Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/361

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B. V. C. III. § 6.
ITALY. LATIUM.
347

road is paved from Rome to Brundusium,[p 1] and has great traffic. Of the maritime cities, these alone are situated on it; Tarracina, beyond it Formiæ,[p 2] Minturnæ,[1] Sinuessa,[p 3] and towards its extremity Tarentum and Brundusium. Near to Tarracina, advancing in the direction of Rome, a canal runs by the side of the Via Appia, which is supplied at intervals by water from the marshes and rivers. Travellers generally sail up it by night, embarking in the evening, and landing in the morning to travel the rest of their journey by the way: however, during the day the passage boat is towed by mules.[2] Beyond is Formiæ, founded by the Lacedæmonians, and formerly called Hormiæ, on account of its excellent port. Between these [two cities],[p 4] is a gulf which they have named Caiata,[p 5] in fact all gulfs are called by the Lacedæmonians Caietæ: some, however, say that the gulf received this appellation from [Caieta], the nurse of Æneas. From Tarracina to the promontory of Caiata is a length of 100 stadia. Here[p 6] are opened vast caverns, which contain large and sumptuous mansions. From hence to Formiæ is a distance of 40 stadia. Between this city and Sinuessa, at a distance of about 80 stadia from each, is Minturnæ. The river Liris,[p 7] formerly named the Clanis, flows through it. It descends from the Apennines, passes through the country of the Vescini,[p 8] and by the village of Fregellæ, (formerly a famous city,) and so into a sacred grove situated below the city, and held in great veneration by the people of Minturnæ. There are two islands, named Pandataria and Pontia,[p 9] lying in the high sea, and clearly discernible from the caverns. Although small, they are well inhabited, are not at any great distance from each other, and at 250 stadia from the mainland. Cæcubum is situated on the gulf of Caiata, and next to it Fundi, a city on the Via Appia. All these places produce excellent wines; but those of Cæcubum, Fundi, and Setia[3] are most in repute, and so are the Falernian, Alban,[p 10] and Statanian wines. Sinuessa is situated in a gulf from which it takes its name, sinus signifying

  1. ↑ The ruins of this town are extant on either bank of the Garigliano, the ancient Liris.
  2. ↑ Compare Horace, Satir. l. i. sat. 5.
  3. ↑ Sezza. The French translators think this should be Vescia.
  1. ↑ Βρεντέσιον, now Brindes.
  2. ↑ Mola di Gaeta.
  3. ↑ Rocca di Monte Dragone.
  4. ↑ Tarracina and Formiæ.
  5. ↑ Gaëta.
  6. ↑ At Sperlunga.
  7. ↑ The Garigliano.
  8. ↑ Vestini, MSS.
  9. ↑ Ponza.
  10. ↑ Albano.
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