BOOK V. XX. 83-85 



XX. A description of the Euphrates also will come TheHver 

 most suitably at this place. It rises in Caranitis, a "^ ^" 

 prefecture of Greater Armenia, as has been stated 

 by two of the persons who have seen it nearest to 

 its source — Domitius Corbulo putting its source in 

 Mount Aga and Licinius Mucianus at the roots of 

 a mountain the name of which he gives as Capotes, 

 tweh'e miles above Zimara. Near its source the 

 river is called Pyxurates. Its course divides first the 

 Derzene region of Armenia and then the Anaetic 

 from Cappadocia. Dascusa is 75 miles from Zimara ; 

 and from Dascusa the river is navigable to Sartona, 

 a distance of 50 miles, to MeHtene in Cappadocia 

 24 miles, and to Elegea in Armenia 10 miles, receiving 

 the tributary streams Lycus, Arsania and Arsanus. 

 At Elegea it encounters Mount Taurus, wliich how- 

 ever does not bar its passage although forming an 

 extremely powerful barrier 12 miles broad. The 

 river is called the Omma wliere it forces its way 

 into the range, and later, where it emerges, the 

 Euphrates ; beyond the range also it is full of rocks 

 and has a violent current. From this point it forms 

 the frontier between the district of Arabia called 

 the country of the Orroei on the left and Commagene 

 on the right, its breadth being three cables' length, 

 although even where it forces its passage through 

 the Taurus range it j)crmits of a bridge. At Claudio- 

 polis in Cappadocia it directs its course towards the 

 west ; and there for the first time in this combat 

 Mount Taurus carries the stream out of its course, 

 and though conquered and cleft in twain gains the 

 victory in another manner by breaking its career 

 and forcing it to take a southerly direction. Thus 

 this duel of nature becomes a drawn battle, the 



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