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For the topography of Sardis cf. Perrot et Chipiez, v. 249-50, and 84. 3 n. Its citadel (τεῖχος, § 6) stood on a spur projecting north from Mount Tmolus, with which it was connected by a low ridge; this rises very sharply to the height of about 600 feet, fully justifying H.'s account of its inaccessibility (c. 84). Round it flow two rivers, the gold-bearing Pactolus on the west, and on the east a perennial stream, H.'s Hyllus. The ἄστυ lay on these (84. 5) between the πόλις (84. 3, i.e. the ‘citadel’) and the rivers. συρρηγνῦσι gives the personal touch of one who has seen these mountain streams.

One branch of the Hermus flows from the Murad Dagh, a ridge west of Pessinus, from which town Cybele's aniconic image was brought to Rome in 204 B.C. On this ridge she was worshipped as ‘Dindymene’ (Hor. Odes, i. 16. 5); for other local names cf. Strabo, 469, and for another cult-statue of her in high places cf. the ‘Niobe’ of Mount Sipylus. She had a temple in Sardis (v. 102. 1). For her worship generally cf. App. I, § 2.


For Harpagus cf. 109. 3 n. and App. IV, § 4.

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