Chap. 112.] 
DTMEI^SIONS or THE EARTH. 
143 
town of Salentinum, there is a sacred stone, upon wMeh, when 
wood is placed, flame immediately bursts forth. In the altar 
of Juno Lacinia\ which is in the open air, the ashes remain 
unmoved, although the winds may be blowing from all 
quarters. 
It appears also that there are sudden fires both in waters 
and even in the human body ; that the whole of Lake Thra- 
symenus was on fire^ ; that when ServiusTuUius, while a child, 
was sleeping, flame darted out from his head^ ; and Valerius 
Antias informs us, that the same flame appeared about L. 
Marcius, when he was pronouncing the funeral oration over 
the Scipios, who were killed in Spain ; and exhorting the 
soldiers to avenge their death. I shall presently mention 
more facts of this nature, and in a more distinct manner ; in 
this place these wonders are mixed up with other subjects. 
But my mind, having carried me beyond the mere interpre- 
tation of nature, is anxious to lead, as it were by the hand, 
the thoughts of my readers over the whole globe. 
CHAP. 112. (108.) THE HIMEI^SIOI^S OE THE EAETH. 
Our part of the earth, of which I propose to give an ac- 
count, floating as it were in the ocean which surrounds it 
(as I have mentioned above '^), stretches out to the greatest 
extent from east to west, viz. from India to the Pillars con- 
secrated to Hercules at Gades, being a distance of 8568 
miles^, according to the statement of Artemidorus^, or ac- 
known lines, Sat. i. 5, 97 j but it is not improbable that there may be 
some foundation for it. 
^ This circumstance is referred to by Yal. Maximus, i. 8, 18. The altar 
was probably in the neighbourhood of the Lacinian Promontory, at the 
S.W. extremity of the Bay of Tarentum, the modern Capo delle Colonne. 
^ This may be referred to the inflammable vapours mentioned above, 
imless we regard the whole narrative as fabulous. 
3 See Livy, i. 39, and Yal. Maximus, i. 6. 2. Although it would be 
rash to pronounce this occurrence and the following anecdotes respect- 
ing Marcius to be absolutely impossible, we must regard them as highly 
improbable, and resting upon very insufficient evidence. 
^ In the 66th chapter of this book. 
^ In the estimate of distances I have given the numbers as they occur 
in the text of Lemaire, although, in many cases, there is considerable 
doubt as to their accuracy. See the observations of Hardouin ^d Alex- 
andre in Lemaire, i. 460. 
® Artemidorus was an Ephesian, who wrote on geography ; see Har- 
douin's Index Auct., Lemaire, i. 167. 
