496 PLINY's NATIJEAL HISTOET. [Book V. 



place where tlie town of Spiropolis^ formerly stood. The 

 Thyni occupy the whole of the coast, the Bithyni the in- 

 terior. This is the termination of Asia, and of the 282 

 peoples, that are to be found between the Grulf of Lycia^ 

 and this spot. We have already^ mentioned the length of 

 the Hellespont and Propontis to the Thracian Bosporus as 

 beino[ 239 miles ; from Chalcedon to Sigeum, Isidorus makes 

 the distance 322-|-. 



CHAP. 44. — THE ISLANDS OP THE PROPONTIS. 



The islands of the Propontis are, before Cyzicus, Elaphon- 

 nesus"*, from whence comes the Cyzican marble ; it is also 

 known by the names of Neuris and Proconnesus. Next 

 come Ophiussa^, Acanthus, Phcebe, Scopelos, Porphyrione, 

 Halone^, with a city of that name, Delphacia, Polydora, and 

 Artaceon, with its city. There is also, opposite to Nico- 

 media, Demonnesos^ ; and, beyond Heraclea, and opposite 

 to Bithynia, the island of Thynias, by the barbarians called 

 Bithynia ; the island of Antiochia : and, at the mouth of 

 the Ehyndacus, Besbicos^, eighteen miles in circumference ; 

 the islands also of Elsea, the two called Ehodussae, and those 

 of Erebinthus^, Megale, Chalcitis^°, and Pity odes ^\ 



^ Called Phinopolis in most of the editions. It is very doubtful 

 whether this passage ought not to be translated, " At a distance thence of 

 eight miles and three-quarters is the first entrance to tliis strait, at the 

 spot," &c. We have, however, adopted the rendering of Holland, Ajas- 

 son, and Littre. 2 Mentioned hi C. 28 of the present Book. 



3 In B. iv. c. 24. ^ Or " Deer Island." 



^ Now Afzia, according to D'AnvUle. 



^ There is still an island in the Sea of Marmora known by the name 

 Alon, which is separated from the north-western extremity of the Penin- 

 sula of Cyzicus by a narrow channel. 



7 Hesycliius says, that there were two islands near Byzantium called 

 by the common name of Demonncsi, but severally having the names of 

 Chalcitis and Pityusa. Phny, on the other hand, places Demonnesus 

 opposite to Nicomedia, and at the same time mentions Chalcitis and 

 Pityodes (^ probably the same as Pityusa) as distinct places. D'Anvihe 

 calls Demonnesus " The Isle of Princes." 



8 The position assigned to this island by Pliny and Strabo corresponds 

 with that of Kalohmno, a small island ten miles north of the mouth of 

 the Khyndacus. ^ Now called Prota, according to Parisot. 



^^ So called from its copper-mines ; now called Khalki, or Karki. 

 ^^ Now called Prinkipo, east of Khalki. 



