194 
pliis^t's i^atural histoey. 
[Book III. 
stated the fact tliat tlie city had been taken by the Graulsi, 
and Clitarcbus, the next after him, only spoke of the embassy 
that was sent by the Romans to Alexander) — Theophrastus, 
I say, following something more than mere rumour, has 
given the circuit of the island of Circeii as being eighty stadia, 
in the volume which he wrote during the archonship of M- 
codorus at Athens \ being the MOth year of our city. What- 
ever land therefore has been annexed to that island beyond the 
circumference of about ten miles, has been added to Italy 
since the year previously mentioned. 
Another wonderful circumstance too. — J^^^ear Circeii are 
the Pomp tine Marshes^, formerly the site, according to 
Mucianus, who was thrice consul, of four- and- twenty cities. 
Next to this comes the river Ufens^, upon which is the 
town of Terracina'^, called, in the language of the Yolsci, 
Anxur; the spot too where Amyclse^ stood, a town de- 
stroyed by serpents. Next is the site of the Glrotto*^, Lake 
Fundanus'', the port of Caieta^, and then the town of For- 
mise^, formerly called Hormise, the ancient seat of the Lse- 
strygones^^, it is supposed. Beyond this, formerly stood the 
1 This has been also translated " dedicated to !N"icodorus, the Archon 
of Athens," but nothing appears to be known of such a fact as the 
dedication to Nicodorus of any of his works. 
2 Now called the " Palude Pontine." They are again mentioned in 
B. xxvi. c. 9. 3 Now caUed II Portatore. 
It was situate fifty-eight miles from Home ; the modern town of 
Terracina stands on its site. The remains of the ancient citadel are 
visible on the slope of Montecchio. 
^ The exact site of this place is unknown. Servius, in his Commen- 
tary on B. X. of the ^neid, 1. 564, tells the same story of the serpents. 
^ This was near Amy else. A villa was situate there called " Speluncse," 
from the cavities in the rock, in one of which the Emperor Tiberius nearly f 
lost his life by the falling in of the roof. The modern village of Sperlonga, 
eight miles west of Graeta, marks its site. 7 Now Lago di Fondi. 
^ Now Graeta, said to have received its name from being the burial- 
place of Caieta, the nm-se of ^neas. The shore was studded with nume- 
rous viUas of the Koman nobility. It is now a city of great opulence ; in 
its vicinity extensive ruins are to be seen. 
y On the spot now called Moladi Graeta. Many of the wealthy Eomans, ' 
and among them Cicero, had villas here : and at this place he was put to 
death. It was destroyed by the Saracens in the year 856. The remains 
of antiquity to be seen on this spot are very extensive. 
Homer places these Cannibals on the coast of SicUy, but the Eomans 
in general transplanted them to the vicinity of Circeii, and suppose For- 
