Res Gestae

Here naphtha also is produced, a glutinous substance which looks like pitch. This too is similar to bitumen, and even a little bird, if it lights upon it, is prevented from flying, sinks, and disappears utterly. And when fluid of this kind catches fire, the mind of man will find no means of putting it out, except dust.[*](Cf. xxiii. 4, 15.)

In these regions there is also to be seen a cleft in the earth,[*](Cf. Lucr. vi. 756 ff.) from which rises a deadly exhalation, which with its foul odour destroys every living creature that comes near it. If this pestilential stuff, rising from a kind of deep well, should spread out widely from its opening before rising on high, it would by its fetid odour have made the surrounding country a desert.

A similar opening was formerly to be seen (as some say) at Hierapolis in Phrygia. And from this also a noxious vapour with a penetrating stench came forth and was destructive to whatever came near it, excepting only eunuchs; and the reason for this may be left to natural philosophers to determine.[*](Cf. Dio. lxviii. 27, 3; Pliny, N.H. ii. 208.)

Also at the temple of Jupiter Asbamaeus in Cappadocia, where that famous philosopher Apollonius[*](This self-styled philosopher, of Tyana in Cappadocia, was famous for his belief in his magic or supernatural powers. He lived in the first century A.D. His Life, by Philostratus, has come down to us; see Philostratus, L.C.L., i. Introd.) is said to have been

Within this area is Adiabena, called Assyria in ancient times, but by long custom changed to this name because, lying between the navigable rivers Ona and Tigris it could never be approached by a ford; for we Greeks for transire say διαβαίνειν. At least, this is the opinion of the ancients.

But I myself say that there are two perpetually flowing rivers to be found in these lands, the Diabas and Adiabas,[*](Valesius thinks they are the same rivers which are more commonly called Zabas and Anzabas, and that dia became za; but see Index.) which I myself have crossed,[*](During the flight after Julian’s death.) and over which there are bridges of boats; and therefore it is to be assumed that Adiabena was named from them, as from great rivers Egypt[*](Homer calls the Nile Aegyptus; cf. xxii. 15, 3.) was named, according to Homer, as well as India, and the Euphratensis, before my time called Commagena; likewise from the Hiberus,[*](Ebro.) Hiberia (now Hispania), and the province of Baetica from the noble river Baetis.[*](Guadalquivir.)

In this Adiabena is the city of Ninus,[*](Also called Nineve; cf. xxviii. 7, 1.) which once possessed the rule over Persia, perpetuating the name of Ninus, once a most powerful king and the husband of Semiramis; also Ecbatana,[*](Likewise a city of Media.) Arbela, and Gaugamela,[*](Gaugamela was a small village near Arbela; it was there that the battle was fought, although it is more commonly called the battle of Arbela.) where Alexander, after various other battles, overthrew Darius in a hot contest.

But in all Assyria there are many cities, among which Apamia, formerly called Mesene,[*](Pliny, N.H. vi. 132, separates Apamia from Mesene; cf. xxiv. 3, 12; on Teredon, cf. Pliny, vi. 145.) and Teredon, Apollonia and Vologessia, and many similar ones are conspicuous. But these three are especially magnificent and widely known: Babylon,[*](Diod. Sic. (ii. 9, 9) says that in his time Babylon had been almost wholly destroyed and Pausanias, viii. 33, 3, that only the walls and the temple of Belus were standing.) whose walls Semiramis built with bitumen[*](Cf. Curtius, v. 1, 16 and 25.) (for the ancient king Belus built the citadel), and Ctesiphon, which Vardanes[*](Unknown.) founded long ago; and later king Pacorus[*](Pacorus seems to have been the son of king Orodes, defeated by Ventidius.) strengthened it with additional inhabitants and with walls, gave it a Greek name, and made it the crowning ornament of Persia. And finally there is Seleucia, the splendid work of Seleucus Nicator.