The most important were, Naxos, Paros, Siphnos, Melos, Seriphos, Cythnos, Andros, Tenos, Myconus, Gyarus. To the two last the floating Delos was ultimately moored. See Virg. Ae. 3. 73. Lesbos is now called Mitelin, a corruption of Mitylene, its ancient capital. 78. Carystus (Castel Rosso), was situated at the southern extremity of Euboea (Negropont), and famed for its marbles. There was another Carystus in Laconia, far inland on the confines of Arcadia. 79. The Mare Icarium, if called after the son of Daedalus, would be that portion of the Cretan sea over which the ill-fated boy essayed to wing his flight toward Italy. The same name is given to a part of the Aegean, off the coast of Ionia, from the island of Icarus (Nicaria) near Samos. 81. Pelopeides undae will here mean the sea which lies to the south of the Peloponesus between Creta (Candia) and Cythera (Cerigo), the passage, as it were, from the Mare Aegeum into the Mare Ionium. 83. Mare Trinacrium or Mare Siculum, Sicilia being called 'Trinacria' from its three promontories, and sometimes 'Triquetra' from its triangular form. 'Sicilia' and 'Sicania' are names derived from the tribes of Siceli and Sicani, by whom the island was anciently occupied. 84. The haughty-hearted Cyclops, who forged the thunderbolts of Jove, are mentioned by Hesiod (Theog. 140) as the sons of Earth and Heaven, three in number, Brontes, Steropes and Arges. These seem originally to have been quite distinct from Polyphemus and his tribe of monsters in the Odyssey. But when Sicily became familiarly known to the Greeks, and was fixed upon as the scene of the adventures of Ulysses, the volcanoes of Aetna and the Lipari islands were soon converted, by the imagination of the poets, into the workshops of Hephaestus, while the one-eyed Cyclopes of Hesiod and Homer were confounded with each other, and assigned to him as workmen. The names are derived from ßpovrn (thunder), σTEρon (lightning), dpyns (bright-flashing). 86. Ausonia. See note, p. 304. 87. Ostia in the plural, because the river near its mouth divided itself into two streams, and entered the sea by a double channel. Of these, the left or southern branch seems to have been preferred in ancient times, but it afterwards became filled up with sand and ceased to be navigable'. The celebrated harbour called the 'Portus Augusti,' commenced by Julius Caesar 2, and completed upon a most magnificent scale by the Emperor Claudius 3, was upon the right branch, but must not be confounded with the Portus Traiani or Centumcellae, now Civita Vecchia, situated at some distance to the north on the Etrurian coast. The town of Ostia, said to have been founded by Ancus Martius, was three or four miles from the mouth of the river and the harbour. Dividit. Simply spreads itself out into the deep,' disperses its waters.' The point where the river 'divides' into two branches was at some little distance, and is mentioned at line 125. 90. Tusci fluminis. The Tiber, whose sources are in Etruria, and which passes through or bounds that district during the whole of its course. See note p. 250. 92. The Vestal Virgins who tended the sacred fire of Vesta. See note, p. 282. 96. Pressa carina, 'deep laden.' Compare Virg. G. 1. 303 'Ceu pressae cum iam portum tetigere carinae.' 101. This Claudia was probably the granddaughter of Claudius Appius Caecus, who was Consul for the second time, 296 B.C., in the great Etruscan and Samnite war, Livy 10. 18, 19, &c., and afterwards, when Censor, gave his name to the famous Appian Way. Clauso...ab alto. Livy 2. 16 'Seditio inter belli pacisque auctores orta in Sabinis aliquantum inde virium abstulit ad Romanos; namque Attus Clausus, cui postea Appio Claudio fuit Romae nomen, cum pacis ipse auctor a turbatoribus belli premeretur, nec par factioni esset, ab Regillo, magna clientium comitatus manu, Romam transfugit. His civitas data agerque trans Anienim; vetus Claudia tribus, additis postea novis tribulibus, qui ex eo venirent agro, adpellata. Appius inter patres lectus haud ita multo post in principum dignationem pervenit.' Compare Virg. Ae. 7. 706 1 See Rutilius Itiner. 1. 169, and the note of Wernsdorf. 2 Plutarch in Vita. 3 Sueton. Claud. 20, Dion. Cass. 60. 11, Pliny 9. 6; 36. 15, Juv. S. 12. 75. 'Ecce Sabinorum prisco de sanguine, magnum Agmen agens Clausus, magnique ipse agminis instar, Claudia nunc a quo diffunditur et tribus et gens Per Latium, postquam in partem data Roma Sabinis.' Those who desire further information with regard to the history and services of this most illustrious family, may read the two first chapters of the life of Tiberius by Suetonius. 119. Pignora. Pignus, argumentum, signum quo comprobatur aliquid' (G.). Re 'by the issue.' You will give proof of the purity of my life by the event. 122. It appears from this line that the exploit of Claudia had been made the subject of some well-known drama, exhibited, doubtless, at the Megalesia. 124. Sonus, 'a shout.' 125. See note on line 87. 133. Almo. The Almo (Acqua Santa) is a rivulet which rises near Rome at the head of a little valley called La Cafarella, and after a very short course, 'cursuque brevissimus Almo' Ov. Met. 14. 329, passing near the ancient Porta Capena (Porta S. Sebastiano), falls into the Tiber. The 'lotio,' or washing of the goddess, here described, was performed regularly every year by the Archigallus, and is the subject of frequent allusions in the poets. See Lucan 1. 589. Compare also Silius 8. 364 'Quique immite nemus Triviae, quique ostia Tusci and Martial 3. 47, I Capena grandi porta qua pluit gutta Phrygiaeque matris Almo qua lavat ferrum.' Lubricus Almo, 'smoothly gliding.' So Ov. Amor. 3. 6, 81 'Supposuisse manus ad pectora lubricus amnis and also 'lubrice Tibri' in Fast. 6. 238. 136. Dominam sacraque. The statue of Cybele and the sacred utensils. 138. Molles, 'effeminate,' as in line 7, 'molli cervice.' Taurea terga, 'the hides of bulls stretched upon drums.' 141. Porta Capena. See note, p. 258. 143. Perstitit. It will be seen from the various readings, that the MSS. vary much here. If we retain 'perstitit,' the meaning will be, 'Nasica did not remain the only founder of a temple to Cybele, Augustus claims a like honour.' It will be seen by referring to the introduction, that the first temple was actually dedicated by M. Junius Brutus, 181 B. C. 144. Augustus nunc est. We find from the Marmor Ancyranum, that Augustus built a temple of Cybele on the Palatine, 'AEDEM MATRIS MAGNAE IN PALATIO FECI.' Metellus. We know nothing of this event, unless Ovid, supposing Cybele and Vesta to be the same, refers to the preservation of the Palladium, which forms the subject of the Extract 31. 34. ARION. FAS. II. 83. THE celebrated story of Arion is narrated by Herodotus I. 24. 1-8. The effects of the music of Arion are the same as those usually attributed to the strains of Orpheus and Amphion. Compare Hor. Od. 1. 12, 5 'Aut in umbrosis Heliconis oris Aut super Pindo, gelidove in Haemo, Arte materna rapidos morantem Ducere quercus.' and Virg. G. 4. 510 (the whole passage is one of exquisite beauty) 'Mulcentem tigres et agentem carmine quercus.' 4. Restitit, 'stood still,' 'stopped short in its flight.' 5, 6. There is a remarkable coincidence of expression here with the inspired prophet Isaiah, 11. 6 'The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf, and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.' 7. The owl was at enmity with the crow, because the latter was detested by the Goddess of Wisdom on account of chattering and talebearing propensities. See note on 'cornix invisa Minervae,' p. 132. 9. Cynthia. Artemis, so called from the mountain Cynthus (Monte Cintio) in Delos, her native isle. Hence also Apollo is styled 'Cynthius.' 'Intonsum pueri dicite Cynthium' Hor. Od. 1. 21, 2. 10. Fraternis... modis. The strains of her brother Apollo, lord of the lyre. 'Modus' is properly 'a measure,' 'a measured sound,' 'a musical sound.' 13. Ausonis ora. The country originally called 'Ausonia' or 'Opica,' for they are synonymous, was the district around Cales and Beneventum; but in later times the name was applied as widely as that of 'Italia.' 14. Ita. In this manner—on board of ship. 19. Dubiam. The helm being abandoned by the steersman, the ship would no longer be holding a steady course. 21. Pavidus. Many editors consider this inappropriate, and would substitute vacuus,' which is found in one MS. only. Both Herodotus and Aulus Gellius, however, expressly mention the terror of Arion. 23-26. Arion here assumes the attire which minstrels were wont to wear upon state occasions; thus Apollo, when he comes forth to contend with Pan, is thus described, Met. II. 165 'Ille caput flavum lauro Parnaside vinctus, Verrit humum Tyrio saturata murice palla, ...... on which the words of Auct. ad Herenn. 4. 47, serve as a commentary. 'Vti citharaedus quum prodierit, optime vestitus, palla inaurata indutus cum chlamyde purpurea, coloribus variis intexta, et cum corona aurea magnis fulgentibus gemmis illuminata, citharam tenens exornatissimam, auro et ebore distinctam, ipse praeterea forma et specie sit, et statura apposita ad dignitatem.' Compare also Tibull. 2. 5, 5-10. 25. Tyrio...murice. The different species of shell-fish which yielded the principal ingredient in the purple dye, were found in greatest abundance on the coasts of Phoenicia, of Africa, and of Laconia, and hence the ephithets, Tyrius,' 'Sidonius,' 'Afer,' Gaetulus,' 'Laconius,' 'Oebalius,' &c. perpetually applied to this colour by the poets. See note, P. 275. |