534 



ON THE VALE OF TEMPE. 



prudence in not offering any resistance ; they seem to be aware of 

 their own weakness ; for, by filling up this valley, I could lay their 

 whole country under water." 



This boast, so hyperbolically expressive of the might of Xerxes, 

 conveys a pretty accurate idea of the physical geography of Thessaly ; 

 for the closure of Tempe alone, whether effected by the labour of an 

 immense army, or by an earthquake, would undoubtedly cause an 

 inundation so extensive, as to cover the whole eastern half of that 

 country.* In this state of things, (if I may be allowed to carry on 

 the supposition,) the first draught of the waters would be towards the 

 Pagassean gulf.-f- But were they to rise so much higher, as to 

 spread over the plains on the western side of Thessaly^:, they would 

 ultimately find an issue between Pelion and Ossa, near the modern 

 town of Aia. In this case, I conceive, that a range of hills which 

 separates the two great level districts, would be the only part of the 

 interior above water. § 



In reality, it is not possible to view the dead level of these ex- 

 tensive plains, and the very compact barrier of mountains which 

 surround them, without forming some idea of the existence of such 

 a primaeval lake ; which, as it has been evidently drained off by the 

 opening of Tempe, might be restored again by the closure of that 

 passage. Nor would it be easy to explain the formation of Tempe 

 itself, without attributing it, as the most ancient inhabitants of this 

 country did, to the effect of some violent convulsion. And in this 

 way, I think, we may account for all the traditional relations of such 

 an event, to which Herodotus alludes. || 



* That is, Perrhaebia and Pelasgiotis. 



f Now the gulf of Volo. X Estiseotis. 



§ This range of hills connects Pherae and Pharsalia with Tricca and the towns which 

 lie on the south-western borders of Macedonia. The battles of Cynocephalae and Phar- 

 salia were fought on the skirts of these hills. 



|| Strabo, who loves to dwell upon subjects of this kind, repeats these very ancient 

 traditions. 



