BOOK IV. XII. 54-57 



Itliaca, Dulichium, Same, and Crocyle. Cephallenia, 

 formerly called in Greek the Black Island, is 10 

 miles from Paxo, and measures 93 miles in circum- 

 ference ; Same has been demoHshed by the Romans, 

 but still possesses three towns. Between Same and 

 the coast of Acliaia Ues Zante, distino;uished by its 

 fine town and remarkable for the fertility of its soil; 

 it was at one time called Hyrie. It is 25 miles from 

 the southern part of Cephallenia, and on it is the 

 celebrated mountain of Elatus." It measures 36 

 miles in circumference. At a distance of 15 miles 

 from Zante is Ithaca, on which is Monte Stefano ; 

 its whole circumference mcasures 25 miles. The 

 distance from it to the Pcloponnesian promontory of 

 Araxus is 15 miles. Off Ithaca in the open sea are 

 Asteris and Prote, and off Zante at a distance of 35 

 miles to the south-east are the two Strophades, 

 called by other people the Plotae. Off Cephallenia 

 is Letoia, oif Pylos the three Sphageae and ofF 

 Messene the three Oenussae. 



In the Messenian Gulf are the three Thyrides, and isiand$ 

 in the Gulf of Laconia Teganissa, Cothon and Cerigo Qreecef 

 with thc town of that name — the former name of 

 this island was Porphyris ; it hes 5 miles from Cape 

 Malea, ^vhich is dangerous to circumnavigate because 

 of the narrowness of the strait. In the Gulf of 

 NaupUa are Pityusa, Arine and Ephyre ; opposite 

 the territory of Hermione * Tricarenus, Aperopia, 

 Colonis and Aristera ; opposite that of Troezen, 

 Calauria half a mile away, Plateis, Belbina, Lasia 

 and Baucidias; opposite Epidaurus, Cecryphalos 

 and Pityoncsus 6 miles from the mainland. Fifteen 

 miles from Pityonesus is Aegina, a free state, which 

 is 18 miles long as you sail past it, and 20 miles 



159 



