Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/443

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B. VI. C. III. § 5.
ITALY. IAPYGIA. TARENTUM.
429

Cape Lacinium, which lies opposite to it on the west, it closes the entrance of the Gulf of Tarentum, as on the other side, the Ceraunian Mountains, together with the said Cape, close the entrance of the Ionian Gulf, the run across is about 700 stadia from that,[p 1] both to the Ceraunian Mountains and to Cape Lacinium.[1] In coasting along the shore from Tarentum to Brentesium there are 600 stadia as far as the little city of Baris, which is at the present time called Veretum,[2] and is situated on the extremities of the Salentine territory; the approach to it from Tarentum is much easier on foot[3] than by sea. Thence to Leuca are 80 stadia; this too is but a small village, in which there is shown a well of fetid water, and the legend runs, that when Hercules drove out the last of the giants from Phlegra in Campania, who were called Leuternians, some fled and were buried here, and that from their blood a spring issues to supply the well; on this account likewise the coast is called the Leuternian coast.[4] From Leuca to Hydrus,[5] a small town, 150 stadia. From thence to Brentesium 400, and the like distance also [from Hydrus] to the island Saso,[6] which is situated almost in the midst of the course from Epirus to Brentesium; and therefore when vessels are unable to obtain a direct passage they run to the left from Saso to Hydrus, and thence watching for a favourable wind they steer towards the haven of Brentesium, or the passengers disembarking proceed on foot by a shorter way through Rudiæ, a Grecian city, where the poet Ennius was born.[y 1] The district which we have followed by sea from

  1. ↑ See notes to page 393 of this translation.
  2. ↑ Cramer remarks that Veretum is still represented by the old church of S. Maria di Vereto.
  3. ↑ That is, on land.
  4. ↑ Scylax, Peripl. p. 5, speaks of the Leuterni as a really existing people.
  5. ↑ Now Otranto. Lucan, book v. verse 374, speaking of the little river Idro which runs close to Otranto, says,
    Et cunctas revocare rates, quas avius Hydrus,
    Antiquusque Taras, secretaque litora Leucæ.
    Quas recipit Salapina palus, et subdita Sipus
    Montibus.

    And Cicero, writing of the town to Tyro, book xvi. epistle 9, says of his voyage from Cassiope, Inde Austro lenissimo, cœlo sereno, nocte illa et die postero in Italiam ad Hydruntem ludibundi pervenimus. This place was called Hydruntum by Pliny and other authors.
  6. ↑ Now Saseno, distant 35 minutes from Otranto.
  1. ↑ The Acra Iapygia.
  1. ↑ B. C. 239.
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