tually the case in Cilicia. From Mallos, a city of this province, 

 had sprung Crates, the coteinporary of Arislarchus. Like lliis 

 critic he was a learned commentator on Homer, and was the first 

 to introduce into Rome the study of grammar, when he appeared in 

 that city as ambassador from Attains the second, king of Per- 

 gamus. The small town of Laerles gave birth to Diogenes the 

 celebrated biographer. Soli or Pompoiopolis contends with Tarsus 

 for the honor of Chrysippus and Aratus, the author of the " Phe- 

 nomena.'' Anazarba could boast of Asclepiades and Dioscorides, 

 the former distinguished as the author of several compositions, par- 

 ticularly a treatise on rivers, * the latter by his knowledge of medi- 

 cine and botany. 



The geographical features of the country from which the first 

 impressions are taken, have commonly a lasting influence on the 

 poet's genius. They are sometimes its exciting cause, and the true 

 source of its inspirations. The scenes which delighted in childhood 

 store his mind with images, and become the original of his poetic 

 descriptions. In this respect Oppian was fortunate. Cilicia, in 

 xiddition to the inspiring influences 'of an Asiatic cHmate, enjoyed 

 many advantages favourable to the excitement and cultivation of 

 poetic taste. One of its two divisions, known by the appellation of 

 Tracliaea, the rough and stony, was characterised by lofty and pre- 

 cipitous mountains, adorned with romantic scenery, and abounding 

 with the noblest quarry for the hunter. Its other division, the 

 Campestrian, spread into extensive plains, whose fertility rendered it 

 the most opulent of the Roman provinces. Its principal rivers were 

 •the Cydnus and Pyramus. The former flowed through Tarsus, 

 and was remarkable for the crystallhie purity of its waters, and the 

 wooded magnificence of its banks. Its tempting beauty and cool- 



*nsgi TTfit!,ft.m. Vide Vdsf. de Hist. Graeca. 



