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he made it also free of toil4.8.7 entirely. The length of this road is as far as Rhegium; and it is so wide as not to inconvenience two wagons going from 4.8.8 opposite directions toward each other. The stones are exceedingly rough; one would liken them to millstones. And they are very large. So that each one covers mu4.8.9 ch ground, and rises up exceedingly high. And being worked reasonably smooth and even, they seem not to be fastened together in their joining, nor to have closed precisely, but to have grown together with one another. So these things are of such a nature. 4.8.10 It happens that there is a certain lake very near what is called Rhegium, into which rivers have their outlets, flowing from the lands4.8.11 above here. And this lake is spread out as far as the sea; so that one shore of both 4.8.12 happens to be in a very narrow space. And both wash over this shore, with waves breaking against each other and roaring at one another. And they always rush straight at each other, sharing the beach. But when they come as close as possible, they check their flow, turning back upon themselves, as if 4.8.13 here they had fixed their boundaries. And there is a place where they mix with each other, having a certain strait between them, it being unclear to which of them the water of the strait has ever been allot4.8.14 ted. For neither does the flow of the sea always move into the lake, nor does the lake empty continuously into the sea, but when heavy rains have occurred, and a south wind has blown, the strait from the lake 4.8.15 appears to be advancing. But if the wind should come from the north, the sea seems to flood the lake. In this place, however, the sea extends to an immense rock, with a small piece of land left between, which stretches 4.8.16 to the abyss. And it happens to be so narrow, that it has even been named Myrmex. And this strait, which joins both the sea and the lake, as I have said, was long ago crossable by a wooden bridge, at very great risk to those who went that way, since they, along with the timbers, if it so chanced, 4.8.17 were destroyed together; but now the Emperor Justinian, having raised it on picked stones thrown in to form a mighty arch, has made the crossing there free from danger. 4.8.18 Beyond Rhegium is a city somewhere, Athyras by name, whose inhabitants he found afflicted with a most terrible thirst and solved their problem for them, by building a reservoir there, storing up most opportunely the unnecessary surplus of water, and dispensing it seasonably to the people there. He also rebuilt the damaged parts of the circuit-wall. 4.8.19 And after Athyras there is a certain place, which the locals call Episco4.8.20 pia. The Emperor Justinian, perceiving that this place was exposed to the raids of the enemy, and for the most part, since there was no fortification anywhere, the lands there were entirely unguarded, built a fort there; whose towers he made not 4.8.21 as was customary, but in the following manner. A structure projects from the circuit-wall, being very narrow at its beginning, but ending in a great width; upon which each tower has been bui4.8.22 lt. And in this way it is impossible for the enemy to approach anywhere very near the wall, since, coming between the towers, they are caught in a cross-fire from above by the 4.8.23 guards there and are very easily shot and destroyed. And the 4.8.23 gates here they did not place, as is customary, between the towers, but sideways on the narrow projection of the wall, not being seen by the enemy, but behind 4.8.24 are concealed. There Theodore rendered his service to the Emperor, a Silentiarius by office, a most intelligent man. 4.8.25 So this fortress was built here. For those going from here to the Long Walls it is worthwhile to say a few things. 4.9.1 The sea, coming from the Ocean and Spain, keeping the land of Europe on the left, proceeds in the same way as far as Thrace, somewhere towards the rising sun, and from there it is split, on the one hand being directed towards the eastern portion, and on the other, having turned slightly crosswise, it forms what is call4.9.2 ed the Euxine Pontus. But having arrived at Byzantium as if upon

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κατεστήσατο καὶ ἄπονον 4.8.7 ὅλως. μῆκος μὲν τῇ ὁδῷ τῇδε ἄχρι ἐς Ῥήγιον· εὐρύνεται δὲ τοσοῦτον, ἐς ὅσον ἁμάξας οὐ στενοχωρεῖν δύο ἀπ' 4.8.8 ἐναντίας ἀλλήλαις ἰούσας. τραχεῖς οἱ λίθοι διαφερόντως· εἰκάσαις ἂν αὐτοὺς μυλίτας εἶναι. εὐμεγέθεις τέ εἰσι μάλιστα. ὥστε δὴ ἕκαστος γῆν μὲν ἐπικαλύπτει πολ4.8.9 λήν, ἐς ἄγαν δὲ ὑψοῦ ἀνέχει. ἐς δὲ τό τε ὁμαλὲς καὶ τό γε λεῖον ἐπιεικῶς ἐξειργασμένοι, οὐκ ἐνῆφθαι τῇ συνθέσει, οὐδέ πη ἐς τὸ ἀκριβὲς μεμυκέναι, ἀλλὰ συμπεφυκέναι δοκοῦσιν ἀλλήλοις. ταῦτα μὲν οὖν τοιαῦτά ἐστι. 4.8.10 Λίμνην δέ τινα εἶναι ἄγχιστα τοῦ Ῥηγίου καλουμένου ξυμβαίνει, ἐς ἣν τὰς ἐκβολὰς ἔχουσι ποταμοὶ ἐκ χωρίων 4.8.11 τῶν ὕπερθεν τῇδε φερόμενοι. διακέχυται δὲ ἡ λίμνη αὕτη μέχρι ἐς θάλασσαν· ὥστε μία τις ἀμφοτέραιν ἀκτὴ 4.8.12 ἐν στενῷ μάλιστα τυγχάνει οὖσα. ταύτην δὲ ἄμφω ἐπικλύζουσι τὴν ἀκτὴν ἀντικυματοῦσαι καὶ ἀλλήλοις ἀντιμυκώμεναι. ἀεί τε ἀλλήλαις εὐθὺ ἵενται τὴν ἠϊόνα ἐπικοινούμεναι. ἐπειδὰν δὲ ὡς πλησιαίτατα ἵκωνται, ἀναχαιτίζουσι τὴν ἐπιρροήν, ἐφ' ἑαυτὰς ἐπιστρέφουσαι, ὥσπερ 4.8.13 ἐνταῦθα τὰ ὅρια σφίσι πηξάμεναι. ἔστι δὲ καὶ ἀλλήλαις οὗ ἀναμίγνυνται, πορθμόν τινα μεταξὺ ἔχουσαι, ἄδηλον ὂν ὁποτέρα ποτὲ αὐτῶν τὸ τοῦ πορθμοῦ ὕδωρ διακεκλή4.8.14 ρωται. οὔτε γὰρ ἡ τῆς θαλάσσης ἐπιρροὴ ἐς τὴν λίμνην ἀεὶ φέρεται οὔτε διηνεκὲς ἐς τὴν θάλασσαν ἡ λίμνη ἐκβάλλει, ἀλλ' ὄμβρων μὲν ἐπιγενομένων πολλῶν, ἐπιπνεύσαντός τε ἀνέμου νότου, ἐκ τῆς λίμνης ὁ πορθμὸς 4.8.15 προϊὼν φαίνεται. ἢν δὲ ἀπὸ βορρᾶ τὸ πνεῦμα ἴοι, ἡ θάλασσα τὴν λίμνην ἐπικλύζειν δοκεῖ. ἐν τούτῳ μέντοι ἡ θάλασσα τῷ χώρῳ ἐς βράχος κατατείνει παμμέγεθες, ὀλίγης τινὸς ἀπολελειμμένης μεταξὺ χώρας, ἥπερ διήκει 4.8.16 ἐς ἄβυσσον. ἐς τόσον δὲ στενὴ τυγχάνει οὖσα, ὥστε δὴ καὶ Μύρμηξ ὠνόμασται. οὗτος δὲ ὁ πορθμός, ὅ τε τὴν θάλασσαν καὶ τὴν λίμνην ζευγνύων, ᾗπέρ μοι εἴρηται, πάλαι μὲν γεφύρᾳ ξυλίνῃ διαβατὸς ἦν ἐπὶ κινδύνῳ μάλιστα τοῖς τῇδε ἰοῦσιν, ἐπεὶ τοῖς ξύλοις, ἂν οὕτω τύχοι, 4.8.17 ξυνδιεφθείροντο· νῦν δὲ αὐτὴν Ἰουστινιανὸς βασιλεὺς λίθοις λογάδην ἐμβεβλημένοις ἐς ἀψῖδος μετεωρίσας μέγα τι χρῆμα, τὴν ἐκείνῃ διάβασιν ἀκίνδυνον κατεστήσατο. 4.8.18 Τοῦ δὲ Ῥηγίου ἐπέκεινα πόλις ἐστί που, Ἀθύρας ὄνομα, ἧσπερ τοὺς οἰκήτορας δίψῃ δεινοτάτῃ ἐχομένους εὑρὼν τὴν ἀπορίαν διέλυσε σφίσιν, ἔλυτρον ἐνταῦθα δειμάμενος, θησαυρίζων μὲν ἐπικαιριώτατα τὴν τῶν ὑδάτων οὐκ ἀναγκαίαν περιουσίαν, πρυτανεύων δὲ αὐτὴν ἐν ἐπιτηδείῳ τοῖς τῇδε ἀνθρώποις. ἀνῳκοδομήσατο δὲ καὶ τὰ πεπονθότα τοῦ περιβόλου. 4.8.19 Ἔστι δὲ μετὰ τὴν Ἀθύραν τις χῶρος, ὅνπερ Ἐπισκο4.8.20 πεῖα καλοῦσιν οἱ ἐπιχώριοι. ὃν δὴ κατανενοηκὼς Ἰουστινιανὸς βασιλεὺς ταῖς τῶν πολεμίων ἐπιδρομαῖς ὑποκείμενον, ἐπὶ πλεῖστον δέ, ὡς οὐδαμῆ ὀχυρώματος ὄντος, ἀφύλακτα παντάπασιν ὄντα τὰ ἐκείνῃ χωρία, φρούριον ἐνταῦθα ἐδείματο· οὗ δὴ τοὺς πύργους πεποίηται οὐχ 4.8.21 ᾗπερ εἰώθει, ἀλλὰ τρόπῳ τοιῷδε. προὔχει τις ἐκ τοῦ περιβόλου οἰκοδομία, στενωτάτη μὲν κατ' ἀρχὰς οὖσα, τελευτῶσα δὲ ἐς εὖρος μέγα· ἐφ' οὗ δὴ ἕκαστος ἐξείρ4.8.22 γασται πύργος. ταύτῃ τε τοῖς πολεμίοις ἄγχιστά πη τοῦ τείχους ἰέναι ἀμήχανά ἐστιν, ἐπεὶ τῶν πύργων κατὰ μέσον γινόμενοι ἐν ἀμφιβόλῳ κατὰ κορυφὴν πρὸς τῶν 4.8.23 ἐκείνῃ φρουρῶν ῥᾷστα βαλλόμενοι διαφθείρονται. τάς 4.8.23 τε πύλας ἐνταῦθα οὐ κατὰ τὰ ξυνειθισμένα τῶν πύργων μεταξὺ ἔθεντο, ἀλλ' ἐκ πλαγίας κατὰ τὸ ἐν στενῷ προὖχον τοῦ τείχους, οὐχ ὁρωμένας τοῖς πολεμίοις, ἀλλ' ὄπισθεν 4.8.24 διαλανθανούσας. ἐνταῦθα Θεόδωρος βασιλεῖ τὴν ὑπουργίαν παρέσχετο, σιλεντιάριος τὴν ἀρχήν, συνετὸς μάλιστα. 4.8.25 τοῦτο μὲν οὖν τὸ ἔρυμα τῇδε πεποίηται. ἐπὶ τείχη δὲ τὰ μακρὰ ἐνθένδε ἰόντας ὀλίγα ὑπειπεῖν ἄξιον. 4.9.1 Ἡ θάλασσα ἐξ ὠκεανοῦ καὶ Ἱσπανίας γῆν τὴν Εὐρωπαίαν ἐν ἀριστερᾷ ποιουμένη μέχρι μὲν ἐς Θρᾴκην κατὰ ταὐτὰ χωρεῖ πρὸς ἀνίσχοντά που τὸν ἥλιον, ἔνθεν δὲ σχιζομένη πὴ μὲν ἐπὶ τὴν ἑῴαν στέλλεται μοῖραν, πὴ δὲ κατὰ βραχὺ ἐγκαρσία γεγενημένη τὸν Εὔξεινον καλού4.9.2 μενον ἀποτελεῖ πόντον. ἐς Βυζάντιον δὲ ἀφικομένη ὥσπερ ἐπὶ