BOOK IV.] History of Nature. 19 



stately Island, and remarkably fertile. In Times past it was 

 called Hyrie, and is 22 Miles distant from the South-coast of 

 Cephalenia. The famous Mountain of Elatus is there. The 

 Island itself is in Circuit 25 Miles. Twelve Miles from it is 

 Ithaca, wherein is the Mountain Neritus. And in the whole 

 it taketh up the Compass of 25 Miles. From it 12 Miles off 

 is Araxum, a Promontory of Peloponnesus. Before this, in 

 the main Sea, Asteris and Prote. Before Zacynthus, 35 

 Miles in the Wind Eusus, are the Strophades, called by 

 others, Plotae : and before Cephalenia, Letoia. Before Pylos, 

 three Sphagise ; and as many before Messene, called GEriussae. 

 In the Bay Asinaeus, three Thyrides : in the Laconian Gulf, 

 Teganusa, Cothon, Cythera, with the Town formerly named 

 Porphyris. This lieth five Miles from the Promontory of 

 Malea, doubtful for Ships to come about it, by Reason of the 

 Straits there. In the Argolic Sea are Pityusa, Irine and 

 Ephyre : and against the Territory Hermonium, Typarenus, 

 Epiropia, Colonis, Aristera : over against Trcezenium Ca- 

 lauria, half a Mile from Platese : also, Belbina, Lacia and 

 Baucidias. Against Epidaurus, Cecryphalos, and Pytionesos, 

 six Miles from the Continent. Next to it is .ZEgina, of free 

 Condition, 17 Miles off, and the Navigation of it is 20 Miles 

 about. The same is distant from Pyrseeum, the Port of the 

 Athenians, 12 Miles, and in old Time it was usually called 

 CEnone. Over against the Promontory Spiraeum, lie Eleusa, 

 Dendros, two Craugise, two Caeciae, Selachusa, Cenchreis, and 

 Aspis. Also, in the Megarian Bay, there are four Methu- 

 rides. But ./Egilia is 15 Miles from Cythera; and the same 

 is from Phalasarna, a Town in Greta, 25 Miles. And Creta 

 itself, lying with one Side to the South, and the other to the 

 North, stretcheth forth in Length East and West ; famous 

 and noble for 100 Cities. Dosiades saith it took that Name 

 from the Nymph Creta, Daughter of Hesperis : but according 

 to Anaximander, from a King of the Curetes. Philistides, 

 Mallotes, Crates, have thought it was called first ^Eria, and 

 afterwards Curetis, and some have thought it was named 

 Macaros, on Account of the excellent Temperature of the 

 Air. In Breadth it exceedeth in no Place 50 Miles, and in 



