Geography

​On the coast of the mainland, along the Myndian territory, lie the promontory of Astypalaea and Zephyrium; then immediately comes Myndus, which has a harbor, and after this Bargylia, which is also a city. In the interval between them is Caryanda, a harbor and an island of the same name, which was inhabited by the Caryandians. From this place came also Scylax, the ancient writer. Near Bargylia is the temple of Artemis Kindyas, which they believe is never touched by rain, though it rains all around it; and there was once also a town called Kindye. From Bargylia came the distinguished Epicurean philosopher Protarchus, who was the teacher of Demetrius surnamed the Laconian.

​Next, Iasus lies on an island close to the mainland; it has a harbor, and most of the livelihood of the people here is from the sea, for the country is rich in fish but has a poor soil. Indeed, they invent such stories as this about it: while a citharode was performing, everyone was listening to him for a time, but when the bell that announced the sale of fish rang, they all left him and went away to the fish market except for one man who was very deaf. The citharode, therefore, went up to him and said: “My friend, I am very grateful to you for the honor you show me and for your love of music; for the others, as soon as they heard the bell, have gone and departed.” And the man said: “What do you say? Has the bell already rung?” And when the citharode said: “Yes.” “Then may good fortune attend you!” he said, and standing up, he too went away. From this place came Diodorus the Dialectician, surnamed Cronus, at first falsely so; for Apollonius was called Cronus, who was his teacher, but they transferred the name to him because of the obscurity of the real Cronus.

​After Iasus is the Poseidium of the Milesians. In the interior there are three noteworthy cities, Mylasa, Stratoniceia, and Alabanda; the others are subordinate to these or to the coastal cities, among which are Amyzon, Heracleia, Euromus, and Chalcetores; of these, however, there is less to be said.

​Mylasa is situated in a very fertile plain; and above it, just over its head, rises a mountain which has a very beautiful quarry of white marble. This is indeed of no small benefit, as they have an abundant supply of stone close at hand for building, and especially for the construction of temples and other public works; consequently, if any other city is beautifully adorned with porticoes and temples, this one is pre-eminently so. But one cannot but wonder at the folly of those who laid out the city so unreasonably under a steep and overhanging cliff; indeed, one of the commanders is said to have remarked in astonishment at the matter: “Did the founder of this city, if he did not fear, not even feel ashamed?” The Mylasians have two temples of Zeus, one of Zeus called Osogoa, and the other of Zeus Labraundenus; the former is in the city, while Labraunda is a village in the mountain, on the pass from Alabanda to Mylasa, at a distance from the city. In this latter place is an ancient temple and a wooden statue of Zeus Stratios; it is honored by the surrounding peoples and by the Mylasians, and a road has been paved for about sixty stadia as far as the city, called the Sacred Way, along which the sacred processions are conducted; the most distinguished of the citizens always hold the priesthood for life. These, then, are peculiar to the city. A third temple is that of the Carian Zeus, common to all Carians, in which the Lydians and Mysians also share as brothers . It is recorded that Mylasa was anciently a village, but the homeland and palace of the Carians of the family of Hecatomnus. The city is closest to the sea at Physcus, and this is their seaport.