[292] ἧχι is a nearer epexegesis of “Κρήτῃ”, sc. ‘to that part of it where the Cydones were dwelling.’ The tribes inhabiting Crete are enumerated by Homer, Od.19. 175“ἐν μὲν Ἀχαιοὶ”
“ἐν δ᾽ Ἐτεόκρητες μεγαλήτορες, ἐν δὲ Κύδωνες”,“Δωριέες τε τριχάικες, δῖοί τε Πελασγοί”. On which Strabo Od., 10. 371, says, “τούτων φησὶ Στάφυλος τὸ μὲν πρὸς ἕω Δωριεῖς κατέχειν, τὸ δὲ δυσμικὸν Κύδωνας, τὸ δὲ νότιον Ἐτεόκρητας”. The city of the Cydonians (the name is not given in Homer) and the river Iardanus were on the north coast; but the tribe occupied the breadth of the island and lay along the south coast till it bends suddenly at a right angle to form the southern cape of Crete, here called “σκαιὸν ῥίον”. Gortyn lay inland from that bend of the coast, on the fertile plain bounded on the north and northwest by Mt. Ida, and on the south-east by the chain that runs due eastward from the southern cape. Phaestus, to the S.S.W. of Gortyn, is thus described by Strabo, l. c. “τῆς μὲν Γόρτυνος διέχουσαν ἑξήκοντα” (stadia), “τῆς δὲ θαλάττης εἴκοσι, τοῦ δὲ Ματάλου” (conject. for “Μετάλλου”) “τοῦ ἐπινείου τετταράκοντα”. Between Phaestus at the head of the bay, and the south cape above which lay Matalon, the coast is here described as “λισσὴ αἰπεῖά τε εἰς ἅλα πέτρη”, ‘a sheer and lofty cliff;’ and the waves as they rolled from the south-west (“μέγα κῦμα”) would dash full against this and beat up northwards “ἐς Φαιστόν”.
