BOOK IV.] History of Nature. 11 



Hellenae, and Achaei. Of these, they are called Phthiotae 

 who inhabit Doris. Their Towns are Echinus, in the entrance 

 of the River Sperchius : and the Straits of Thermopylae, so 

 named by reason of the Waters : and, four Miles from 

 thence, Heraclea was called Trachin. There is the Mountain 

 Callidromus : and the famous Towns, Hellas, Halos, Lamia, 

 Phthia, and Arne. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

 Thessalia. 



MOREOVER, in Thessalia, Orchomenus, formerly called 

 Minyeus ; and the Town Almon, by some Elmon ; Atrax, 

 Pelinna, and the Fountain Hyperia. Towns, Pherae, behind 

 which Pierius stretcheth forth to Macedonia: Larissa, Gomphi, 

 Thebes of Thessalia, the Grove Pteleon, and the Bay Pa- 

 gasicus. The Town Pagasa, the same named afterwards 

 Demetrias ; Tricca, the Pharsalian Plains, with a free City : 

 Cranon, and Iletia. Mountains of Phthiotis, Nymphaeus, 

 beautiful for the natural Harbours and Garden-works there : 

 Buzigaeus, Donacesa, Bermius, Daphista, Chimerion, Atha- 

 mas, Stephane. In Thessalia there are 34, of which the 

 most famous are Cerceti, Olympus, Pierus, Ossa : over 

 against which is Pindus and Othrys, the Seat of the Lapithae ; 

 and those lie toward the West : but Eastward, Pelios ; all of 

 them bending in the manner of a Theatre : and before them, 

 in form of a Wedge, 72 Cities. Rivers of Thessalia, 

 Apidanus, Phrenix, Enipeus, Onochomus, Pamisus : the 

 Fountain Messeis, the Lake Boebeis : and illustrious above 

 all the rest, Peneus, which, rising near Gomphi, runneth 

 for 500 Stadia in a woody Dale between Ossa and Olympus, 

 and half that Way is navigable. In this Course are the 

 Places called Tempe, five Miles in Length, and almost an 

 Acre and a half Broad, where on both Hands the Hills arise 

 by a gentle Ascent above the reach of Man's Sight. Within, 

 Peneus glideth by, in a fresh green Grove, clear as Crystal, 

 over the gravelly Stones ; pleasant for the Grass upon the 

 Banks, and melodious with the Harmony of Birds. It 



