A Geographical Description of All the Countries in the Known World, Part 1 · Subpart 3 – Subpart 4
Asia minor, more largely described. Cappadocia described.
Cappadocia, called also Leucosyria, and now Amasia, stretcheth four hundred and fifty miles along the Euxine Sea; bounded on the West, with Paphlagonia, Galatia, and part of Pamphilia, on the South with Cilicia, on the East with the Hills Antitaurus, and Moschius, and part of Euphrates; Here runneth Halis, the end of Craesus Empire, both in the site and fate thereof, hee being deceived with that ambiguous Oracle, Craesus Halin penetrans, magnam pervertet op…m vim, that passing Halis, hee should overturn a great State, which hee interpreting actively of his attempts against Cyrus, verified it passively in himself. In Cappadocia was the City of Comana, famoused by the Temple of Bellona, and a great multitude of such as were there inspired by Devillish illusions. Not far thence also was Castabala, where was the Temple of Diana Persica.
Galatia, or Gallo-graecia, hath on the South, Pamphilia, and on the North its washed with the E…xine Sea, by the space of two hundred and fifty miles. Sinope was the chief City: Deiotar…s a famous King: but Galacia is made more famous by St. Pauls Epistle written to the Church thereof.
Pontus, and Bithinia, now called Bursia, hath on the West the mouth of Pontus, the Thracian Bosphorus, and part of Propontis; Galacia on the East: part of the Euxine Sea on the North: and Asia, properly so called, on the South: The most famous Cities in it were Nice, wherein was celebrated the first General Council gathered against the Arians: Nicomedia, sometimes the seat of the Emperors; Apamia, or Bursa, nigh to Mount Olympus, where the first Ottamans had their Seat-Royal, and all of that race (except the Great Turks themselves) are still there buried: Chalcedon, builded seventeen years before Bi…amium and the builders thereof are said to bee blinde, which neglected that better seat. Here was held a famous Council of six hundred and thirty Bishops against the Heresie of Eutiches.
Paphlagonia ▪ hath on the North Pontus, on the East the River Halis, on the South Phrygia and Galacia, and on the West Bithynia: Vetruvius tells us of a …ountain here that seems to bee mixed with wine, that makes drunken such as drink freely thereof.
Asia, properly so called, now Sarcum, is bounded on the West with part of Propontis, and Hellespont, the Aegean, Icarian and Myrtoan Seas; On the South with the Rhodian Sea, Lycia and Pamphilia; On the East with Galacia: and on the North with Pontus, Bythinia, and part of Propontis. In which space are contained Phrygia, Caria, and both Mysia's, Aeolis, Jonia, Doris, and Lydia.
Phrygia is divided into the greater, and the less, called also Hellespontiaca, and Troas. The greater lyeth Eastward, and is so called from the River Phryx, which parts it from Caria. Here stood Midaium the Royal Seat of Mydas, and Apamia the Phrygian Metropolis. Here also upon the River Sangarius stood Gordie, where was the Gordian knot, which when Alexander could not untie, hee cut it in sunder with his sword.
In the lesser Phrygia stood the eye of Asia, and Star of the East, called Ilium, or Troy, destroyed by the Grecians after ten years siege, the ruines whereof appear at this day, the walls, and decayed buildings entertaining the beholder with a kinde of majesty; the walls were of a large circuit, of great, spongy, black, and hard stones, cut foursquare; the ruines of the Turrets on the walls are yet to be seen, also great marble Tombs of ancient workmanship made Chest-fashion, and their covers whole are yet to be seen without the walls. Many great Cisterns made to receive rain water are yet whole; The soil about it is dry, and barren: The Rivers Xanthus, and Simois so much famoused, are small Rivers, which in Summer are quite dry.
Nunc seges est ubi Troja fuit.
Cyzicus was a City of Mysia, wherein was a famous Temple, whose Pillars were four cubits thick, and fifty cubits high, each of one stone, the whole building was made of polished stone, and each stone was joyned to other with a line of gold: The Image of Jupiter within was made of Ivory, crowned with a marble Apollo, which City and Temple were swallowed up in an Earthquake, and probably for their abominable Idolatry. The like befel Philadelphia (one of the seven Churches to which St. John wrote) another City of Mysia, and the like to Magnesia in the same Region.
A little hence standeth Abydus, and over against it on Europe side was Sestus; one of the Guards of the Turkish Empire, he having built Castles there which are well furnished, and the Straits not being above seven Furlongs over. Here Xerxes joyned Asia to Europe by a Bridge, for the transportation of his huge Army into Greece.
In Mysia also was that famous Pine-tree that was four and twenty foot in compass, and growing intire for seventy foot from the root, was then divided into three Arms, equidistant, which afterwards gathered themselves close into one top two hundred foot high.
Jonia is situated on the Icarian Seas over against the Isle of Chios, wherein were ten principal Cities, Miletus, Myus, Priene, Ephesus, Colophon, Lebedus, Teos, Clazomenae, Phocaea, and Erythraea.
The Temple of Diana Described.
The Temple of Diana at Ephesus was one of the Worlds Wonders; two hundred and twenty years were spent in the building of it: It was built upon a Marish to prevent hurt by Earthquakes, which were very common in those parts; the first foundation was laid upon Coals, the second upon Wooll; It was four hundred twenty and five foot long, and two hundred and twenty broad, there were in it one hundred twenty and seven Pillars of Marble, sixty foot in height, and thirty six of them curiously wrought and engraven, the works of so many Kings. The doors of the Temple were of Cypress, which after four hundred years, were as fresh as if they had been new made; the roof was of Cedar: The Image, which superstition supposed to have come down from Jupiter, was made by one Canesia: some say of Ebonie, others of the Vine which had many holes made, and filled with Spikenard, the moisture whereof closed up the rifts. It was inriched and adorned with gifts beyond value. It was contrived by Ctesiphon, and was seven times fired, the last whereof was by Erostratus, who did it to get himself a name: Herodo.
Doris was almost surrounded with the Sea, wherein was Gnidus, a City famous for the Marble Image of Venus and Halycarnassus, famous for Herodotus, and Dionysius the Historians; and for Mausolus, whose Sepulchre erected by Artimesia his wife, and sister, was accounted one of the seven Wonders of the World.
Lycia is washed by the Sea for the space of two hundred miles: In it Mount Taurus ariseth, hence stretching it self Eastward under divers appellations, to the Indian Sea.
Pamphilia beareth Eastward from Lycia, and now together with Cilicia is by the Turks called Caramania.
Armenia minor, which is divided from the greater, now Turcomania, by the River Euphrates on the East.