§ 5  I. [translation omits paragraphs 1-4, found in one manuscript, an introduction beginning with Moses] ... they are not ruled, but rule themselves. They do not eat the food common to all since they do not have bodies which are poor like ours. Neither flea nor louse nor bug nor meal worm is found among them, nor is there anything unsound in their bodies. They do not make use of the clothing common to all, but have garments which are almost impossible to soil. If these should happen to become soiled, they clean them with fire; for when the material is heated, it becomes clean.

§ 6  They neither sow nor reap, for they possess many different kinds of costly things emeralds, pearls, rubies and sapphires in the mountains. These come out from the mountains in the following manner; a river which flows out of the mountains runs day and night among them; moreover it lies around the mountain peaks and surrounds them in a great deal of water. The ingenuity of the people living next to the river hit upon an idea whereby they might be able to obtain the substances from the mountains; building nets into the narrow places in the river they catch them as they go by.

§ 7  With such good fortune they neither labor nor grow sick; moreover they alone die knowing the day of their death. They live one hundred and eighteen or one hundred and twenty years and the elder does not grieve the death of the younger, nor parents their sons. The individual knowing the day of his death makes a variegated coffin for himself from spicewoods (all spicewoods are available to them in quantity) and, placing himself in it, awaits the hour seeking his life. When the hour arrives, greeting and saying good-bye to all he pays back whatever he owes. And there is a great lack of care among them. I have mentioned but a few of the good things which this nation possesses and have neglected to mention many. Their land is seventy days? journey wide.

§ 8  II. After this nation the Brachmani inhabit what land there is next as one goes toward the west. They live well and without dominion, and they have the good will of their neighbors. The land they inhabit is five days' journey wide.

§ 9  After these there is another land, that of the Eviltae. They are without dominion and almost live the life of the gods. Their land is thirty-two days' journey wide.

§ 10  After these there is a nation which is called Emer. Its inhabitants live without being ruled and conduct their lives justly. They inhabit a land forty-seven days' journey wide.

§ 11  III. After these there is a region which is called Nebus. This is the first nation which has rulers; it is ruled by elders and is sixty days' journey wide.

§ 12  From this point there are sowing and reaping, but the above-mentioned nations, except the Camarini, live on fruits, pepper, and honey; the Camarini receive bread daily from the sky. Among all of these there is no anger nor do they go to court. There is no such thing as a quarrel nor is there covetousness nor grief nor anything bad.

§ 13  Next to the nation of Nebus there lies the region of Disaph. Its inhabitants are ruled well, just like their neighbors.They inhabit a land which has a width of two hundred and forty days' journey.

§ 14  After this there is the nation named thus: Ioneum. The people of this nation are thought to live their lives in the same way as their neighbors, for there is no difference in their mode of living. They inhabit a land one hundred and twenty days' journey wide.

§ 15  Then there is the Divan nation; they are ruled in the same way by elders and have a land two hundred and ten days' journey wide.

§ 16  Then there is Greater India. Silk and all sorts of necessities are said to be exported from here. Living like their neighbors they pass their lives well and their land is great and good, being two hundred and ten days' journey wide.

§ 17  Next to it, then, lies the region of Exim. It is said to have brave men who are very active in war and skilled in all sorts of endeavors. Whenever the Persians have begun to make war on Lesser India, its inhabitants seek aid here where they are prosperous. Their territory is one hundred and fifty days' journey wide.

§ 18  After these there is Lesser India, which is ruled by elders. They have a great number of elephants and the Persians get their elephants from there because of their quantity. Their land is fifteen days' journey wide.

§ 19  IV. After these are the Persians who are the neighbors of the Roman territories. It is written that they are very evil in all things but brave in wars. They say that a great sacrilege is done by these, for they do not acknowledge the dignity of nature, and, just like dumb animals, they sleep with their mothers and sisters, thus being irreverent toward the god who created them. Otherwise they are said to abound in all things, for, since they have the power to trade with all the neighboring nations, they abound in plenty.

§ 20  Next to these lives the nation of the Saracens. They say that they spend their lives in plundering those who are engaged in work and that women rule among them.

§ 21  [5 lines omitted from translation] They [Persians?] are also godless and lying, and do not maintain their oaths in war or any other affair.

§ 22  V. After these is our territory, for Mesopotamia and Osdroena follow. Mesopotamia has many different cities and I wish to mention the most outstanding. These are Nisibis and Edessa, which have men who are good in many fields. There are very sagacious traders, good fighters, and wealthy men. They are provided with all sorts of goods, for they take in things from the Persians and are engaged in buying and selling throughout the entire Roman world; in their turn they trade with the Persians except for copper and iron, for it is not permitted to give copper and iron to enemies. These independent cities have, through the wisdom of their lord and master, walls which are renowned; in war these always render the Persians' valor useless. The cities are eager traders and transact their business well with every province. Edessa of Osdroena is also a fine city.

§ 23  VI. Now there is the land of Syria. It is divided into three Syrias; Phoenicia, Palestine, and Coele. These have many different excellent and great cities; by mentioning just a little about these I shall surely delight my audience. First of all there is the prosperous, royal city of Antioch where the ruler of the world has his seat. It is a fine city, outstanding in its public works, and, although it takes in a great number of immigrants, it sustains them all as it abounds in all sorts of goods.

§ 24  The other cities are like Tyre, which is quite well off in that it carries on a thriving business with many peoples (indeed, probably no eastern city is more crowded with people or more avid in its business) and that it has men who are rich and able in all fields.

§ 25  After this there is the very delightful city of Berytus, which possesses legal institutions; indeed the Roman judicial system seems to rest largely on this city, for learned men from Berytus take up positions throughout the entire world as judges, and knowing the laws they take care of the provinces to which legal charters are sent.

§ 26  Next there is the city of Caesarea. It too is very delightful and abounds in all things, and the disposition of the city is outstanding. Its tetrapylon, a singular and famous sight, is spoken of everywhere.

§ 27  It is necessary to name part of the other cities and what singular things each possesses. First of all, then, there is the good city of Laodicia which undertakes every kind of trade, exports to Antioch, and has provided many troops for the army.

§ 28  Similarly the fine city of Seleucia sends all that it receives (both public and private goods) to Antioch. Constantius, the ruler of the earth, seeing that it would be useful to both Antioch and his army, divided a great mountain, let in the sea, and made a fine, big harbor where incoming ships might be sheltered and their cargos of public wares not be lost.

§ 29  Now here are all the other cities. Ascalon and Gaza are outstanding, “boiling” in business, and abound in all things. They export fine wine to all of Syria and to Egypt.

§ 30  The city of Neapolis is renowned and very celebrated, while Tripolis, Scythopolis, and the city of Byblus are very busy. Heliopolis, which is next to Mount Lebanus, produces the beautiful women who are known to all as Libanitides. There they worship Venus magnificently; they even say that she lives there and gives the women the grace of beauty. Then there are the following cities: Sidon, Sarepta, Ptolemais, the excellent Eleutheropolis, and also Damascus.

§ 31  Since I have partly described the above-mentioned cities and have spoken about each, it is now proper to tell what singular things each possesses. The following lie along the coast: Scythopolis, Laodicia, Byblus, Tyre, and Berytus. They export linen cloth to the entire world and are outstandingly in their abundance in all things; likewise Sarepta, Caesarea, Neapolis, and Lydda produce genuine purple dye. All the above-mentioned cities grow grain, grapes, and olives, and are prosperous. You will find the Nicolaan date in the region of Palestine which is known as Jericho, as well as the Damascan and the other smaller date; you will also find the pistachio and all types of fruit in abundance.

§ 32  Since I am obliged to describe their individual features, it is necessary to speak here of the entertainment of the individual cities. First of all you have Antioch, which abounds in all sorts of entertainment, especially circuses. Why are all things here? Because the emperor has his seat there; all things are necessary because of him. Laodicia too has circuses, as do Tyre, Berytus, and Caesarea. Laodicia sends the best jockeys to other cities, while Tyre and Berytus produce mime actors, and Caesarea dancers, while Heliopolis produces mostly flute players, because the Muses of Mount Lebanus inspire them with their divine speech. Gaza too sometimes has good musicians and is said to have good prize fighters. Ascalon produces wrestlers and Castabala rope dancers.

§ 33  All these support themselves by their trade and they have men who are rich and excel in all areas — speech, work, and virtue. They also have a moderate climate. I have, then, mentioned a few things about Syria, but I have omitted many so that I shall not be said to have talked too long and so that I may be able to describe the other regions and provinces.

§ 34  VII. On the left side of Syria you have the lands of Egypt, Alexandria, and the Thebaid, which it is necessary to describe. First you have the whole area of Egypt. The river Nile, which irrigates the face of the land in its course, crowns this area. It produces all crops except olives, wheat, barley, the legume, and the vine-abundantly. Its people are noble and outstandingly devout. Indeed, nowhere are the mysteries of the gods conducted in the same way as there in ancient times and even up until the present. It has taught almost the entire world to worship the gods. They say that the Chaldeans are more reverent in their worship, yet I admire that which I see certainly and I say that the Egyptians are best of all; indeed I know that gods have lived or are living there. Some say that the alphabet was invented by them, while others maintain that it was the Chaldeans, and still others that it was the Phoenicians. Certain ones even believe that Mercury invented it. Among so many opinions no one knows which is true, nor is it possible to believe in any one. Still, Egypt abounds in more learned men than any other nation; indeed in its chief city, Alexandria, you will find all the learning of the philosophers of every nation. There was a contest some time ago between the Egyptians and the Greeks over which should be the recipient of the great library. The Egyptians were judged to be more sagacious and more polished; they won and the library was awarded to them. Choose any subject you wish; you will find no one wiser than an Egyptian in it. A large number of the superior philosophers and men of letters have always lived there. There is no false knowledge among them, but each individual knows completely whatever he claims to know, because he does not attempt everything, and distinguishes and perfects his own particular field through his learning.

§ 35  VIII. Alexandria is a very large city, outstanding in its disposition, abounding in all sorts of goods and rich in foodstuffs. Its inhabitants dine on three types of fish (a thing which the rest of the country does not have) — river, pond, and marine. All types of spices and other barbarian trade goods abound in it; it has the wares of the Indians from beyond the Thebaid and, as it takes in all kinds of things from them, it is distinguished for all kinds of things. Its people are outstandingly devout and the temple of Serapis, the one and only such singular sight in the whole world, is there. Nowhere in the world is such a building or such a disposition of temple or sacred place to be found, for a Museum (library) is seen to surround the temple completely.

§ 36  Along with all of its other goods it possesses one thing which occurs nowhere except in Alexandria and the surrounding area. If there were a lack of it, it would be impossible for judicial matters or private business to be conducted; indeed the whole essence of humanity almost seems to depend on it. What is this material which I am praising so highly? Papyrus! Alexandria manufactures and exports it to the entire world; it also makes this useful product known to all. Alexandria alone of all the nations and provinces has this, which is ungrudgingly the most outstanding of its goods. It possesses the goodness of the Nile exclusive of all other provinces. As it descends in the summer, it irrigates all the soil and prepares it for sowing; sowing inhabitants then fill this soil with a bountiful harvest. Indeed one measure of seed yields from one hundred to one hundred and twenty measures of grain. Every year this productive land is of great benefit to the other provinces; Constantinople in Thrace is almost wholly supported by it, as are the eastern lands because of the emperor's army and the Persian war and because no other province could support this endeavor except Egypt. I am very much inclined to think that this place, where, as I mentioned above, histories show the people to be devout in their worship, is favored by the gods. And all its religious rites and temples are furnished with all things; temple keepers, priests and their assistants, diviners, devout worshippers, and highly religious people abound there. In addition everything is done in proper order; thus you will always find their altars glowing with fire and piled high with sacrifices and incense, and their fillets and spice-filled censers giving off a wonderful odor.

§ 37  You will find the city to be very overbearing on its judges (only the people of Alexandria are engaged in this scorn). Judges enter this city with fear and trembling and they fear the type of law that the people practice; a shower of fire and stones is not far off for the erring judge. Still the city and its surrounding area are in all ways unable to be appreciated. It alone of all the cities of the world comes closest to abounding in the truth afforded by philosophy (most types of philosophers are to be found there). Aesculapius, for instance, assented to give it skill in medicine; he was good enough to take this responsibility on himself in order that Alexandria might have the best doctors in the whole world. The city is known far and wide as the “wellspring of health,” and it has a very moderate climate. I have mentioned, then, just a few things about the above-mentioned regions and cities, for it is not possible to describe all of their features.

§ 38  IX. At the upper left of Syria you will find Arabia. Its chief city is Bostra, which is reported to carry on a great amount of trade. It borders on the nations of the Persians and Saracens, who admire its public work, a tetrapylon.

§ 39  Next is the land of Cilicia, which produces much wine and brings joy to the other provinces; and it possesses the great and excellent city of Tarsus.

§ 40  Next to and above this is Cappadocia, which has noble men and the great city of Caesaria. They say that it is very cold here and that a man who is not accustomed to the area cannot live here without taking some precautions. It is also said to export the following fine trade goods everywhere: rabbit fur and the beautiful skins and wonderful animals of Babylon.

§ 41  Then occurs the fine self-supporting province of Galatia. It does a great deal of trading in furs and several times has provided soldiers for our emperors. Its greatest city is called Ancyra, and it is said that its citizens eat the finest bread in the world.

§ 42  Next is the fine land of Phrygia, which, according to the writings of the ancients — Homer, Vergil, and such others as wrote on the war between Phrygia and Greece — produces brave men. Its chief city is called Laodicia, and it exports the only fur which is named thus: Laodician.

§ 43  Above this is Lesser Armenia, which is reported to furnish excellent horses and bowmen for war.

§ 44  Then there are Paphlagonia and Pontus, which are the homelands of men who are rich and ones who are outstanding in learning and all sorts of goods, like the Cappadocians and Galatians above; they also have beautiful women. A story says that they are so beautiful and so very fair that, when seen, they are thought to be goddesses. The above-mentioned provinces and cities (that is, Pontus, Paphlagonia, Galatia, and Cappadocia) also have intelligent men. If you wish proof of this intelligence, look at the imperial courts, both east and west, and there you will find many more Pontic, Paphlagonian, Cappadocian, and Galatian men than you will find in other cities or provinces. The reason for this is that all of their business is thought to be undertaken by them in accordance with the orders of the emperors. They are also very reliable in matters of debt and are naturally good people; thus they are urged toward bigger and better things. Here I shall finish my narrative about these countries and begin to speak about those that follow, the countries on the sea.

§ 45  X. Since, then, it is necessary to mention the areas which border on the sea, first there is Cilicia, which I mentioned above, and then Isauria, which is said to have brave men. At one time they attempted to be a pirate nation, then they thought that they could be full-fledged enemies of Rome, but they were not able to conquer that invincible power. After this is the land of Pamphilia. It is fine and self-sufficient, manufacturing much olive oil and filling other lands ..with it. It also has two splendid cities — Perge and Side.

§ 46  After this there is the land of Lycia, which is self-sufficient and has the great mountain called Caucasus. This is reported to be the biggest mountain in the world.

§ 47  After Lycia there is Caria and then there is the great nation of Asia, which stands out before every other province and has innumerable cities. Many of these are, to be sure, along the coast, and it is necessary to name at least two of them here: Ephesus, which is reported to have an excellent harbor, and Smyrna, a magnificent city. The whole area is broad and productive in all goods: various wines,olive oil, rice, good purple dye, and spelt. It is a wonderful land, but it is a difficult task to praise its features since there are so many of them.

§ 48  After this there is Hellespontus, a fertile land furnished with grain, wine, and olive oil. It also has the ancient cities of Troy and Ilium, as well as Cyzicus, which is larger than these. The latter's site, size, ornamentation, and beauty are beyond the power of praise; indeed it was here that Venus wished to establish woman's beauty endowed with the arrow of Cupid.

§ 49  After Hellespontus one can find the praiseworthy land of Bithynia; it is a fine, large country, which produces many foodstuffs. It also has many cities, and outstanding among these are Nicaea and Nicomedia. It would be difficult to find a city elsewhere which has a plan like that of this city. Indeed anyone looking at it would think that a straight-edge had been applied to it throughout because of its evenness and beauty; moreover the city is ornamented in all respects and solid. Nicomedia too is outstanding, praiseworthy, and prosperous. It has a fine public work, an ancient basilica, which is reported to have been destroyed by a divine fire that descended from the sky (it was later rebuilt by Constantine). It also has a circus, which is constructed very well and in which its people watch the races with great enthusiasm.

§ 50  XI. After Bithynia in turn, there is the province of Thrace. It is rich in crops and produces large men who are brave in war; for this reason auxiliaries are often taken from here. It has the outstanding cities of Constantinople and Heraclea. Constantinople was formerly called Byzantium until Constantine built it up and applied his name to it. Heraclea has excellent public works in its theater and royal palace. Constantinople has all things in abundance because of Constantine, and its races are watched very fiercely.

§ 51  From Thrace you come next to Macedonia, a prosperous country which exports iron, scale armor (pluma='down'), and, sometimes, salt pork and Dardanian cheese (for Dardania borders on Macedonia). It also possesses the fine city of Thessalonica, which is one of the outstanding ones.

§ 52  XII. After Macedonia there is Thessaly, a very productive land which is reported to support other countries with its wheat. It also possesses Mount Olympus, which Homer called the abode of the gods. After Thessaly there is the land which contains Achaia, Greece, and Laconia. It has little within its borders, and, though able to support itself, cannot support any other lands, for it is a small, mountainous province which is not capable of much production (though it does produce a little olive oil and Attic honey). It is, then, rather able to be extolled on the basis of the fame of its learning and its eloquence, but not much in other areas. Its main cities are Corinth and Athens, The former does a great deal of trading and has an excellent public work in its amphitheater, while the latter has its tales of the past and a thing which is indeed worthy of mention — its Acropolis, where it is wonderful to see the wars of ancient times attested by all the statues standing there. The only ornament people assign to Laconia, however, is the Crocaean stone they call “Lacedaemonian.”

§ 53  After Achaia you would find the fields of Epirus and the polity which is called by the same name. This province is called Epirus by some and Aetolia by others. Its chief city, Nicopolis, abounds in so many sea fish that it hates to look on its considerable quantity of them. Next to and slightly above this nation is Dalmatia, which is reported to be outstanding in business. Rich, it exports Dalmatian cheese, construction lumber, and iron - for these three things are useful. It has the fine city of Salona; Dyrrachium indeed, because of the wickedness of its people or rather, as they say, by the agency of a god, sank down and never appeared again.

§ 54  XIII. The next provinces are, in order: Calabria, which, since it is a fertile land, is quite prosperous; after this, Brittzia, a fine province which exports rain cloaks and much good wine; and after Brittzia Lucania, a fine prosperous area which exports much salt pork, for all the various foods which salt pork-producing animals eat are found in its mountains. After this land there is the province of Campania, which, though not really very large, possesses rich men, is self-supporting, and is known as the “larder of mistress Rome.”

§ 55  After this there is the famous Italy, which is famous in the word alone and also shows its glory in its name. It has many different cities, is prosperous, and is governed by providence. In Italy you will find many kinds of wine — Picenan, Sabine, Tiburtinan, and Tuscan (Tuscia borders on the above-mentioned province; but I will talk of its beauty quite soon). Italy abounds in all things, but the very best of all that it possesses is that royal city which is the largest and most outstanding in the world, and which shows its virtue even in its name: Rome, the city which Romulus is said to have founded as a boy. It is a huge city and it is further enhanced by fine buildings, for each of the former emperors and those in power today has wished to Incorporate something into the city, and each has built some sort of structure which bears his name. Take Antoninus for example; you will find innumerable public works ascribed to him. Likewise you will find that the forum which contains the great and well-known basilica is ascribed to Trajan. The city's circus is well placed and is decorated with much bronze. Also in Rome are seven very famous free-born virgins, who perform the rites of the gods for the safety of the city according the custom of the ancients, and who are called "Vestal virgins,” It also has a river which is known to many — the Tiber, This is of great use to Rome as it cuts through the city and flows to the sea. Everything that comes to Rome from abroad goes up its eighteen-mile channel; thus the city abounds in all things. Rome has, moreover, a great senate of rich men, whom, if you were to examine the credentials of each, you would find to be men who have been, will be, or, at least, are able to be judges, although some may not wish the positions because they want to “enjoy with no cares.” The city's inhabitants worship Jupiter and Sol among other gods; the rites of the Mother of the Gods are said to be observed by them, and there are certainly diviners among them.

§ 56  The area of Tuscia also possesses these; indeed it owes its great fame to them, for they say that the science of entrail inspection originated here and that this was good for the country. Indeed it is a prosperous land, but its special feature is its great amount of divination of religious matters; indeed it is said that they have certainty in this matter of divination. These, then, are the characteristics of Rome and Tuscia. But the other cities of Italy — Aquileia and Mediolanum — are also outstanding.

§ 57  XIV. After Italy let me talk about those polities I have bypassed. First there are the provinces of Mysia and Dacia, which are self-sufficient and very cold; their largest city is called Naessus. Then there is Pannonia, a land rich in all things — crops, cattle, slaves, and a little trade. The dwelling place of the emperors are always here. Its greatest cities are Syrmium and Noricum; the Noric overcoat is reported to come from the latter. This is the area of Pannonia; across the Danube from it lies the Sarmatian tribe of barbarians .

§ 58  XV. After Pannonia there is the province of the Gaulish nations, which, as it is large, is constantly in need of a military commander (now it has one of its own people in this position). Because of the assistance of the emperor the country is prosperous and many expensive things are to be found there. Its greatest polity is reported to be Triveris, where the commander lives; this is a land-locked city. There is also another city, Arelatum by name, which aids the other in all ways. It is a coastal city; it takes in goods from the whole world and supplies them to Triveris. The whole land possesses men who are brave and renowned; thus the Gauls are famous for their bravery and great army in war. It is a fine province in all respects, and it borders on the barbaric nation of the Goths.

§ 59  XVI. Next to the Gaulish lands is Spain, a great, broad land, rich in learned men, and abounding in all trade goods; I shall speak of a few of these. It exports and supplies many nations with olive oil, salt sauce, several sorts of garments, salt pork, and cattle; it possesses many goods, even an overabundance of them. But even apart from all of these it is famous throughout the world by virtue of the Spanish rope-plant, which is vital for many in that it preserves every sort of ship, and much trade rests on ships (still there are many who maintain that this plant is weak). The ocean is said to begin at this point and then comes that area of it which no man is able to describe. Who would be able to exist there, for it is deserted and, as they say, the end of the earth is out there?

§ 60  XVII. As you turn toward the south, you will find Mauritania. The men here lead the life and have the manners of barbarians although they are Roman subjects. This province trades in garments and slaves and abounds in grain; its chief city is Caesarea. After Mauritania there is the province of Numidia, which abounds in crops, is self- sufficient, and trades in several types of garments and the finest animals.

§ 61  Next to this province is found the region of Africa, which is rich in all things. It is furnished with all sorts of goods, agricultural products, and cattle; and it supplies many nations with its olive oil. It has many different cities, but the most outstanding of these is the much-admired Carthage, which the Tyrian woman Dido founded. When she came to Libya, she bought the area of the city, which was to be as large as the hide of an ox could encompass, and she called it, as Vergil says, Byrsa. It is a fact that the city's disposition is quite famous. While it possesses a truly beautiful site, it also has olive trees throughout, which are in rows along the city's streets with their uniform lines of buildings. Yet it has a harbor, which, beyond every famous sight, is seen to afford calm water where ships may remain without fear. You will also find in the city a fine public work in its street of the money-changers. In these rich surroundings the people quite obstinately watch only one thing, the public show. Africa itself is very great, good, and rich, but the men which it produces are not worthy of their native land. While the land is great and good, its men are definitely not. They are said to be extremely treacherous, saying one thing and doing another. It is difficult to find a good man among them, although it is possible that there are a few good ones among their large numbers.

§ 62  To the south of the great land of Africa lies a great desert. They say that a small nation composed of Mazicans and Ethiopians lives in a tiny part of this desert. Pentapolitana is found after these; it is small but rich in crops and cattle, and it has two ancient cities: Ptolemais and Cyrene — which are said to have held sway in the past. Then there is another province of Libya; it is just west of Alexandria and has not received any rain for many years. It has but few men, but these are good, pious, and prudent (such a good could happen to them only, I feel, through divine instruction). Then there is Alexandria again. This then is the circle of the earth, the lands of both Romans and barbarians. I was able to say but a little about them, for it was not possible to write all that could have been said with certainty. And although one section has by chance escaped us, I think that it will not do so very much. So in order that I may not appear to have bypassed the whole field of islands, I shall now mention the islands which are in the middle of the sea, and, when I am done, shall conclude my talk.

§ 63  XVIII. I shall then name the islands, starting from the east. The first and largest is Cyprus, which is engaged in shipbuilding. It is said that there is not anything native to another province in the manufacture of its ships. The island has all that is necessary: wood, bronze, iron, pitch, even linen for the sails, and rope. Moreover it is said to abound in all other goods.

§ 64  Next there is Euboea, an island which is said to be a fine place. Next you will find the many islands which are known as the Cyclades; there are fifty-three of them and they all have one judge. It is fitting to mention some of these by name at this time. First there is Rhodes, a great island and city, which, just as the Sibyl prophesied, was to perish through the wrath of a god; indeed there was evil in it according to the prophecy of the Sibyl. There is in the city a statue which everyone calls the Colossus, and which is outstanding because of its great size. Next is Delos, and next is Tenedos of Apollo. Next you will find Imbros, which exports many rabbit furs because of the abundance of this animal; there are tremendous numbers of these here, though in other matters the island is moderately self-sufficient. Next to it lies the moderately self-sufficient Lemnos; it manufactures much wine and exports it to the countries of Macedonia and Thrace.

§ 65  Next you will come upon the island of Crete, which boasts a hundred cities. It is rich and admirable in many ways; its greatest city bears the name Gortina, and it is rumored that there is a circus there. It also has a few rich and learned men. After this there is the island of Cythera; and then there are Zacinthus and Cephalonia, prosperous islands.

§ 66  XIX. After all these islands there is the fine, large island of Sicily whose soil differs from that of the other islands in its solidity. Sicily produces many goods and exports such useful trade goods as it has in abundance a great deal of wool and cattle everywhere. It possesses rich men and ones who are erudite in both Greek and Latin letters. It also has the outstanding cities of Syracuse and Cathana; in both of these the circus spectacles are well attended. The men of the leisure class own fine, powerful animals, and they have contests with each other over the qualities of their animals. You will find on this island a mountain which is called Etna, and, if this is worthy of belief, there is a divine presence on that mountain, since a flame glows both day and night on the mountain top and smoke is seen rising up from it. It has vineyards all around its slopes and these produce fine wine.

§ 67  After this there is Cossora and then the outstanding island which is called Sardinia; the latter is very rich in crops and cattle, and is also very fine.

§ 68  The next island is called Britannia, and it, as those who have been there say, is very large and superabundant in all things.