Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/282

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268
STRABO.
CASAUB. 179.

[countries of the] Vocontii[p 1] and Cottius,[1] from Nemausus[p 2] to Ugernum and Tarusco, the route is common; from thence [it branches off in two directions], one through Druentia and Caballio,[p 3] to the frontiers of the Vocontii and the commencement of the ascent of the Alps, which is 63 miles; the other is reckoned at 99 miles from the same point to the other extremity of the Vocontii, bordering on the state of Cottius, as far as the village of Ebrodunum.[p 4] The distance is said to be the same by the route through the village of Brigantium,[p 5] Scingomagus,[p 6] and the passage of the Alps to Ocelum,[p 7] which is the limit of the country of Cottius. However, it is considered to be Italy from Scingomagus. And Ocelum is 28 miles beyond this.

4. Marseilles, founded by the Phocæans,[2] is built in a stony region. Its harbour lies beneath a rock, which is shaped like a theatre, and looks towards the south. It is well surrounded with walls, as well as the whole city, which is of considerable size. Within the citadel are placed the Ephesium and the temple of the Delphian Apollo. This latter temple is common to all the Ionians; the Ephesium is the temple consecrated to Diana of Ephesus. They say that when the Phocæans were about to quit their country, an oracle commanded them to take from Diana of Ephesus a conductor for their voyage. On arriving at Ephesus they therefore inquired how they might be able to obtain from the goddess what was enjoined them. The goddess appeared in a dream to Aristarcha, one of the most honourable women of the city, and commanded her to accompany the Phocæans, and to take with her a plan of the temple and statues.[3] These things being performed, and the colony being settled, the Phocæans

  1. ↑ Cottius possessed the present Briançonnais. That portion of the Alps next this canton took from this sovereign the name of the Cottian Alps. Cottius bore the title of king; and Augustus recognised his independence; he lived till the time of Nero, when his possessions became a Roman province.
  2. ↑ About 600 years before the Christian era.
  3. ↑ Ἀφίδρυμά τι τῶν ἱερῶν. Gosselin gives a note on these words, and translates them in his text as follows, “one of the statues consecrated in her temple.”
  1. ↑ The cantons of Vaison and Die.
  2. ↑ Nîmes.
  3. ↑ Durance and Cavaillon.
  4. ↑ Embrun.
  5. ↑ Briançon.
  6. ↑ Sezanne, or perhaps Chamlat de Seguin.
  7. ↑ Uxeau.
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