278 .flint's irATTTRAL HISTOET. [Book TV, 



vicinity of Helicon^ The third town of Boeotia on this 

 sea is that of Pagae^, from which point the Isthmus of the 

 Peloponnesus projects in the form of a neck. 



CHAP. 5. (4.) — THE PELOPONNESUS. 



The Peloponnesus, which was formerly called Apia* and 

 Pelasgia, is a peninsula, inferior in fame to no land upon the 

 face of the earth. Situate between the two seas, the -^gaean 

 and the Ionian, it is in shape like the leaf of a plane-tree, in 

 consequence of the angular indentations made in its shores. 

 According to Isidorus, it is 563 miles in circumference ; and 

 nearly as much again, allowing for the sea-line on the 

 margin of its gulfs. The narrow pass at which it commences 

 is know by the name of the Isthmus. At this spot the two 

 seas, which we have previously mentioned, running from the 

 north and the east, invade the land from opposite sides ^ 

 and swallow up its entire breadth, the result being that 

 through these inroads in opposite directions of such vast 

 bodies of water, the sides of the land are eaten away to such 

 an extent, that Hellas^ only holds on to the Peloponnesus 

 by the narrow neck, five miles in width, which intervenes. 

 The Grulfs thus formed, the one on this side, the other on 

 that, are known as the Corinthian*' and the Saronic Gulfs. 

 The ports of Lecheae^, on the one side, and of Cenchreae on 

 the other, form the frontiers of this narrow passage, which 

 thus compels to a tedious and periloas circumnavigation 

 such vessels as from their magnitude cannot be carried across 

 by land on vehicles. For this reason it is that both King 



^ Helicon is a range of mountains vdth several summits, the loftiest of 

 which is now called Paleovuni. Helicon was a grove of the Muses, and 

 the fountain of Aganippe was supposed to impart poetic inspiration to 

 those who drank of it. 2 See p. 288. 



3 From Apis, the son of Phoroneus, or Telchines, according to Pau* 

 sanias. After the arrival of Pelops, it took from him its name of Pelo- 

 ponnesus, or the " Island of Pelops." 



* The Ionian from the north, and the ^gean, or rather, Myrtoan, Sea 

 from the east. 



* That part of Greece proper which Hes to the north of the Isthmus, 

 ^ Now the Gulfs of Lepanto and Egina. 



7 Lechese was the harbour of Corinth on the Corinthian, and Cenchrese 

 on the Saronic Gulf. The name of the latter is still preserved in the 

 modem appellation Kechries, which is given to its ruins. 



