Geography

​Concerning the mouths of the Rhodanus, Polybius censures Timaeus, saying that it does not have five mouths but two; and Artemidorus says it has three. But Marius, later seeing that it was becoming choked with silt and difficult of entrance, cut a new canal, and having directed the greater part of the river into this, gave it as a reward to the Massaliotes during the war against the Ambrones and Toygeni; from which they derived much wealth, levying tolls on those who sailed up and those who came down. Nevertheless, the entrance still remains difficult to sail into, because of the impetuosity, the silting up, and the low-lying character of the land, so that it cannot be seen even close at hand in stormy weather. Wherefore the Massaliotes erected towers as signals, making the country their own in every way; and indeed, they also established a temple of the Ephesian Artemis here, having secured a piece of land which the mouths of the river make into an island. Above the outlets of the Rhodanus lies a lagoon, which they call Stomalimne; it contains very many shellfish and is otherwise productive of fish. Some have counted this among the mouths of the Rhodanus, and especially those who said that the river has seven mouths, speaking correctly neither in this nor in that; for there is a mountain between which separates the lake from the river. Now, the coastline from the Pyrenees to Massalia is of this character and of this extent.

​On the other hand, the coastline extending to the river Varus and the Ligurians of that region contains the Massaliote cities of Tauroentium, Olbia, Antipolis, and Nicaea, and the naval station of Caesar Augustus, which they call Forum Julium. This is established between Olbia and Antipolis, at a distance of about six hundred stadia from Massalia. The Varus is between Antipolis and Nicaea, being about twenty stadia distant from the former and sixty from the latter; so that Nicaea belongs to Italy according to the boundary now defined, although it belongs to the Massaliotes. For the Massaliotes built these settlements as fortresses against the barbarians who lie above them, wishing to keep at least the sea free, since the country was controlled by them; for it is mountainous and rugged, leaving some moderate width of flat land near Massalia, but as one goes eastward, squeezing it completely towards the sea and scarcely leaving a passable road. The first parts are occupied by the Sallyes, and the last, adjoining Italy, by the Ligurians, concerning whom we shall speak hereafter. But for the present, only this much must be added, that while Antipolis is situated in the territory of Narbonitis, and Nicaea in that of Italy, Nicaea remains subject to the Massaliotes and belongs to their province, whereas Antipolis is classed among the Italian cities, having had judgment given in her favor against the Massaliotes and having been freed from their commands.

​Lying off these narrow passes, beginning from Massalia, are the Stoichades Islands, three of significant size and two small; and the Massaliotes cultivate them. In ancient times they also kept a garrison established there against the incursions of pirates, being well supplied also with harbors. After the Stoichades come Planasia and Leron, which have settlements. On Leron there is also a hero-shrine of Leron; and this island lies off Antipolis. There are other small islands not worth mentioning, some off Massalia itself, and others off the rest of the aforementioned coast. Of the harbors, the one at the naval station is significant, as is that of the Massaliotes, while the others are moderate; among these is also the harbor called Oxybius, named after the Oxybian Ligurians. Concerning the coastline, this is what we have to say.