A New Description of the World, Section 1 · Account of region 16
A Description of Greece, in its Kingdoms and Provinces, as Antiently it stood, &c.
GREECE as we now must take it, is bounded on the East with the Propontick, Hellespont, and Aegean Seas; on the West with the Adriatick; and on the North with the Mount Haemus, parting it from Servia and Bulgaria, and some part of Illiricum; and on the South with the Ionian Sea; being in a manner a Peninsula, or rather a half Island, commodiously Scituate for Navigation, and has had divers notable Revolutions, being now inti… … the possession of the Turks, unless what the …enetians have preserved, or wrested from them; and as this large Country properly stands at present, I think it highly necessary, for the better conveniency of describing it, to divide it into respective Provinces and Countries, &c.
1. Peloponesus. 2. Achaia. 3. Epirus. 4. Albania. 5. Macedonia: 6. Thrace, and as for the Islands of the Ionian, Aegean and Propontick Seas; together with the famous Creet, I shall leave them to a particular description of all the Islands of note, &c.
Peloponesus is in a manner inclosed by the Sea, only where by a small Isthmus it is joyned to the European Continent, of no more than six miles in breadth; which the Grecians and Venetians formerly fortified with a great Wall and five Castles, Antiently called Hexamillium; but in the Wars with Amurath the second Turkish Emperor they were overthrown; and this Country is accounted 600 miles in circuit, and though it has passed under divers names, it is now called the Morea, and held to be the most pleasant Country of Greece, abounding in fruitfulness, and all things necessary for the support of Human Life; adorned with many goodly Plains and pleasant rising Hills, furnished on every side with sundry commodious Ports and Havens; and though for the bigness of it no Country has suffered more in the ruin of so many stately Cities, yet it remains at this day, the most populous and best Inhabited of all the Grecian Continent; and near the middle of it, in Laconia is the Mount Taygetus, the top whereof gives a prospect over the whole Country, which is properly divided into 7 Provinces, viz. Achaia-Propria, Elis, Messene, Arcadia, Laconia, Argolis and Corinthia.
Achaia-Propria has on the East for its boundard Argolis and Corinth; on the West the Ionian Sea; on the North the Gulf of Lepanto; on the South Elis; so named from the Achaei once Inhabiting it; the Adjuncta Propria being added to difference it from Achaia in the main Land or Continent of Greece.
In this part the considerable places are Chiarenza Antiently Dymae, Scituate in the most Western point of it, on or near the Promontory, Araxum, Aegria, once the chief City of this Tract, now called Xilocastro, Chaminisa, Antiently Olneus, Patreae, a pleasant Town Scituate opposit to the Mouth of the Gulf Lepanto; being a place of considerable Trade, and most note on the Bay of Corinth, from whence it is called Golfo-di-Patras and here the English had once a Consul for the establishment of Trade, called the Consul of the Morea, and is memorable for the death of St Andrew, the Apostle, who there suffer'd Martyrdom; and next to these are Pellene, Hellice, Buris, the latter two much ruined or rather sunk in the Sea by a Tempest, about the time of the Battle of Leuctres; Tritaea and Phera; but the chief Town which separated from the rest, we may term a Province is Sicyon, Scituate in the most Eastern part, and gives name to the Country of Sicyonia abounding in Olives, Wine, and Iron Mines; the Inhabitants whereof count themselves the Antientest of Greece, and have been Governed by a Succession of 26 Kings, before they fell into other Methods of Government.
The Country of Elis, is bounded on the East with Arcadia, on the West with the Ionian Sea, on the North with Achaia-Propria, and on the South Messenia; and has for its chief City Elis, giving name to the Province, and was founded as some Historians have it, by Elisha Son of Javan, and Grandchild of Japhet; and near unto it runs the River Alpheus: In this Tract is found Olympia, near to which once stood the Statue of Jupiter … 60 Cubits in heighth, and every way proportionable, composed of Gold and Ivory, by Phidias; and here were held the Olympic Games, Instituted by Hercules.
MESSENIA is seated in the most Southern part of the Peninsula, and takes its name from the City of Messene Scituate on Sinus Messenaicus now called Golfo-di-Corone, lately taken and posse…led by the Vene…ians; in this Tract stood Pylos the chief City of King Nestor, but now called Navarino, a small Village of little note Metron or Methone, is commodionsly seated in a half Island, and has on the South side a capacious Bay about 3 miles over, fit for the reception of great Vessels. Corone the City that gives name to the Golfo-di-Corone, &c. Cyparissi now called Arcudia, from which the Bay adjoyning takes its name; and although this Province abounding with Corn, Cattle and Fruits, was taken by the Turks in the year 1500, yet in this last War it is mostly recovered by the Venetians.
ARCADIA is bounded on the East with Laconia, on the West with Elis and Messene, on the North with Achaia-Propria; and on the South with the Sea; and is said to take its name from Arcas the Son of Jupiter and Calisto, called before that Pel…gia, and has for its chief City Mantinia; near unto which the Thebans in a mortal Battle, overthrew the Spartans and Athenians; and then Epaminondas that famous Leader received his Mortal wound. This Province is exceeding fertil, abounding in Cattle and rich Pastures, Fruits of sundry kinds, and divers Minerals; insomuch that for its pleasantness, many curious fancies have been …abled upon it; and in this Country Sir Philip Sidney layed the Seene of his famous work.
LACONIA has on the East and South the Sea, on the West Arcadia, and on the North Argolis, Antiently called Lelegia; and was once reckoned to …ontain 100 Cities, though now it comes very short of that number: The chief are Leuctres, Amyclae, Thulana, near to which Hercules is said to kill the Hydra; Salass…a, Epidaurus seated on the Bay of Malvasia, a Town well Built and Fortified; and Sparta so called from Spartus a Prince of Argos; as for this part it is wonderful fruitful, and lies very commodious for Traffick and Navigation, greatly abounding in all the Commodities common to Greece; being pleasantly watered with the River Eurotas, and other Streams of lesser note; having many fair Promontories, Bays, and Havens.
ARGOLIS is bounded on the South with Laconia, on the West with Corinthia and Achaia-Propria, and on the East and North with the Sea; taking its name from the City Argos, its Metropolis, once the Head of a famous Kingdom; and in this City King Pyrrhus the great Grecian Conqueror, after he had Victoriously forced his entrance, was slain with a Tile thrown at him by an old Woman, from the top of a House; and besides this, it has Traezan, Tyrinthia, Nemea, and some others; and grew in times past from a small Province, to a powerful Kingdom; being once the chiefest of Greece in strength giving Birth to many renowned persons, and the most famed for the breed of Horses.
CORINTHIA, though but a little Region, is yet nevertheless exceeding pleasant and fruitful, lying towards the Istmus or neck of Land that joyns the rest of Greece to Peloponesus, between Argolis▪ and Achaia Propria; containing only the Territories of Corinth, and the chief Towns are Cincrea, Corinth, memorable for the Epistles Saint Paul wrote to the Inhabitants; commodiously Scituate for the command of all Greece, but that the Inhabitants give themselves more to Merchandise than War; and although it has been a long time in the hands of the Turks, it was the last year taken by the Venetians; and is Seated on the bottom of the neck or Istmus, the Ionian Sea being on the West, and the Aegean on the East, washing its walls; and makeing on each side a Capacious Haven, and was formerly exceedingly Fortified but of latter times the Security the Turks supposed themselves in, on that part of their Empire, made them little mind keeping it from running to decay.
And thus much may briefly suffice, as for that part of Greece called Peloponesus.
As for the other Achaia, it is properly divided into Attica, Megaris, Baetia, Phocis, Aetolia, Doris, Locris; and the chief City accounted amongst these is Athens, once the head of a famous Common-wealth, and sometime a Kingdom; and is Seated very advantagiously, making a Port into the Sea, and was once the Mistriss of Arts and Arms; and in St. Pauls time, who wrote his first and second Epistle from hence to the Thessalonians a very flourishing City, but by the Wars and Misfortunes it has sustained, is now only noted, for what it has been, more than for what it is.
MEGARIS is but a small Region, yet very pleasant and much abounding in Corn and Fruits, and has for its chief City Magaria.
BAETIA is much larger than the former, and was once all the Dominion or Kingdom of Thebes, that famous City, so much noted to be built by Cadmus the Phaenician, being the Metropolis: and in this Tract are found likewise Aulis and Platea, and is watered with divers pleasant streams.
PHOCIS is memorable for the Mountain Parnassus, and was much noted for the Temple of Apollo at the foot of it, but now that stately Structure where the Delphic Oracle gave Answers is ruined, and scarcely any part of it remaining.
AETOLIA is another considerable part of this Tract, divided by the River Pindus from Epirus; once a country of great note, and full of Towns and places of strength, but now retains at present few of note except Chalcis and Thermum; however the whole Country is pleasant, abounding in Pastures, watered with many Rivers, yielding some Mines, and great store of Cattle.
LOCRIS though it is but a small Region, yet lies Commodiously on the Sea Coast, and has for its chief Town Lepanto; in sight of which was fought the famous Battle or Sea fight, between the Turks, Venetians, and consederate Christians; in which 29000 of the Turks were killed, 4000 taken Prisoners, 140 Gallies Burnt, Taken, and Sunk, and 1200 Christian Slaves rescued, in the year 1571. and as for the Trade here, it consists in Leather, Oyl, Tobacco, Furrs, Wheat, Barly, Rice, &c. And is again in the Possession or under the Power of the Venetians.
DORIS is a small Province bounding upon, or rather appertaining to Locris, and has for its chief Town or City, Amphissa, bordering upon the Mountain Parnassus; here is also found Guidas, where the stately Temple of Venus stood, and where St. Paul continued a long time: And as for this Tract it is very Pleasant and Fruitful, watered with small Rivers, but none of note.
Epirus, was once a Famous Kingdom, of which Pyrrhus (who Invaded the Romans in Italy) was King, but more memorable for being under the Regency of the great Scanderbeg, who with a handful of Men stood out against the whole Power of the Turkish Empire, in the Reigns of Amurath the Second, and Mahomet the great, defeating and destroying Prodigious Armies of the Infidels; and has for its chief Cities Cro…ja, Petrela, Petra, Alba, and Stelusia; the Country is very Fruitful, tho' somewhat Mountainous, and was once accounted next to Macedon, the most powerful in Greece, and at this day greatly abounds in Cattle, rich Pastures and Corn.
ALBANIA is bounded with Macedon, Sclavonia, Epirus, and the Adriatick Sea, and has for its chief Cities Durazzo, and Albinopolis, memorable for its Breed of Horses, which the Turks use mostly in their Wars, and the Courage of its Inhabitants, whose Country being but Indifferently Fruitful, and too strait for the Inhabitants, they like the Swiss, rather choose the Exercise of Arms, than Husbandry.
MACEDON, once Famous for being Head of the Greek Empire, is bounded with Missa Superior, Migdonia, Epirus, and Achaia, and is a very Rich and Flourishing Country, though the Turks greatly oppress the Native Greeks, and make them labour that they may reap the greatest Profit, and abounds not only with Cattle, Corn, and some Wine, but in it are found Mines of Gold, and other Mettals; and of this Country Alexander the Great was King, who not only Conquered the greatest part of Asia, but brought all Greece into Subjection, founding here the third Empire of the World: And as for the chief Cities, they are Aedassa, Andrastus, Eriba, Scidra, and Philippus, or Philipopolis, Built by Philip the Father of Alexander; and to the People of this City it was, that St. Paul Wrote his Epistle.
THESSALY was once likewise a Kingdom, lying on the South of Macedon, abounding with Pleasant Valleys and Hills, and amongst the latter are found that of Olympus, so famed for Transcending the Clouds, Othris, Pelion, and Ossa, so often struck with Thunder, and Fabled to be laid one upon the other, when the Giants went about to Storm the Skies. The Country indeed is very Fruitful in many Parts, and produces an Excellent Breed of Horses, the Natives being held first to Invent the Art of Breaking and Backing them: and here Achilles Reigned, who was Slain at the Siege of Troy: The chief Towns of this Country are La…ia, Tricca, Pharsalia, on whose large Plains Caesar and Pompey fought for the Empire of the World; as also Philippi, in whose Fields Augustus Caesar and Marcus Antonius, overthrew Brutus and Cassius.
MIGDONIA is a small Country, and accounted by most a part of Thrace, and famous for nothing more than the Hill Athos, held to be the highest in the World, as being 3 days Journey in Ascent, and 75 Miles in Circuit; so that its shadow reaches (upon the declining of the Sun) 40 Miles: nor are there wanting in this Country Cities and Towns of considerable Note, as Thessalonica, commonly called Salonica (to whose Inhabitants two of St. Pauls Epistles are directed) Appollonia, Nicladia, and others.
THRACE, properly so called, though now Romaniae, as it lies at present circum scribed is within these Boundards, viz. on the East the Euxine, or black Sea, the Propontis and Hellespont; on the West with Macedon; on the South with the Aegean Sea, and part of Macedon, and on the North with the large Hill Haemus; and is a large and goodly Province, accounted 20 Days Journey in Length, and 6 in Breadth, and in Relation to the Heavens reacheth unto 44 Degrees North Latitude, so that the longest Day in Summer is about 15 Hours, and 3 Quarters; and in this Country is Scituate the great City of Constantinople, so Named by Constantine the Great, and made by him the Capital of the Roman Empire, and is now the like to the Turkish Empire, and the chief Residence of the Grand Seigniour; Built in a Triangular manner, the one Angle thrusting into the Main Land, and the other two bordering upon the Sea; Adrianople, Built by Adrian the Emperor, and Trajanopolis, Founded by the Emperor Trajan; with others of lesser Note.
This Country as to the Soil, is very Fruitful, but by Reason of the sharp cold Air coming off the Seas, they ripen not kindly, nor do the Inhabitants trouble themselves much with Husbandry, as knowing they labour but for others; however in their Gardens towards the Sea, they are very curious, so that much Wine is produced from the Grapes that grow there, which is properly called Greek Wine, and mostly sent into other Countries, the Turks by their Law being forbidden to Drink it: They have large Plains likewise where Corn grows indifferently Plentiful, but more Pulse which is amongst them in great use. The Natives of this Country, as indeed of all Greece, are much declined from what they formerly were, in Learning, Arts, and Arms, as being no better than Slaves to the Imperious Turks, who Lord it over them, whereby they are discouraged and dulled, even to a kind of Stupidity; nor does the Eloquence of their Original Language continue pure amongst them, but is mostly corrupted, insomuch that they in few parts perfectly understand the Antient Greek.
The Commodities found in the Principal Trading Towns of this, and other Sea Provinces, are Grograms, Carpets, Silks, Drugs, Leather, Chamlets; and indeed the chief Commodities of Europe and Asia, which Pay great Customs to the Grand Seigniour. And thus much for the main Land of Europe, whose Islands we shall hereafter consider, with those of the other Three Parts of the World, when we come to treat of the Respective Seas in which they are posited, and therefore, for Orders Sake, Omit them here, and proceed to Asia.