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Geography
11.2.1
This mountain lies above both seas, both the Pontic and
the Caspian, and forms a wall across the isthmus that separates the two seas.
It marks the boundary, on the south, of Albania
and Iberia,
and, on the north, of the plains of the Sarmatae. It is well wooded with all
kinds of timber, and especially the kind suitable for shipbuilding. According
to Eratosthenes, the Caucasus is called
"Caspius" by the natives, the name being derived perhaps from the
"Caspii." Branches of it project towards the south; and these not
only comprise the middle of Albania
but also join the mountains of Armenia
and the Moschian Mountains, as they are called, and also the
Scydises and the Paryadres
Mountains. All these are
parts of the Taurus, which forms the southern side of Armenia,parts broken off, as it were, from
that mountain on the north and projecting as far as the Caucasus and that
part of the coast of the Euxine which stretches from Colchis
to Themiscyra.
Be this as it may, since Dioscurias is situated in such a
gulf and occupies the most easterly point of the whole sea, it is called not
only the recess of the Euxine, but also the "farthermost" voyage.
And the proverbial verse, To Phasis, where
for ships is the farthermost run, must be interpreted thus, not as
though the author of the iambic verse meant the river, much less the city of
the same name situated on the river, but as meaning by a part of Colchis the
whole of it, since from the river and the city of that name there is left a
straight voyage into the recess of not less than six hundred stadia. The same
Dioscurias is the beginning of the isthmus between the Caspian
Sea and the Euxine, and also the common emporium of the tribes
who are situated above it and in its vicinity; at any rate, seventy tribes
come together in it, though others, who care nothing for the facts, actually
say three hundred. All speak different languages because of the fact that, by
reason of their obstinacy and ferocity, they live in scattered groups and
without intercourse with one another. The greater part of them are Sarmatae,
but they are all Caucasii. So much, then, for the region of Dioscurias.
11.2.17
Further, the greater part of
the remainder of Colchis is on the sea. Through
it flows the Phasis, a large river having its sources in Armenia and receiving the waters
of the Glaucus and the Hippus, which issue from the neighboring mountains. It
is navigated as far as Sarapana, a fortress capable of admitting the
population even of a city. From here people go by land to the Cyrus in four
days by a wagon road. On the Phasis is situated a city bearing the same name,
an emporium of the Colchi, which is protected on one side by the river, on
another by a lake, and on another by the sea. Thence people go to Amisus and
Sinope by sea (a voyage of two or three days), because the shores are soft
and because of the outlets of the rivers. The country is excellent both in
respect to its produce--except its honey, which is generally bitter--and in
respect to every thing that pertains to shipbuilding; for it not only
produces quantities of timber but also brings it down on rivers. And the
people make linen in quantities, and hemp, wax, and pitch. Their linen
industry has been famed far and wide; for they used to export linen to
outside places; and some writers, wishing to show forth a kinship between the
Colchians and the Egyptians, confirm their belief by this. Above the
aforesaid rivers in the Moschian country lies the temple of Leucothea,
founded by Phrixus, and the oracle of Phrixus, where a ram is never
sacrificed; it was once rich, but it was robbed in our time by Pharnaces, and
a little later by Mithridates of Pergamum. For when a country is devastated,
things divine are in sickly plight and wont not even to be respected, says
Euripides.
11.2.18
The great fame this country had
in early times is disclosed by the myths, which refer in an obscure way to
the expedition of Jason as having proceeded as far even as Media, and also, before
that time, to that of Phrixus. After this, when kings succeeded to power, the
country being divided into "sceptuchies," they were only moderately
prosperous; but when Mithridates Eupator grew powerful, the country fell into
his hands; and he would always send one of his friends as sub-governor or
administrator of the country. Among these was Moaphernes, my mother's uncle
on her father's side. And it was from this country that the king received
most aid in the equipment of his naval forces. But when the power of
Mithridates had been broken up, all the territory subject to him was also
broken up and distributed among many persons. At last Polemon got Colchis;
and since his death his wife Pythodoris has been in power, being queen, not
only of the Colchians, but also of Trapezus and Pharnacia and of the
barbarians who live above these places, concerning whom I shall speak later
on.3 Now the Moschian country, in which is situated the temple, is divided
into three parts: one part is held by the Colchians, another by the Iberians,
and another by the Armenians. There is also a small city in Iberia, the city of Phrixus,
the present Ideëssa, well fortified, on the confines of Colchis.
And near Dioscurias flows the Chares
River.
11.3.4
There are four passes leading
into their country; one through Sarapana, a Colchian stronghold, and through
the narrow defiles there. Through these defiles the Phasis, which has been
made passable by one hundred and twenty bridges because of the windings of
its course, flows down into Colchis with
rough and violent stream, the region being cut into ravines by many torrents
at the time of the heavy rains. The Phasis rises in the mountains that lie
above it, where it is supplied by many springs; and in the plains it receives
still other rivers, among which are the Glaucus and the Hippus. Thus filled
and having by now become navigable, it issues forth into the Pontus; and
it has on its banks a city bearing the same name; and near it is a lake.
Such, then, is the pass that leads from Colchis into Iberia, being
shut in by rocks, by strongholds, and by rivers that run through ravines.
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