beneath Rhodope, was before-time named Poneropolis; soone after by the founder, Philippopolis; but now of the site thereof Trimontium. The ascent of Hæmus up to the top, taketh sixe miles: the backe side and hanging thereof downe to Ister, the Moesians, Getes, Aoti, Gaudæ, and Clariæ and under them the Arræi, Sarmata whom they call Areatæ, and Scythians:50 and about the sea coast of Pontus, the Morisenes and Sithonians, from whome the Poët Orpheus descended, doe inhabite. Thus Ister boundeth it on the North: in the East, Pontus and Propontus: Southward, the sea Ægæum, in the coast whereof from Strymon, stand Apollonia, Oestima,51 Neapolis, and Polis.52 Within-forth, the Colonie of Philip, and 325 myles from Dyrrhachium, Scotusa, Topiris, and the mouth of the river Nestus. The hill Pangæus, Heraclea, Olynthos[,] Abdera a free citie, the meere and nation of the Bisons.53 There, stood the towne Tinda, terrible for the horses of Diomedes that stabled there. Now at this day, Diceæ, Ismaron, the place Parthenion, Phalesina, Maronea called Ortagurea before-time. The mountaine Serrium and Zonæ: then the plaine Doriscus able to receive * 10000 men: for so Xerxes tooke a just ccount of his armie and numbred it. The mouth of Hebrus: the haven of Stentor: the free towne Ænea, togither with the tombe of Polydorus, the region sometime of the Cicones. From Doriscus, the coast bendeth crookedly to Macron-Tichos, for 122 myles. About which place the river Melas, whereof the creeke beareth name. Townes, Cypsella, Bisanthe, and that which is called Macron Tichos, what way as stretching forth the walles along from Propontis to the Creeke Melanes betweene two seas, it excludeth Chersonesus as it runneth out.54 For, Thracia of one side beginning at the sea coast of Pontus, where the river Ister is dischareged and swallowed up, hath in that quarter passing farie and beautifull cities, to wit, Istropolis of the Milesians, Tomi, and Calatis which before was called Acerneris. It had sometime Heraclea and Bizon, which sunke and was lost in a gaping chinke of the earth; but now instead thereof Dionysopolis, called before Crunos. The river Ziras runneth hard by it. All that tract, the Scythians named besides Aroteres, possessed. Their townes were, Aphrodisius, Libistos, Zigere, Borcobe, Eumenia, Parthenopolis, Geranis, where it is reported that the nation of the Pygmeans kept, whome the barbarous people call Catizi, and they are of belief that they were chased away and put to flight by cranes.55 In the edge thereof next to Dionysopolis, there is Odessus of the Milesians, the river Pomiscus, the towne Tetranaulochos: the mountaine Hæmus bearing forth with a huge top into Pontus, had in the pitch thereof the towne Aristæum. Now in the coast is Mesembria and Anchialum, where Messa was. The region Astice. There was the towne Anthium, now there is Apollonia. The rivers Panissa, Rira, Tearus, Orosines. Townes, Thynnias, Almedessos, Develton with the poole which now is called Deultum, belonging to the old souldiers.56 Phinopolis, neare unto which is Bosphorus. From the mouth of Ister to the entrance of Pontus, some have made it 555 miles. Agrippa hath set to 40 miles more.57 And from thence to the wall above named 150: and so from it to Chersonesus 126. But neere to Bosphorus is the arme of the sea Gasthenes. The haven surnamed of old men, and another likewise of women. The promontorie Chrysoceras, wherupon standeth the towne Bizantium of free estate, called beforetime Lygos. From Dyrrachium it is 711 miles. Thus much lyeth out the maine in length between the Adriaticke sea and Propontis. Rivers, Bathynias, Pydaras, or Atyras. Towns, Selymbria, Perinthus, annexed to the Continent, 200 paces broad. Within-forth, Byzia, the castle of Thracian kings, hated of Swallowes, upon the horrible and cursed fact of Tereus.58 The region Camica: the colonie flaviopolus, where beforetime the towne was called Zela. And 50 miles from Byria the colonie Apros, which is from Philippi 188 myles. But in the borders, the river Erginus, where was the towne Gonos. And there you leave the citie Lysimachia, also now in Chersonesus. For another land passage or Isthmus there is of like streightnesse, all one in name and of equall breadth with that of Corinth. Likewise on both sides two cities doe beautifie and set out the stronds, which they take up not unlike to the other, to wit, Pactiæ from Propontis, and Cardia from the gulfe Melane: as for this, it taketh the name of the forme and proportion of the place made like a hart:59 and both, afterwards, were enclosed within Lysimachia 3 myles from the ** long walls abovesaid. Chersonesus from Propontis side, had Tiristasis and Crithotes, also Cissa fsat upon the river Ægos: now it hath from the colonie Apros 32 miles Resistos, overagainst the colonie Pariana. And Hellespontus, dividing Europe from Asia, seven stadia asunder (as we have said)60 hath foure citties there opposite one against another, to wit, in Europe, Calippolis and Sestos; in Asia, Lampsacum and Abydos. Then, is the promontorie of Chersonesus Mastisia,61 just contrarie to Sigeum, in the crooked front whereof is Cynossema: for so is Hecubæs tombe named,62 the very rode of the Athenians navie. The towne and chappell of Protesilaus: and in the very utmost forefront of Cherronesus,63 which is called Æolium, the towne Elæus. After it, as a man goeth to the gulfe Melane, the havens Gælos, Panhormus, and the abovenamed Cardia. The third sea of Europe, is in this manner bounded and limited. Mountaines of Thracia over and above those afore rehearsed, Edonus, Gigemorus, Meritus, Melamphyllon. Rivers falling into Hebrus, be Bargus, and Suemus. the length of Macedonie, Thracia, and hellespontus, is set downe before. Some make it seven hundred and twentie miles. The breadth is three hundred and eightie miles. The sea Ægeum tooke that name of a rocke, betweene Tenedos and Chios, more truely than of an Iland named Aex, resembling a goat, and therfore so called of the Greekes;64 which all at once appeareth to rise out of the sea. The sea-men that saile from out of Achaia to Andros, discover it on the right hand, and to them it presageth some dreadfull and mischievous accident. Part of the Ægean sea is laid to the Myrtoum, and so called it is of a little Island, which sheweth it selfe to them that set saile from Gerestus to Macedonie, not farre from Charystos in Euboea. The Romanes comprehend all these seas in two names: namely, Macedonicum, all that which toucheth Macedonia and Thracia: and Græciensum where it beareth upon Greece. As for the Greekes, they divide even the Ionian sea into Siculum and Creticum, of the Islands. Also, Icarius they call that betweene Samos and Mycione. All the other names are given by gulfes and creeks, whereof we have spoken. And thus much verily as touching the seas and nations contained in this manner within the third section or gulfe of Europe.