Delphi Complete Works of Procopius

by Procopius of Caesarea

  [23] He also rendered secure all the cities of Greece which are inside the walls at Thermopylae, renewing their circuit-walls in every case. [24] For they had fallen into ruin long before, at Corinth because of terrible earthquakes which had visited the city; and at Athens and Plataea and the towns of Boeotia they had suffered from the long passage of time, while no man in the whole world took thought for them. [25] But he left nothing vulnerable or unguarded, for after vigilantly caring for the safety of his subjects, he felt convinced that even if the barbarians should chance to overrun the country about Thermopylae, they would, as soon as they learned that after surmounting this obstacle they would have gained no advantage (the rest of Greece having been fortified at every point), give up immediately in despair, knowing that it would be necessary for them to besiege each individual city. [26] For when expectation is prolonged, it cannot endure the strain, nor does it even desire a profit which is delayed; but it simply abandons the contingent chance of success through waiting.

  [27] When the Emperor Justinian, after he had accomplished all this, learned that all the cities of the Peloponnesus were unwalled, he reasoned that obviously a long time would be consumed if he attended to them one by one, and so he walled the whole Isthmus securely, because much of the old wall had already fallen down. [28] And he built fortresses there and established garrisons. In this manner he made all the towns in the Peloponnesus inaccessible to the enemy, even if somehow they should force the defences at Thermopylae. Thus were these things done.

  [3] [1] There was a certain city in Thessaly, Diocletianopolis by name, which had been prosperous in ancient times, but with the passage of time and the assaults of the barbarians it had been destroyed, and for a very long time it had been destitute of inhabitants; and a certain lake chances to be close by which was named Castoria. There is an island in the middle of the lake, for the most part surrounded by water; [2] but there remains a single narrow approach to this island through the lake, not more than •fifteen feet wide. [3] And a very lofty mountain stands above the island, one half being covered by the lake while the remainder rests upon it. [4] Wherefore this Emperor passed over the site of Diocletianopolis, since it was manifestly easy of access and had long been in a state of collapse, as has been stated, and built a very strong city on the island, and, as was right, he allowed it bear his own name. [5] Furthermore, he restored the circuit-walls of Echinaeus and of Thebes and Pharsalus and of all the other cities of Thessaly, including Demetrias and Metropolis, as it is called, and Gomphi and Tricca, making them safe and strong, since they had all suffered with the passage of time and could be captured easily, if anyone should attack them.

  [6] But now that we have reached Thessaly, let us direct our account at once to Mt. Pelion and the Peneus River. [7] This river flows from Mt. Pelion with a gentle stream which encircles and beautifies the city of Larissa; Phthia is no longer in existence, this being the work of the long passage of time. [8] And this river flows on with a very easy descent all the way to the sea. The country is indeed productive of all kinds of crops and has a surfeit of drinking-water, yet the inhabitants of the region could not derive the least enjoyment from these things because they were in a state of constant terror and ever expected the barbarians to fall upon them, since there was no stronghold anywhere in this district where they might take refuge and find safety. [9] Even Larissa and Caesarea, since their defences had suffered excessively, had come to be practically unwalled. [10] But the Emperor Justinian made the defences of both very strong, and in this way brought the blessings of true prosperity to the region. [11] And not far away rise precipitous mountains, covered with lofty trees — the home of the Centaurs. [12] This was the spot where the battle of the Lapiths took place against the race of the Centaurs, as our myths have it from of old, childishly pretending that in early times a strange race of men existed, compounded of the nature of two creatures. [13] Ancient times have also left a certain testimony to the myth in a name applied to a fort in the mountains there; for the place is called Centauropolis even to my day. [14] The wall of this fort, which had already fallen down, as well as the fortress of Eurymenê, near by, which was in the same state, was rebuilt and strengthened by the Emperor Justinian. [15] This Emperor restored also many other forts in Thessaly, the names of which I shall include a little further on in the list of towns in Macedonia which have been provided with walls.

  [16] But now, in order that no portion of Greece may be left unmentioned, we must go to the island of Euboea, for it stands close to Athens and Marathôn. [17] This island of Euboea is thrown out into the sea in front of Greece, and it looks as if it had been cut off somehow from the mainland, having been one with the continent formerly, but later split off by a strait. [18] An arm of the sea breaks the continent there near the city of Chalcis, collecting itself in a narrow stream and being compressed by its banks to the breadth of a brook. [19] The portion of land which is thus cut off forms an island, and the strait is called Euripus. [20] Such then is Euboea; and a bridge over the strait is formed by a single timber laid across it. This the natives put in place whenever they wish, and thus they seem to be mainlanders when they cross on foot to the opposite shore; but when they remove it and cross the strait in boats, they become islanders again, so that by the placing or removal of one timber they may either walk or go in boats . . . they call the enclosed portion Pallenê. [1] The natives in ancient times had closed the entrance with a cross-wall, with which they had linked together the two seas; and they had built there a city which in former times they called Potidaea, but now Cassandria. [22] But time so ruined all the buildings in this place that a Hunnic tribe, in overrunning that region not long ago, destroyed the city and the wall without fear, quite as if they were doing something just by the way, though since the world began they had never stormed a wall. [23] But this too provided the Emperor Justinian with an opportunity to display his skill and his magnanimity. [24] For, by always bringing his wisdom to bear in circumventing the difficulties he meets with, he straightway uses beneficent measures, thus transforming the greatest disasters into a happier state of affairs. [25] So in this way he brought it about that both the city of Pallenê, which stands as a bulwark of the whole region, and the cross-wall at the entrance of the peninsula, became manifestly impregnable and able to defy any who should wish to attack them. [26] These things, then, were done by him as his service to Macedonia.

  [27] Not far from Thessalonica flows a certain river, Rhechius by name, which wanders through a goodly land of deep soil and then empties into the sea near by. [28] The river flows with a steady current, the water is calm and drinkable, and the ground is level with many ploughed fields and bottom-lands with good pasturage. [29] In these respects the land is blessed, but it used to be completely exposed to the barbarians, having neither fortress nor any other defence in a space of •forty miles. [30] Consequently the Emperor built a new fort of great strength beside the mouth of the Rhechius River, near the shore of the sea, and it has been named Artemisium.

  [4] [1] It is proper to tell also how many other strongholds he constructed in this part of Europe. If we were making this catalogue of the forts in this region — those namely which were constructed by the Emperor Justinian — for the benefit of some other nations of men who lived far away, with a different form of government, in some place where the record would lack the testimony of witnesses, I know well that my account would seem fabulous and altogether incredible because of the mere number of the forts built. [2] But as matters stand, since these things are to be seen at no great distance, and visitors from these regions are very numerous in our midst, let us, boldly telling the truth, well vouched for as it is, proceed with unbounded confidence to enumerate without any hesitation all the forts which the Emperor Justinian has built throughout the regions which I have just described, either by restoring those fortifications which were in ruins or by contriving new walls. [3] It will be preferable to set them all down together in catalogue form so that my narrative may not
become utterly irksome by interspersing a crowd of place-names here and there in it.

  Now the following new forts were built by the Emperor in New Epirus:

  Boulpiansus

  Episterba

  Sceminites

  Aona

  Stephaniacum

  Argus

  Aliula

  Dyrrachin

  St. Sabianus

  Gemenus

  Bacustê

  Alistrus

  Patapa

  Epidunta

  Bacusta

  Martis

  Eirenê

  Speretium

  Aoiôn

  Stredên

  Gynaecomites

  Labellus

  Epileum

  Piscinae

  Deuphracus

  Dolebin

  Hedonia

  Titiana

  Cithinas

  Ulibula

  Brebatê

  Thesaurus

  The following were restored:

  St. Stephen’s

  Cethreôn

  Apis

  Peleum

  Comê

  Pacuê

  The city of Scydreôn

  Antipagrae

  Tithyra

  Brebeta

  Bupus

  Endyneia

  Dionysus

  Ptocheiou

  Tyrcanus

  Capaza

  Pupsalus

  Gabraeum

  Dionoia

  Clementiana

  Illyrin

  Cilicae

  Argyas

  Therma

  Amanteia

  Paretium

  And in Old Epirus the following new forts were built:

  Parmus

  Olbus

  Cionin

  Marciana

  Algus

  Ceimenus

  Xeropotamus

  Europê

  Chimaerae

  Helega

  Homonoia

  Adanum

  And the following forts were restored:

  Murciara

  Castina

  Genysius

  Percus

  Marmarata

  Listria

  Petroniana

  Carmina

  St. Sabinus’

  And a cistern in the fort of Comê

  Martius

  Pezium

  Onalus

  And from Justinianopolis and Photicê, two forts of St. Donatus

  Symphygium

  Pronathidum

  Hedones

  Castellus

  Bulibas

  Palyrus

  Trana

  Poseidôn

  Colophonia

  In Macedonia:

  Candida

  Colobona

  Basilica Amyntou

  Melichiza

  Pascas

  Aulon

  Bolbus

  Brigizes

  Optas

  Pleurum

  Caminus

  Therma

  Bogas

  Neapolis

  Calarnas

  Museum

  Acremba

  Adrianium

  Edana

  Siclae

  Nymphium

  Metizus

  Argicianum

  Bazinus

  Cassopas

  Parthiôn

  Gentianum

  Priniana

  Thesteum

  Cyrrou

  Gourassôn

  Cumarciana

  Limnederium

  Bourboöden

  Babas

  Cryniana

  Pelecum

  Lagês

  Crataea

  Phasciae

  Placidiana

  Hygea

  Limnaae

  Optium

  Charadrus

  Cassopes

  And these forts were restored in Thessaly:

  Alcôn

  Lossonus

  Geronticê

  Perbyla

  Cercineou

  Scidreûs

  Phracellan

  In Dardania the following were built. New:

  Laberium

  Castimum

  Rhabestum

  Castellium

  Acrenza

  Terias

  Drullus

  Victorias

  And the following were restored:

  Cesiana

  Tezulê

  Usiana

  Besiana

  Mascas

  Listê

  Celliriana

  Zysbaes

  Genzana

  Petrizên

  Eutychiana

  Mulatô

  Belas

  Cattarus

  Cattarecus

  Pentza

  Cattapheterus

  Dabanus

  Cubinus

  Germatza

  Victoriana

  Azeta

  Durbuliana

  Suricum

  Cusines

  Tuttiana

  Ballesiana

  Bella

  Catrelates

  Casyella

  Maniana

  Priscupera

  Miletês

  Dardapara

  Cesuna

  Beriniana

  Lasbarus

  Castellobretara

  Edetziô

  Dinium

  Cecola

  Emastus

  Castelona

  Capomalba

  Seretus

  Ptocheium

  Cuinô

  Berzana

  Besaïana

  Arsa

  Blezô

  Labutza

  Quintou

  Bermezium

  Catrasema

  Rhotun

  Cobenciles

  Marcelliana

  Primoniana

  Pamilinus

  Aria

  Near the city Sardicê:

  Scupium

  Stenes

  Marcipetra

  Briparum

  Romaniana

  Struas

  Protiana

  Maccuniana

  Scopentzana

  And in the district of Cabetzus, Balbae was built new, and the following were restored:

  Byrsia

  Stamazô

  Clesbestita

  Duiana

  Turicla

  Medeca

  Peplabius

  Cunae

  Bineüs

  Trisciana

  Parnusta

  Tzimes

  Bidzô

  Stenecorta

  Danedebae

  Ardeia

  . . . the following new:

  Bugarama

  Betzas

  Bregedaba

  Borbrega

  Turûs

  And the following were restored:

  Salebries

  Arcunes

  Duries

  Buteries

  Barbaries

  Arbatias

  Cutzusura

  Etaeries

  Itaberies

  Bottes

  Bitzimaeas

  Badziania

  Banes

  Bimerus

  Tusudeaas

  Scuanes

  Scentudies

  Scares

  Tugurias

  Bemastes

  Stramentias

  Lignius

  Itadeba

  Near the city Germenne, Scaplizo was built new, and the following were restored:

  Germas

  Candaras

  Rolligeras

  Scinzeries

  Rhiginocastellum

  Suegogmense

  Near the city Pauta:

  Tarporum

  Suabastas

  Cherduscera

  Blebois

  Zeapuries

  In the district of Scassetana:

  Alarum

  Magimias

  Lucunanta

  Balausum

  B
uttis

  Near the city . . . the following were built new:

  Calbentia

  Pharanores

  Stranbasta

  Aldanes

  Barachtestes

  Sarmates

  Arsena

  Brarcedum

  Eraria

  Bercadium

  Sabiniribes

  Timiana

  Candilar

  Arsaza

  Biculea

  Castellium

  Groffes

  Garces

  Pistes

  Dusmanes

  Bratzista

  Holodoris

  Cassia

  Grandetum

  Urbriana

  Nogeto

  Gurbicum

  Lautzones

  Duliares

  Mediana

  Tiuncona

  Castellium

  And the following were restored:

  Hercula

  Mutzianicastellum

  Burdopes

  Calis

  Millareca

  Dedbera

  Chesdupara

  In the district of Remisianisia:

  Brittura

  Subaras

  Lamponiana

  Stronges

  Dalmatas

  Primiana

  Phrerraria

  Topera

  Tomes

  Cuas

  Tzertzenutzas

  Stens

  Aeadaba

  Destreba

  Pretzouries

  Cumudeba

  Deurias

  Lutzolo

  Rhepordenes

  Spelonca

  Scumbro

  Briparo

  Tulcoburgo

  Longiana

  Lupophantana

  Dardapara

  Burdomina

  Grinciapana

  Graecus

  Drasimarca

  In the district of Aquenisium, Timathochiôm was built new, and the following were restored:

  Petres

  Sculcoburgo

  Vindimiola

  Braeola

  Arganocili

  Castellonovo

  Florentiana

  Romyliana

  Septecasae

  Argentares

  Auriliana

  Gembero

  Clemades

  Turribas

  Gribo

  Chalaro

  Tzutrato

  Mutzipara

  Stendas

  Scaripara

  Odriuzo

  Cipipene

  Trasiana

  Potes

  Amulo

  Setlotes

  Timaciolum

  Meridio