Book 4
6.10
Near to these regions dwell the Iapodes, (a nation now mixed with the Illyrians, and Kelts,) close to them is [the Mount] Ocra.The Julian Alps, and Birnbaumerwald. Formerly the Iapodes were numerous, inhabiting either side of the mountain, and were notorious for their predatory habits, but they have been entirely reduced and brought to subjection by Augustus Caesar. Their cities are Metulum,Probably Mödling. Arupenum,Auersperg, or the Flecken Mungava. Monetium,Möttnig or Mansburg. and Vendon.Windisch Grätz, or Brindjel. After these is the city of Segesta,Now Sisseck. [situated] in a plain. Near to it flows the river Save,The text reads Rhine, but we have, in common with Gosselin, followed the correction of Cluvier, 6ylander, and Tyrwhitt. which discharges itself into the Danube. This city lies in an advantageous position for carrying on war against the Dacians.The Dacians occupied a part of Hungary, Transylvania, Wallachia, and a portion of Moldavia. Ocra forms the lowest portion of the Alps, where they approach the territory of the Carni, and through which they convey the merchandise of Aquileia in waggons to Pamportus.Coray suggests Nauportus, now Ober-Laibach in Krain. This suggestion is extremely probable, however Pamportus occurs twice in the text. This route is not more than 400 stadia. From thence they convey it by the rivers as far as the Danube and surrounding districts, for a navigable riverThe river Laibach. which flows out of Illyria, passes by Pamportus, and discharges itself into the Save, so that the merchandise may easily be carried down both to Segesta, and to the Pannonians, and Taurisci.The Pannonians occupied a portion of Austria and Hungary. The Taurisci, who formed part of the former people, inhabited Styria. It is near this city,Segesta. that the KulpThe ancient Colapis. falls into the Save. Both of these rivers are navigable, and flow down from the Alps. The Alps contain wild horses and cattle, and Polybius asserts that an animal of a singular form is found there; it resembles a stag except in the neck and hair, which are similar to those of a wild boar; under its chin it has a tuft of hair about a span long, and the thickness of the tail of a young horse.This is a description of the elk (cervus alces of Linn.). This animal no longer exists either in France or in the Alps.
