494 PLIKT'S IfATXJIlAL niSTOEY. 
[Book Y. 
Olbia, and situate at the bottom of tlie Ascanian Q-ulf ; as 
also a second place called Pmsa\ at the foot of Mount 
Hypius. Pytliopolis^ Parthenopolis, and Coryplianta are 
no longer in existence. Along the coast we find tlie rivers 
^sius, Bryazon, Plataneus, Areus, ^syros, G-eodos, also 
called Chrysorroas^, and the promontory^ upon which once 
stood the town of Megarice. The gulf that here runs 
inland received the name of Craspedites from the circum- 
stance of that town lying, as it were, upon its skirt'*. Asta- 
cum^, also, formerly stood here, from w^hicli the same gulf 
has received the name of the ' Astacenian' : the town of 
Libyssa^ formerly stood at the spot where we now see 
nothing but the tomb of Hannibal. At the bottom of 
the gulf lies Nicomedia'', a famous city of Bithynia ; then 
comes the Promontory of Leucatas^, by which the Asta- 
cenian G-ulf is bounded, and thirty-seven miles distant 
from Nicomedia ; and then, the land again approaching 
the other side, the straits^ which extend as far as the 
city are still in existence. Littre seems to think that there are two 
Nicseas meant in these passages ; but it would seem that the same place 
is alluded to in both lines. The only thing that seems to give counte- 
nance to Littre' s supposition (in wliich he is supported bj Hardouin) 
is, the expression " Et Prusa item altera." 
^ It has been suggested, that this is only another name for the town 
of Cios, previously mentioned ; but it is most probable that they were 
distmct places, and that this was originally called Cierus, and belonged 
to the territory of Heraclea, but was conquered by King Prusias, who 
named it after himself. It stood to the north-west of the other Prusa. 
2 Or the " aolden Stream." 
Suggested by Parisot to be the modern Cape Fagma. 
4 From the Greek Kpacnredov, a " skirt." 
^ Or Astacus, a colony originally from Megara and Athens. From 
Scylax it would appear that this city was also called Olbia. Its site is 
placed by some of the modern geographers at a spot caUed Ovaschik, 
and also Bashkele. 
6 Called Grebiseh, according to Busbequis, — at least in his day. The 
modern Hereket, on the coast, has been suggested. 
7 Its ruins now bear the name of Izmid, or Iznikmid, at the north- 
eastern corner of the Sinus Astacenus, or Grulf of Izmid. It was the 
chief residence of the kings of Bithynia, and one of the most splendid 
cities in the world. Under the Romans it was made a colony, and was 
a favourite residence of Diocletian and Constantine the Great. Arrian 
the historian was born here. 
^ Now Akrita. It is also called Akritas by Ptolemy. 
^ The Straits, or Channel of Constantinople. 
