Book 8
6.24
It was situated above the plain of the Sicyonians, but the Argives were masters of the country.
6.24
AraethyreaIl. ii. 571. is now called Phliasia. It had a city of the same name as the country near the mountain Celossa. They afterwards removed thence and built a city at the distance of 30 stadia, which they called Phlius.The ruins are situated below the monastery Kesra. Part of the mountain Celossa is the Carneates, whence the Asopus takes its rise, which flows by Sicyon,Vasilika. and forms the Asopian district, which is a part of Sicyonia. There is also an Asopus, which flows by Thebes, and Plataea, and Tanagra. There is another also in Heracleia Trachinia, which flows beside a village, called Parasopii, and a fourth at Paros.
6.24
Phlius is situated in the middle of a circle formed by Sicyonia, Argeia, Cleonae, and Stymphalus. At Phlius and at Sicyon the temple of Dia, a name given to Hebe, is held in veneration.
6.25
Sicyon was formerly called Mecone, and at a still earlier period, Aegiali. It was rebuilt high up in the country about 20, others say, about 12, stadia from the sea, upon an eminences naturally strong, which is sacred to Ceres. The buildings anciently consisted of a naval arsenal and a harbour.
6.25
Sicyonia is separated by the river Nemea from the Corinthian territory. It was formerly governed for a very long period by tyrants, but they were always persons of mild and moderate disposition. Of these, the most illustrious was Aratus, who made the city free, and was the chief of the Achaeans, who voluntarily conferred upon him that power; he extended the confederacy by annexing to it his own country, and the other neighbouring cities.
