CHAPTER II.
MELITENE resembles Commagene, for the whole of it is
planted with fruit-trees, and is the only part of all Cappadocia
which is planted in this manner. It produces oil, and the
wine Monarites, which vies with the wines of Greece. It is
situated opposite to Sophene, having the river Euphrates
flowing between it and Commagene, which borders upon it.
n the country on the other side of the river is Tomisa, a
considerable fortress of the Cappadocians. It was sold to the
prince of Sophene for a hundred talents. Lucullus presented
it afterwards as a reward of valour to the Cappadocian prince
for his services in the war against Mithridates.
[
2]
Cataonia is a plain, wide and hollow,
1 and produces
everything except evergreen trees. It is surrounded by
mountains, and among others by the Amanus on the side towards the south, a mass separated from the Cilician Taurus,
and also by the Anti-Taurus,
2 a mass rent off in a contrary
direction. The Amanus extends from Cataonia to Cilicia, and
the Syrian sea towards the west and south. In this intervening
space it comprises the whole of the gulf of Issus, and the
plains of the Cilicians which lie towards the Taurus. But
the Anti-Taurus inclines to the north, and a little also to the
east, and then terminates in the interior of the country.
[
3]
In the Anti-Taurus are deep and narrow valleys, in
which is situated Comana,
3 and the temple of Enyus (Bellona).
which they call Ma. It is a considerable city. It contains
a very great multitude of persons who at times are actuated
by divine impulse, and of servants of the temple. It is in-
habited by Cataonians, who are chiefly under the command of
the priest, but in other respects subject to the king. The
former presides over the temple, and has authority over the
servants belonging to it, who, at the time that I was there,
exceeded in number six thousand persons, including men and
women. A large tract of land adjoins the temple, the revenue
of which the priest enjoys. He is second in rank in Cappadocia after the king, and, in general, the priests are descended
from the same family as the kings. Orestes, when he came
hither with his sister Iphigenia from Tauric Scythia,
4 is
thought to have introduced the sacred rites performed in
honour of Diana Tauropolus, and to have deposited here the
tresses (Coman,
κόμην.) of mourning, from which the city had
the name of Comana.
The river Sarus flows through this city, and passes out
through the valleys of the Taurus to the plains of Cilicia, and
to the sea lying below them.
[
4]
The Pyramus,
5 which has its source in the middle of the
plain, is navigable throughout Cataonia. There is a large subterraneous channel, through which the water flows underground
to a great distance, and then may be seen springing up again to
the surface. If an arrow is let down into the pit from above, the
resistance of the water is so great that it is scarcely immersed.
Although it pursues its course with great
6 depth and breadth,
it undergoes an extraordinary contraction of its size by the
time it has reached the Taurus. There is also an extraordinary fissure in the mountain, through which the stream is
carried. For, as in rocks which have burst and split in two
parts, the projections in one correspond so exactly with the
follows in the other that they might even be fitted together,
so here I have seen the rocks at the distance of two or three
plethra, overhanging the river on each side, and nearly reaching to the summit of the mountain, with hollows on one side
answering to projections on the other. The bed between (the
mountains) is entirely rock; it has a deep and very narrow
fissure through the middle, so that a dog and a hare might
leap across it. This is the channel of the river; it is full to
the margin, and in breadth resembles a canal.
7 But on account of the winding of its course, the great contraction of
the stream, and the depth of the ravine, a noise, like that of
thunder, strikes at a distance on the ears of those who approach it. In passing out through the mountains, it brings
down from Cataonia, and from the Cilician plains, so great a
quantity of alluvial soil to the sea, that an oracle to the following effect is reported to have been uttered respecting it:
“‘The time will come, when Pyramus, with its deep whirlpools, by ad-
vaucing on the sea-shore, will reach the sacred Cyprus.’”
Something similar to this takes place in Egypt. The Nile
is continually converting the sea into continent by an accumulation of earth; accordingly Herodotus calls Egypt a gift
of the river, and Homer says, that the Pharos was formerly
out at sea, not as it is at present connected with the mainland of Egypt.
[
5]
[The third
8 in rank is the Dacian priesthood of Jupiter,
inferior to this, but still of importance.] There is at this
place a body of salt water, having the circumference of a considerable lake. It is shut in by lofty and perpendicular hills,
so that the descent is by steps. The water it is said does not
increase in quantity, nor has it anywhere an apparent outlet.
[
6]
Neither the plain of the Cataonians nor Melitene have
any city, but strongholds upon the mountains, as Azamora, and
Dastarcum, round which runs the river Carmalas.
9 There
is also the temple of the Cataonian Apollo, which is vener-
ated throughout the whole of Cappadocia, and which the
Cappadocians have taken as a model of their own temples.
Nor have the other provinces, except two, any cities. Of the
rest, Sargarausene has a small town Herpa, and a river Carmalas, which also discharges itself into the Cilician sea.
10 In
the other provinces is Argos, a lofty fortress near the Taurus,
and Nora, now called Neroassus, in which Eumenes sustained
a long siege. In our time it was a treasure-hold of Sisinus,
who attempted to take possession of the kingdom of Cappadocia. To him belonged Cadena, a royal seat, built after the
form of a city. Situated upon the borders of Lycaonia is
Garsauira, a village town, said to have been formerly the
capital of the country.
In Morimene, among the Venasii, is a temple of Jupiter,
with buildings capable of receiving nearly three thousand servants of the temple. It has a tract of sacred land attached to
it, very fertile, and affording to the priest a yearly revenue of
fifteen talents. The priest is appointed for life like the priest
at Comana, and is next to him in rank.
[
7]
Two provinces only have cities. In the Tyanitis is
Tyana,
11 lying at the foot of the Taurus at the Cilician Gates,
12
where are the easiest and the most frequented passes into
Cilicia and Syria. It is called, ‘Eusebeia at the Taurus.’
Tyanitis is fertile, and the greatest part of it consists of
plains. Tyana is built upon the mound of Semiramis, which
is fortified with good walls. At a little distance from this
city are Castabala and Cybistra, towns which approach still
nearer to the mountain. At Castabala is a temple of Diana
Perasia, where, it is said, the priestesses walk with naked
feet unhurt upon burning coals. To this place some persons
apply the story respecting Orestes and Diana Tauropolus, and
say that the goddess was called Perasia, because she was conveyed from beyond (
πέοͅαθεν) sea.
In Tyanitis, one of the ten provinces above mentioned, is
the city Tyana. But with these I do not reckon the cities
that were afterwards added, Castabala, and Cybistra, and
those in Cilicia Tracheia, to which belongs Elæussa, a small
fertile island, which Archelaus furnished with excellent
buildings, where he passed the greater part of his time.
In the Cilician province, as it is called, is Mazaca,
13 the
capital of the nation. It is also called ‘Eusebeia,’ with the
addition ‘at the Argæus,’ for it is situated at the foot of the
Argeus,
14 the highest mountain in that district; its summit is
always covered with snow. Persons who ascend it (but
they are not many) say that both the Euxine and the sea of
Issus may be seen from thence in clear weather.
Mazaca is not adapted in other respects by nature for the
settlement of a city, for it is without water, and unfortified.
Through the neglect of the governors, it is without walls, perhaps intentionally, lest, trusting to the wall as to a fortification,
the inhabitants of a plain, which has hills situated above it, and
not exposed to the attacks of missile weapons, should addict
themselves to robbery. The country about, although it consists of plains, is entirely barren and uncultivated, for the soil
is sandy, and rocky underneath. At a little distance further
there are burning plains, and pits full of fire to an extent of
many stadia, so that the necessaries of life are brought from a
distance. What seems to be a peculiar advantage (abundance
of wood) is a source of danger. For though nearly the whole
of Cappadocia is without timber, the Argæus is surrounded
by a forest, so that wood may be procured near at hand, yet
even the region lying below the forest contains fire in many
parts, and springs of cold water; but as neither the fire nor
the water break out upon the surface, the greatest part of the
country is covered with herbage. In some parts the bottom
is marshy, and flames burst out from the ground by night.
Those acquainted with the country collect wood with caution;
but there is danger to others, and particularly to cattle, which
fall into these hidden pits of fire.
[
8]
In the plain in front of the city, and about 40 stadia
from it, is a river of the name of Melas,
15 whose source is in
ground lower than the level of the city. It is useless to the
inhabitants, because it does not flow from an elevated situation.
It spreads abroad in marshes and lakes, and in the summertime corrupts the air round the city. A valuable stone
quarry is rendered almost useless by it. For there are extensive beds of stone, from which the Mazaceni obtain an
abundant supply of materials for building, but the slabs, being covered with water, are not easily detached by the workmen. These are the marshes which in every part are subject
to take fire.
Ariarathes the king filled in some narrow channels by
which the Melas entered the Halys, and converted the neighbouring plain into a wide lake. There he selected some small
islands like the Cyclades, where he passed his time in boyish
and frivolous diversions. The barrier, however, was broken
down all at once, and the waters again flowed abroad and
swelled the Halys, which swept away a large part of the Cappadocian territory, and destroyed many buildings and plantations; it also damaged a considerable part of the country of
the Galatians, who occupy Phrygia. In compensation for
this injury he paid a fine of three hundred talents to the inhabitants, who had referred the matter to the decision of the
Romans. The same was the case at Herpa; for he there
obstructed the stream of the Carmalas, and, on the bursting
of the dyke, the water damaged some of the places in the
Cilician territories about Mallus; he was obliged to make
compensation to those who had sustained injury.
[
9]
Although the territory of the Mazaceni is destitute in
many respects of natural advantages, it seems to have been
preferred by the kings as a place of residence, because it was
nearest the centre of those districts which supplied timber,
stone for building, and fodder, of which a very large quantity
was required for the subsistence of their cattle. Their city
was almost a camp. The security of their persons and treasure
16 depended upon the protection afforded by numerous
fortresses, some of which belonged to the king, others to their
friends.
Mazaca is distant from Pontus
17 about 800 stadia to the
south, and from the Euphrates a little less than double that
distance; from the Cilician Gates and the camp of Cyrus, a
journey of six days by way of Tyana,
18 which is situated about
the middle of the route, and is distant from Cybistra 300
stadia. The Mazaceni adopt the laws of Charondas, and elect
a Nomōdist, (or Chanter of the Laws,) who, like the Jurisconsults of the Romans, is the interpreter of their laws. Tigranes the Armenian, when he overran Cappadocia, treated
them with great severity. He forced them to abandon their
settlements, and go into Mesopotamia; they peopled Tigranocerta, chiefly by their numbers. Afterwards, upon the capture of Tigranocerta, those who were able returned to their
own country.
[
10]
The breadth of the country from Pontus to the Taurus is
about 1800 stadia; the length from Lycaonia and Phrygia, as
far as the Euphrates to the east, and Armenia, is about 3000
stadia. The soil is fertile, and abounds with fruits of the
earth, particularly corn, and with cattle of all kinds. Although
it lies more to the south than Pontus, it is colder. Bagadania,
although a plain country, and situated more towards the south
than any district in Cappadocia, (for it lies at the foot of the
Taurus,) produces scarcely any fruit-bearing trees. It affords
pasture for wild asses, as does a large portion of the other
parts of the country, particularly that about Garsauira, Lycaonia, and Morimene.
In Cappadocia is found the red earth called the Sinopic,
which is better than that of any other country. The Spanish
only can rival it. It had the name of Sinopic, because the
merchants used to bring it down from Sinope, before the traffic
of the Ephesians extended as far as the people of Cappadocia.
It is said that even plates of crystal and of the onyx stone were
discovered by the miners of Archelaus near the country of the
Galatians. There was a place where was found a white stone
of the colour of ivory in pieces of the size of small whetstones,
from which were made handles for small swords. Another
place produced large masses of transparent stone for windows,
which were exported.
The boundary of Pontus and Cappadocia is a mountainous
range parallel to the Taurus, commencing from the western
extremities of Chammanene, (where stands Dasmenda, a fortress
built upon a precipice,) and extending to the eastern parts of
Laviansene. Both Chammanene and Laviansene are pro-
vinces of Cappadocia.
[
11]
When the Romans, after the defeat of Antiochus, first
governed Asia, they made treaties of friendship and alliance
both with the nations and with the kings. This honour was
conferred upon the other kings separately and independently,
but upon the king of Cappadocia in common with the nation.
On the extinction of the royal race, the Romans admitted the
independence of the Cappadocians according to the treaty of
friendship and alliance which they had made with the nation.
The deputies excused themselves from accepting the liberty
which was offered to them, declaring that they were unable to
bear it, and requested that a king might be appointed. The
Romans were surprised that any people should be unwilling
to enjoy liberty, but permitted
19 them to elect by suffrage any
one they pleased from among themselves. They elected
Ariobarzanes. The race became extinct in the third generation. Archelaus, who was not connected with the nation,
was appointed king by Antony.
So much respecting the Greater Cappadocia.
With regard to Cilicia Tracheia, which was annexed to
the Greater Cappadocia, it will be better to describe it when
we give an account of the whole of Cilicia.
