Pliny the Elder, The Natural History, BOOK VI. AN ACCOUNT OF COUNTRIES, NATIONS, SEAS, TOWNS, HAVENS, MOUNTAINS, RIVERS, DISTANCES, AND PEOPLES WHO NOW EXIST, OR FORMERLY EXISTED., CHAP. 6.

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CHAP. 6.—THE CIMMERIAN BOSPORUS.

The length of the peninsula¹ which projects between the Euxine and Lake Mæotis, is not more than sixty-seven miles and a half, and the width across never less than two jugera:² it has the name of Eion.³ The shores of the Bosporus then take a curve both on the side of Europe and of Asia, thus forming the Mæotis. The towns at the entrance of the Bosporus are, first Hermonassa,⁴ next Cepi,⁵ founded by the Milesians, and then Stratoclia and Phanagoria,⁶ and the almost deserted town of Apaturos,⁷ and, at the extremity of the mouth, Cimmerium,⁸ which was formerly called Cerberion. (7.) We then come to Lake Mæotis, which has been already mentioned⁹ in the description of Europe.

1 The peninsula on which Taman or Timoutarakan is situate.

2 The jugerum was 100 Grecian or 104 Roman feet in length.

3 Signifying in Greek the "sea-shore."

4 Lying between Singa and Phanagoria. Rennell fixes it at the opening of the lake into which the Kouban flows.

5 Or the "gardens," from the Greek κῆποι. A town of the Cimmerian Bosporus, founded by the Milesians. Dr. Clarke identifies the modern Sienna with it, and the curious Milesian sculptures found there confirm the supposition.

6 Its ruins are supposed to be those near Taman, on the eastern side of the Straits of Kaffa. It was the great emporium for all the traffic between the coasts of the Palus Mæotis and the countries on the south of the Caucasus, and was chosen by the kings of Bosporus as their capital in Asia.

7 A town of the Sindæ; it possessed, like Phanagoria, a celebrated temple of Aphrodite Apaturos, or Venus "the Deceiver," whence probably its name.

8 Clarke identifies it with the modern Temruk, but Forbiger with Eskikrimm.

9 See B. iv. c. 24.

The Natural History. Pliny the Elder. John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S. H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A. London. Taylor and Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. 1855.

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Cross-references to this page (5):
- Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), APATU´RUM
- Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), BO´SPORUS CIMME´RIUS
- Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), CEPI MILESIO´RUM
- Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), CORA´XICI MONTES
- Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), MAEO´TIS PALUS
Cross-references in general dictionaries to this page (6):
- Lewis & Short, Cappădŏcĭa
- Lewis & Short, Cărambis
- Lewis & Short, Hălys
- Lewis & Short, Quintĭlĭānus
- Lewis & Short, Sĭnōpē
- Lewis & Short, excursus

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Pliny the Elder, The Natural History
John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S., H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A., Ed.

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CHAP. 6.—THE CIMMERIAN BOSPORUS.

Pliny the Elder, The Natural History John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S., H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A., Ed.

This text is part of:

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CHAP. 6.—THE CIMMERIAN BOSPORUS.

Pliny the Elder, The Natural History
John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S., H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A., Ed.