Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/253

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B. III. C. IV. § 7, 8.
SPAIN.
239

to vessels approaching. It is called Dianium,[p 1] from Diana. Near to it are some fine iron-works, and two small islands, Planesia[p 2] and Plumbaria,[p 3] with a sea water lake lying above, of 400 stadia in circumference. Next is the island of Hercules, near to Carthage, and called Scombraria,[p 4] on account of the mackerel taken there, from which the finest garum[1] is made. It is distant 24 stadia from Carthage. On the other side of the Xucar, going towards the outlet of the Ebro, is Saguntum, founded by the Zacynthians. The destruction of this city by Hannibal, contrary to his treaties with the Romans, kindled the second Punic war. Near to it are the cities of Cherronesus,[p 5] Oleastrum, and Cartalia, and the colony of Dertossa,[p 6] on the very passage of the Ebro. The Ebro takes its source amongst the Cantabrians; it flows through an extended plain towards the south, running parallel with the Pyrenees.

7. The first city between the windings of the Ebro and the extremities of the Pyrenees, near to where the Trophies of Pompey are erected, is Tarraco;[p 7] it has no harbour, but is situated on a bay, and possessed of many other advantages. At the present day it is as well peopled as Carthage;[2] for it is admirably suited for the stay of the prefects,[3] and is as it were the metropolis, not only of [the country lying] on this side the Ebro, but also of a great part of what lies beyond. The near vicinity of the Gymnesian Islands,[p 8] and Ebusus,[p 9] which are all of considerable importance, are sufficient to inform one of the felicitous position of the city. Eratosthenes tells us that it has a road-stead, but Artemidorus contradicts this, and affirms that it scarcely possesses an anchorage.

8. The whole coast from the Pillars up to this place wants harbours, but all the way from here to Emporium,[p 10] the countries of the Leëtani, the Lartolætæ, and others, are both furnished with excellent harbours and fertile. Emporium was founded by the people of Marseilles, and is about 4000[4] stadia

  1. ↑ Denia.
  2. ↑ Isola Plana.
  3. ↑ S. Pola.
  4. ↑ Islote.
  5. ↑ Peniscola.
  6. ↑ Tortosa.
  7. ↑ Tarragona.
  8. ↑ Majorca and Minorca.
  9. ↑ Iviça.
  10. ↑ Ampurias.
  1. ↑ A sauce so named from the garus, a small fish, from which originally it was prepared. Afterwards it was made with mackerel and other fish. Vide Pliny l. xxxi. c. 7, 8.
  2. ↑ New Carthage, or Carthagena, is intended.
  3. ↑ Sent from Rome.
  4. ↑ The text is here manifestly corrupt. Various other numbers, from
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