Book 15
3.1
The third portion lies towards the north, and is bleak and mountainous. On its borders live the camel-breeders.
3.1
Its length, according to Eratosthenes, towards the north and Media,This passage is very corrupt, and many words, according to Kramer, appear to be omitted. See b. ii. c i. § 26. We read with Groskurd Media for Caspian Gates in the text: and insert 9000 stadia, here from b. ii. c. i. § 26, and, following the same authority, 3000 for 2000 stadia in the text below. is about 8000, or, including some projecting promontories, 9000 stadia; the remainder (from Media) to the Caspian Gates is not more than 3000 stadia. The breadth in the interior of the country from Susa to Persepolis is 4200 stadia, and thence to the borders of Carmania 1600 stadia more.
3.1
The tribes inhabiting this country are those called the Pateischoreis, the Achaemenidae, and Magi; these last affect a sedate mode of life; the Curtii and Mardi are robbers, the rest are husbandmen.
3.2
Susis also is almost a part of Persis. It lies between Persis and Babylonia, and has a very considerable city, Susa. For the Persians and Cyrus, after the conquest of the Medes, perceiving that their own country was situated towards the extremities, but Susis more towards the interior, nearer also to Babylon and the other nations, there placed the royal seat of the empire. They were pleased with its situation on the confines of Persis, and with the importance of the city; besides the consideration that it had never of itself undertaken any great enterprise, had always been in subjection to other people, and constituted a part of a greater body, except, perhaps, anciently in the heroic times.
