258 THE NINE FISH MOST HIGHLY PRIZED 
The Elops or Helops has been deemed to be the Acipenser,} 
but this conflicts with Ovid (Hal., 96)—‘‘ Et pretiosus elops 
nostris incognitus undts’’—with Columella (VIII. 16), and with 
Pliny (XXXII. 54). 
Whatever the Elops, Varro and Epicharmus testify to its 
extortionate price, while Pliny lets us know that by many of 
the cognoscentz its flavour was deemed to be the very best of all. 
The capture of this rare and elusive fish—its usual habitat 
was off Pamphylia—became the occasion of great rejoicing ; 
the crew of the successful boat were crowned with wreaths, and 
welcomed by the music of the flute-players.2 It is noteworthy 
that the Acipenser does not occur in the pages either of Varro 
or of Columella, while the Elops does. 
4. The Rhombus, whether it were R. maximus, the ‘‘ Turbot,” 
or R. levis, the “ Brill,’ has been long in dispute. 
Juvenal describes his celebrated Rhombus with “ erectas 
in terga sudes’’ (IV. 128); “‘erectas’’ may be conceded to 
the licence of a poet as regards the back fin of a Turbot, but 
not of a Brill, which is yielding and rather wavy. Then, 
again, Diphilus declares that its flesh is soft, Xenocrates that 
it is firm, and improves with keeping. Now the flesh of the 
Brill is soft: that of the Turbot much firmer. Rhombus 
(unmentioned by Aristotle) probably stood for both Turbot 
and Brill, as well as for the jirra, “ which is called by the 
Romans the Rhombus.”’ 3 
The fish, which derives its name from its supposed likeness 
to the geometrical figure, was in poetry but not in popularity 4 
more celebrated than that other famous flat fish, the Sole. 
As a dainty the Sturgeon was in vogue long before the Rhombus, 
perhaps because, as Horace (Sat., II. 2. 49) suggests, it was 
introduced by a man of fashion : 
“, . » Quid? tunc rhombos minus equora alebant ? 
Tutus erat rhombus, tutoque ciconia nido, 
Donec vos auctor docuit prztorius.”’ 
1 Athen., VII. 44; and Pliny, IX. 27. 
2 Alian, VIII. 28. 
® Cf. Athenzus, VII 139, 
“ Cf., however, Alciphron, I. 7, where among presents from fishermen, 
it takes premier place. 
