494 PLINX'S NATTJEAL HISTOET. [Book V. 



Olbia, and situate at the bottom of the Ascanian Gulf; as 

 also ii second place called Prusa\ at the foot of Mount 

 Hypius. Pythopolis, Parthenopolis, and Coiyphanta are 

 no longer in existence. Along the coast we find the rivers 

 ^sms, Bryazon, Plataneus, Areus, ^syros, Geodos, also 

 called Chrjsorroas^, and the promontory ^ 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 to^Ti lying, as it were, upon its skirts Asta- 

 cum^ also, formerly stood here, from which the same gulf 

 has received the name of the ' Astacenian' : the town of 

 Libyssa^ formerly stood at the spot where we now see 

 nothing but the tomb of Hannibal. At the bottom of 

 the gulf lies Nicomedia'', a famous city of Bithynia ; then 

 comes the Promontory of Leucatas^ by which the Asta- 

 cenian G-ulf IS bounded, and thirty-seven miles distant 

 from Nicomedia; and then, the land again approaching 

 the other side, the straits'-* which extend as far as the 

 city are stiU in existence. Littre seems to think tliat there are two 

 ]Nicseas 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 counte- 

 nance to Littre's supposition (in which he is supported by Hardouin) 

 IS, the expression " Et Prusa item altera." 



1 It has been suggested, that this is only another name for the town 

 ot Uos, previously mentioned ; but it is most proljable that they were 

 distinct places, and that this was originaUy caUed Cierus, and belon^red 

 to the territory of Heraclea, but was conquered by King Prusias, who 

 named it after hhnself. It stood to the north-west of the other Prusa. 



2 Or the " Golden Stream." 



•' Suggested by Parisot to be the modern Cape Fagma. 



4 Prom the Greek Kpd(T7reSov, a " sku-t." 



s OrAstacus, a colony originaUy 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. * 



6 CaUed Gebiseh, according to Busbequis,— at least in his day. The 

 modern Hereket, on the coast, has been suggested. 



7 Its ruins now bear the name of Izmid, or Iznikmid, at the north- 

 eastern corner of tlie 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 

 tne historian was born here. 



I m^^c^^''^^^- ^^ ^"^ ^I'o caUed Akritas by Ptolemy, 

 ihe Straits, or Channel of Constantmople. 



