Geography

​Cineas says that there is a city in Thessaly and an oak-tree, and that the oracle of Zeus was transferred from there to Epirus. Stephanus in Dodona.

​Formerly the oracle was around the city of Scotussa in Pelasgiotis; but when the tree was set on fire by certain persons, it was transferred to Dodona in accordance with an oracle of Apollo. It did not deliver oracles through words, but through certain symbols, like the oracle of Ammon in Libya; and perhaps the three doves flew in some exceptional flight, by observing which the priestesses prophesied. They also say that in the dialect of the Molossians and Thesprotians, old women are called “peliai” and old men “pelioi”; and perhaps the much-talked-of “peleiades” (doves) were not birds, but three old women who busied themselves about the temple. Epitome.

​Among the Thesprotians and Molossians, old women are called “peliai” and old men “pelioi”, just as among the Macedonians; at any rate, the latter call those in offices of honor “peligones”, corresponding to the “gerontes” (elders) among the Laconians and Massaliotes. They say that from this fact the “peleiades” (doves) in the Dodonaean oak-tree were mythologized. Vatican Epitome.

​The proverb “The bronze vessel at Dodona” was named from this source: there was a bronze vessel in the temple, having placed above it a statue holding a bronze whip, an offering of the Corcyraeans; and the whip was triple-chained, having knucklebones suspended from it, which, striking the bronze vessel continuously whenever they were swung by the winds, produced long-lasting sounds, until the person measuring the time from the beginning of the sound to the end could count up to four hundred; whence also the proverb was spoken, “The whip of the Corcyraeans.” Epitome.

​Paeonia is to the east of these nations, and to the west of the Thracian mountains; to the north it lies above the Macedonians, having passes through the city of Gortynium and Stobi into the narrow defiles, through which the Axius flows and makes Macedonia difficult to invade from Paeonia, just as the Peneius, flowing through Tempe, secures Macedonia from Greece; and on the south it borders on the Autariatae, the Dardanians, and the Ardiaei; and Paeonia extends as far as the Strymon. Vatican Epitome.

​The Haliacmon flows into the Thermaic Gulf. Vatican Epitome.

​Orestis is extensive and has a great mountain, which reaches as far as Mount Corax in Aetolia and Mount Parnassus. Around it dwell the Orestae themselves, the Tymphaei, and the Greeks outside the Isthmus who live around Parnassus, Oeta, and Pindus. Indeed, by one common name the mountain is called Boeon, but in its various parts it has many names. And they say that from its highest peaks one can see the Aegean Sea, the Ambracian Gulf, and the Ionian Sea, though I think they say this in exaggeration. Mount Pteleum also, which surrounds the Ambracian Gulf, is of considerable height, extending on one side as far as the territory of Corcyra, and on the other to the sea near Leucas. Vatican Epitome.

​Corcyra, having been humbled by its many wars, is laughed at in a proverbial way as an object of ridicule. Vatican Epitome.

​Corcyra in ancient times was prosperous and possessed a very great naval power, but was ruined by certain wars and tyrants; and later, although set free by the Romans, it did not receive praise, but rather, by way of insult, acquired the proverb: “Free Corcyra, defecate where you please.” Epitome.