§3.42.1τὸ δʼ ἄλλο μέρος τῆς ἀντιπέρας παραλίου τὸ προσκεκλιμένον Ἀραβίᾳ πάλιν ἀναλαβόντες ἀπὸ τοῦ μυχοῦ διέξιμεν.
But taking up again the remaining part of the opposite coast which lies adjacent to Arabia, we shall describe it starting from the innermost part of the gulf.
οὗτος γὰρ ὀνομάζεται Ποσείδειον, ἱδρυσαμένου Ποσειδῶνι πελαγίῳ βωμὸν Ἀρίστωνος τοῦ πεμφθέντος ὑπὸ Πτολεμαίου πρὸς κατασκοπὴν τῆς ἕως ὠκεανοῦ παρηκούσης Ἀραβίας.
For this is called Poseideon, since Ariston, who was sent by Ptolemy for the exploration of Arabia stretching as far as the ocean, established an altar to marine Poseidon.
§3.42.2ἑξῆς δὲ τοῦ μυχοῦ τόπος ἐστὶ παραθαλάττιος ὁ τιμώμενος ὑπὸ τῶν ἐγχωρίων διαφερόντως διὰ τὴν εὐχρηστίαν τὴν ἐξ αὐτοῦ.
Next to the innermost part of the gulf is a coastal place which is exceptionally honored by the inhabitants because of the utility derived from it.
οὗτος δʼ ὀνομάζεται μὲν Φοινικών, ἔχει δὲ πλῆθος τούτου τοῦ φυτοῦ πολύκαρπον καθʼ ὑπερβολὴν καὶ πρὸς ἀπόλαυσιν καὶ τρυφὴν διαφέρον.
This is called Phoenicon, and it has an exceedingly abundant quantity of this plant, outstanding both for enjoyment and luxury.
§3.42.3πᾶσα δʼ ἡ σύνεγγυς χώρα σπανίζει ναματιαίων ὑδάτων καὶ διὰ τὴν πρὸς μεσημβρίαν ἔγκλισιν ἔμπυρος ὑπάρχει· διὸ καὶ τὸν κατάφυτον τόπον, ἐν ἀπανθρωποτάτοις ὄντα μέρεσι καὶ χορηγοῦντα τὰς τροφάς, εἰκότως οἱ βάρβαροι καθιερώκασι.
For all the neighboring land is lacking in running waters and is parched because of its inclination toward the south; wherefore the barbarians have naturally consecrated this well-wooded place, which lies in the most uninhabited regions and supplies sustenance.
καὶ γὰρ ὕδατος οὐκ ὀλίγαι πηγαὶ καὶ λιβάδες ἐκπίπτουσιν ἐν αὐτῷ, ψυχρότητι χιόνος οὐδὲν λειπόμεναι· αὗται δʼ ἐφʼ ἑκάτερα τὰ μέρη τὰ κατὰ γῆν χλοερὰ ποιοῦσι καὶ παντελῶς ἐπιτερπῆ.
For not a few springs and flows of water gush out in it, yielding nothing to the coldness of snow; and these make the land on both sides green and entirely delightful.
§3.42.4ἔστι δὲ καὶ βωμὸς ἐκ στερεοῦ λίθου παλαιὸς τοῖς χρόνοις, ἐπιγραφὴν ἔχων ἀρχαίοις γράμμασιν ἀγνώστοις.
And there is also an ancient altar of solid stone, bearing an inscription in unknown ancient characters.
ἐπιμέλονται δὲ τοῦ τεμένους ἀνὴρ καὶ γυνή, διὰ βίου τὴν ἱερωσύνην ἔχοντες.
A man and a woman take care of the sacred precinct, holding the priesthood for life.
μακρόβιοι δʼ εἰσὶν οἱ τῇδε κατοικοῦντες, καὶ τὰς κοίτας ἐπὶ τῶν δένδρων ἔχουσι διὰ τὸν ἀπὸ τῶν θηρίων φόβον.
Those who dwell here are long-lived, and they have their beds upon the trees because of their fear of wild beasts.
§3.42.5παραπλεύσαντι δὲ τὸν Φοινικῶνα πρὸς ἀκρωτηρίῳ τῆς ἠπείρου νῆσός ἐστιν ἀπὸ τῶν ἐναυλιζομένων ἐν αὐτῇ ζῴων Φωκῶν νῆσος ὀνομαζομένη· τοσοῦτο γὰρ πλῆθος τῶν θηρίων τούτων ἐνδιατρίβει τοῖς τόποις ὥστε θαυμάζειν τοὺς ἰδόντας.
To one sailing past Phoenicon, near a promontory of the mainland there is an island called the Island of Seals, from the animals that harbor in it; for such a multitude of these beasts frequents these places that those who see them wonder.
τὸ δὲ προκείμενον ἀκρωτήριον τῆς νήσου κεῖται κατὰ τὴν καλουμένην Πέτραν καὶ τὴν Παλαιστίνην· εἰς γὰρ ταύτην τόν τε λίβανον καὶ τἄλλα φορτία τὰ πρὸς εὐωδίαν ἀνήκοντα κατάγουσιν, ὡς λόγος, ἐκ τῆς ἄνω λεγομένης Ἀραβίας οἵ τε Γερραῖοι καὶ Μιναῖοι.
The promontory lying in front of the island is situated opposite the so-called Petra and Palestine; for to this place, as the report goes, both the Gerrhaeans and the Minaeans bring down from the so-called Upper Arabia both the frankincense and the other cargoes pertaining to sweet odor.