VIII 
294 FROM TITHOREA, 
CHAP, considered the heights impending immediately 
over the site of the hot springs at Thermopylae 
as the CaUidromos; not considering that Cato 
occupied the summit of that name with a part 
of the Roman army, and that it was in the most 
eastern part of the chain of CEta\ As soon as 
we began to descend, we were beyond measure 
surprised with the immensity and magnificence 
of tlie scene that opened all at once upon us. 
It comprehended the whole of the Gulph of 
Ma LI A, looking like a lake in the vast depth 
below, commanded by the towers of Bodonitza, 
which appeared enthroned upon a conical and 
lofty hill among the craggy summits that were 
heaped close under our view, also overlooking 
all the plain between Mount QLta and the sea. 
Every part of this fine prospect has been en- 
nobled by the genius of Sophocles, who adapted 
his tragedy of the Trachinics entirely to the 
scenery here. He has even enumerated the 
particular trees found upon this summit of (Eta, 
and makes Hercules select them for his funeral 
(.1) " Extremos ad orientem montes CE^riw vocant : quorum quod 
altissimum est, C«//("(fro?Ho?j appellatur; in ciijus valle," &c. iLivii 
Hist. lib. xxxvi. c. 15. torn. III. p. 266. ed. Crevier.) where there was a 
vallaj traversed by the Military Way, a description inapplicable to 
that part of (Ula Avhich is above the Therma. 
Trachinict 
of SOFHO- 
CLES. 
