Res Gestae

At no great distance from these are the Tauri, divided into various kingdoms, among whom the Arichi, the Sinchi, and the Napaei are terrible for their ruthless cruelty, and since long continued license has increased their savageness, they have given the sea the name of Inhospitable; but in irony[*](The principle is probably irony in some cases, but in the case of the Furies it appears to be euphemism. Sometimes we have neither; cf. Plutarch, De Curios. 12, who says that some of the Greeks call night εὐφρόνη (kindly), because it brings good and salutary resolves; others, because it invites gaiety or refreshes the body.) it is called by the contrary name of Pontus εὔξεινος,[*](Hospitable. Cf. Ovid, Tristia, iv. 4, 55 f., frigida me cohibent Euxini litora Ponti, dictus ab antiquis Axenus (inhospitable) ille fuit. ) just as we Greeks call a fool εὐήθης, and night εὐφρόνη, and the Furies εὐμενίδες.[*](εὐήθης,Good-natured,εὐφρόνη,the well-wisher, and εὐμενίδες, kindly goddesses. There seem to be varying motives here; see note 1.)

For these peoples offer human victims to the gods and sacrifice strangers to Diana, whom they call Orsiloche, and affix the skulls of the slain to the walls of her temple, as a lasting memorial of their valorous deeds.[*](See Strabo, vii. 3, 6; Mela, ii. 1, 13; Ovid, Ex Pont, iii. 2, 45 K. The story of Iphigenia.)

In this Tauric country is the island of Leuce,[*](The island is located more accurately by Mela (ii. 7, 98) at the mouth of the Dnieper; see §40, below.) entirely uninhabited and dedicated to Achilles. And if any happen to be carried to that island, after looking at the ancient remains, the temple, and the gifts consecrated to that hero, they return at evening to their ships; for it is said that no one can pass the night there except at the risk of his life. At that place there are also springs and white birds live there resembling halcyons, of whose origin and battles in the Hellespont I shall speak[*](This promise was not fulfilled, unless a lost book is referred to: see crit. note.) at the appropriate

Now there are some cities in the Taurica, conspicuous among which are Eupatoria, Dandace, and Theodosia, with other smaller towns, which are not contaminated with human sacrifices.

So far the peak of the bow is thought to extend; the remainder of it, gently curved and lying under the Bear in the heavens, we shall now follow as far as the left side of the Thracian Bosporus, as the order demands, with this warning; that while the bows of all other races are bent with the staves curved, in those of the Scythians alone, or the Parthians, since a straight rounded[*](These apparently contradictory words have given a good deal of trouble, but the meaning is plain. The handle is straight laterally, but is rounded like a broomstick for example, or a hoe-handle, and for the same reason; see note on § 10, above.) handle divides them in the middle, the ends are bent downwards on both sides and far apart,[*](That is, the Greek bow is bent in a continuous curve; in the Scythian, the two sides are bent, but not the handle.) presenting the form of a waning moon.[*](I.e. in the gibbous stage; see xx. 3, 11, notes.)

Well then, at the very beginning of this district, where the Riphaean mountains sink to the plain, dwell the Aremphaei, just men and known for their gentleness, through whose country flow the rivers Chronius and Visula. Near them are the Massagetae, Halani, and Sargetae, as well as several other obscure peoples whose names and customs are unknown to us.

Then at a considerable distance the Carcinitian gulf opens up, with a river of the same name, and the grove of Trivia,[*](Diana; on the origin of the name, see Varro, L.L. vii. 16.) sacred in those regions.

Next the Borysthenes,[*](Modern Dnieper.) rising in the mountains of the Nervii, rich in waters from its own springs, which are increased by many tributaries, and mingle with the sea in high-rolling

Then, a long distance away, is a peninsula inhabited by the Sindi, people of low birth, who after the disaster to their masters in Asia[*](By a servile war; see Justin, ii. 5, 1-8.) got possession of their wives and property. Next to these is a narrow strip of shore which the natives call ʼἀχιλλέως δρόμος, memorable in times past for the exercises of the Thessalian leader.[*](The racecourse of Achilles.) And next to it is the city Tyros, a colony of the Phoenicians, washed by the river Tyras.[*](See Mela, ii. 1, 55; Pliny, N.H. iv. 83.)

Now in the middle space of the bow, which, as I have said, is widely rounded out and is fifteen days’ journey for an active traveller, are the European Halani, the Costobocae, and innumerable Scythian tribes, which extend to lands which have no known limit. Of these, only a small part live on the fruits of the earth; all the rest roam over desert wastes, which never knew plough nor seeds, but are rough from neglect and subject to frosts; and they feed after the foul manner of wild beasts. Their dear ones, their dwellings, and their poor belongings they pack upon wains covered with the bark of trees, and when the fancy takes them they change their abode without trouble, wheeling their carts to the place which has attracted them.

But when we have come to another bend, abounding in harbours, which forms the last part of the curve of the bow, the island of Peuce juts forth,[*](At the mouth of the Danube.) and around this dwell the Trogodytae, the Peuci, and other lesser tribes. Here is Histros, once a

But the river Danube, rising near Augst,[*](According to Pliny, N.H. iv. 79, the Danube rises in Germania iugus montis Abnobae ex adverso Rauraci Galliae oppidi. For the seven months, cf. Val. Flacc. viii. 186, septem exit aquis, septem ostia pandit. ) and the mountains near the Raetian frontier, extends over a wide tract, and after receiving sixty tributaries, nearly all of which are navigable, breaks through this Scythian shore into the sea through seven mouths.[*](The earlier writers counted only five; Pliny and Ptolemy, six; Strabo, seven.)

The first of these, as their names are interpreted in the Greek tongue, is the aforesaid island of Peuce,[*](The name of the mouth itself is ἱερόν (στόμα). Stoma (στόμα) in each of the following names is the word meaning mouth. Naracu cannot be interpreted; those that follow are beautiful, false, north and narrow. ) the second Naracustoma, the third Calonstoma, the fourth Pseudostoma; but the Borionstoma and Stenostoma are far smaller than the others; the seventh is muddy and black like a swamp.

Now the entire Pontus throughout its whole circuit is misty,[*](Cf. Mela, i. 19, 102, brevis, atrox, nebulosus, etc.) has sweeter[*](I.e. fresher. ) waters than the other seas,[*](Cf. Sail., Hist. iii. 65, Maur., mare Ponticum dulcius quam cetera; Val. Flacc. iv. 719 ff.) and is full of shoals, since the air is often thickened and condensed from the evaporation of moisture, and is tempered by the great masses of water that flow into it; and, because the many rivers that pour into it from every side bring in mud and clods, it rises in shoals that are full of ridges.

And it is a well-known fact that fish from the remotest bounds of our sea[*](The Mediterranean.) come in schools to this

But the part of that same Pontic gulf which is scourged by the north wind and by frosts is so completely bound in ice, that neither are the courses of the rivers believed to flow beneath the ice, nor can men or animals keep their footing on the treacherous and slippery surface, a defect which an unmixed sea never has, but only one which is mingled with water from rivers. But since I have been carried somewhat farther than I expected, let us hasten on to the rest of our story.

Another thing was added,[*](Continuing from the end of xxii. 7, p. 213.) to crown the present joys, something long hoped for it is true, but delayed by an extensive complex of postponements. For it was announced by Agilo and Jovius, who was later quaestor, that the defenders of Aquileia,[*](Cf. xxi. 11, 2.) through weariness of the long siege and having learned of the death of Constantius, had opened their gates, come out, and surrendered the instigators of the revolt; that these were burned alive (as was told above),[*](xxi. 12, 20.) and all the rest obtained indulgence and pardon for their offences.