Book 11
2.17
The greater part of the rest of Colchis lies upon the sea. The Phasis,The Rion. a large river, flows through it. It has its source in Armenia, and receives the Glaucus,The Tschorocsu. and the Hippus,The Ilori. which issue from the neighbouring mountains. Vessels ascend it as far as the fortress of Sarapana,Choropani. which is capable of containing the population even of a city. Persons proceed thence by land to the Cyrus in four days along a carriage road.The point of embarkation on the Cyrus (the Kur) is supposed to have been Surham, the ancient Sura. Upon the Phasis is a city of the same name, a mart of the Colchians, bounded on one side by the river, on another by a lake, on the third by the sea. Thence it is a voyage of three or twoGossellin, Groskurd, and Kramer, all agree that there is here an error. Kramer is of opinion that the conjecture of Gossellin may be adopted, viz. eight or nine, instead of three or two, the letters T and B being a corruption of η and θ. days to Amisus and Sinope, on account of the softness of the shores caused by the discharge of rivers.Coray’s proposed reading is adopted, καιὰ for καὶ.
2.17
The country is fertile and its produce is good, except the honey, which has generally a bitter taste. It furnishes all materials for ship-building. It produces them in great plenty, and they are conveyed down by its rivers. It supplies flax, hemp, wax, and pitch, in great abundance. Its linen manufacture is celebrated, for it was exported to foreign parts; and those who wish to establish an affinity of race between the Colchians and the Aegyptians, advance this as a proof of it.
