Geography

​From these things indeed, how could anyone suppose that either the Eleian Pylos or the Messenian is meant? As for the Eleian, because when this was plundered, the territory of the Epeians was also plundered by Heracles; and this is Elis. How then were those who had been plundered together and were of the same tribe likely to acquire such arrogance and insolence against those who had been wronged together with them? And how could they overrun and plunder their own territory? And how could both Augeas and Neleus rule the same people at the same time, being enemies of one another? If indeed to Neleus “a great debt was owed in divine Elis, four prize-winning horses with their chariots, which had gone for the prizes; for they were about to run for a tripod; but them the lord of men Augeas detained there, and sent away the driver.” And if Neleus dwelt here, here also Nestor ruled. How then, of the Eleians and Bouprasians, “there were four leaders, and ten swift ships followed each man, and many Epeians embarked” ? And the territory was divided into four parts, of none of which Nestor ruled, “and those who inhabited Pylos and lovely Arene” and the next places as far as Messene? And how do the Epeians who came out against the Pylians set out for the Alpheios and Thryon? And how, when the battle occurred there, do they, having been routed, flee toward Bouprasion? On the other hand, if Heracles plundered the Messenian Pylos, how did those who were so far distant treat them with insolence, and were involved in many contracts, and deprived them of these by defrauding them of their debts, so that the war occurred because of these things? And how did Nestor, going out for the plunder, having driven off so much booty of swine and sheep, none of which is able to travel swiftly or to go a long distance, accomplish a journey of more than a thousand stades to the Pylos near Coryphasion, while they on the third day all came to Thryoessa and the river Alpheios to besiege the stronghold? And how were these places belonging to those who held power in Messenia, when the Cauconians and Triphylians and Pisatans held them? As for Gerena or Gerenia (for it is called in both ways), perhaps indeed some named it so on purpose; but it is also possible that the place was so named by chance. In short, since Messenia was arranged under Menelaus, under whom the Laconic territory was also arranged (as will be clear also from what follows), and the Pamisus flows through it, and the Nedon, but the Alpheios in no way, “which flows widely through the land of the Pylians,” over which Nestor ruled, what plausible argument could there be that ejects the man into another’s dominion, and deprives him of the cities enumerated with him, making them all under that other?