14 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTOKY. [Book VI. 



Euxine and Lake Mseotis, is not more than sixty-seven 

 miles and a half, and the width across never less than two 

 jugera : 34 it has the name of Eion. 35 The shores of the Bos- 

 porus then take a curve both on the side of Europe and of 

 Asia, thus forming the Maeotis. The towns at the entrance of 

 the Bosporus are, first Hermonassa, 36 next Cepi, 37 founded by 

 the Milesians, and then Stratoclia and Phanagoria, 38 and the 

 almost deserted town of Apaturos, 39 and, at the extremity of 

 the mouth, Cimmerium, 40 which was formerly called Cerberion. 

 (7.) We then come to Lake Mseotis, which has been already 

 mentioned 41 in the description of Europe. 



CHAP. 7. LAKE MJ30TIS AND THE ADJOINING NATIONS. 



After passing Cimmerium, the coast 42 is inhabited by the 

 Maeotici, the Vali, the Serbi, 43 the Arrechi, the Zingi, and the 

 Psessi. We then come to the river Tanais, 44 which discharges 



34 ThejwgwiHH was 100 Grecian or 104 Roman feet in length. 



35 Signifying in Greek the u sea-shore." 



36 Lying between Singa and Phanagoria. Rennell fixes it at the open- 

 ing of the lake into which the Kouban flows. 



37 Or the "gardens," from the Greek KIJITOI. A town of the Cimme- 

 rian Bosporus, founded by the Milesians, Dr. Clarke identifies the mo- 

 dern Sienna with it, and the curious Milesian sculptures found there con- 

 firm the supposition. 



, 38 Its ruins are supposed to be those near Taman, on the eastern side 

 of the Straits of Kaffa. It was the great emporium for all the traffic be- 

 tween the coasts of the Palus Maeotis and the countries on the south of the 

 Caucasus, and was chosen by the kings of Bosporus as their capital in Asia. 



39 A town of the Sindse; it possessed, like Phanagoria, a celebrated 

 temple of Aphrodite Apaturos, or Venus " the Deceiver," whence probably 

 its name. 



40 Clarke identifies it with the modern Temruk, but Forbiger with 

 Eskikrimm. 



41 See B. iv. c. 24. 



42 That lying on the east of the Sea of Azof. It seems impossible to 

 identify the spot inhabited by each of these savage tribes. Hardouin says 

 that the modern name of that inhabited by the Mseotici is Coumania. 



43 Parisot suggests that this tribe afterwards emigrated to the west, 

 and after establish ing themselves in Macedonia, finally gave its name to mo- 

 dern Servia. He remarks, that most of these names appear to have been 

 greatly mutilated, through the ignorance or carelessness of the transcribers, 

 no two of the manuscripts agreeing as to the mode in which they should 

 be spelt. 



44 Or Don. It flows into the Sea of Azof by two larger mouths and 



