![]() ![]() The region stretching from the Baetis to the river Anas beyond the places already mentioned is called Baeturia, and is divided into two parts and the same number of races, the Celtici bordering on Lusitania, of the jurisdiction of Hispalis, and the Turduli, who dwell on the borders of Lusitania and Tarraconensis, but are in the jurisdiction of Corduba.Calabria was, along with Sicily, the pulsating, vital heart of Magna Graecia. At no great distance, on the Maenuba, another navigable river, are the settlements of Olontigi, Laelia and Lastigi. The free towns are Old Astigi and Ostippo, with the tributary towns of Callet, Callicula, Castra Gemina, Ilipula Minor, Marruca, Sacrana, Obulcula, Oningis, Sabora and Ventippo. The other colonies in this jurisdiction exempt from tribute are Tucci, surnamed Augusta Gemella, Iptuci or Virtus Julia, Ucubi or Claritas Julia, Urso or Genetiva Urbanorum and among these once was Munda, which was taken with the younger Pompeius. The river Singilis, joining the Baetis at the place in the list already mentioned, washes the colony of Astigi, surnamed Augusta Firma, from which point it becomes navigable. Between the estuaries of the Baetis are the towns of Nabrissa, surnamed Veneria, and Colobana, with two colonies, Hasta, which is called Regia, and inland Asido, which is called Caesarina. The towns of the jurisdiction of Hispalis are Celti, Axati, Arua, Canama, Evia, Ilipa surnamed Ilpa Italica on the left bank is the colony Hispal surnamed Romulensis, while on the opposite side are the towns Osset surnamed Julia Constantia, Vergentum or Juli Genius, Orippo, Caura, Siarum, and the river Maenuba, a tributary of the Baetis on its right. At this point the Baetis first becomes navigable, and there are the towns of Carbula and Detum, the river Singilis flowing into the Baetis on the same side. In the jurisdiction of Corduba in the neighbourhood of the actual river are Ossigi surnamed Latonium, Iliturgi or Forum Julium, Ipra, Isturgi or Triumphale, Sucia, and 17 miles inland Obulco or Pontificense, then Ripa, Epora (a treaty town), Sacili Martialium, Onuba, and on the right bank the colony of Corduba surnamed Patricia. Between this river and the Ocean coast the most famous places inland are: Segida surnamed Augurina Julia or Fidentia Urgao or Alba Ebura or Cerialis Iliberri or Liberini Ilipula or Laus Artigi or Julienses Vesci or Faventia Singili, Ategua, Arialdunum, Agla Minor, Baebro, Castra Vinaria, Cisimbrium, New Hippo, Illurco, Osca, Oscua, Sucaelo, Unditanum, Old Tucci - all of which are places in that part of Bastetania which stretches towards the sea. It first enters Baetica at Ossigetania, gliding gently in a picturesque channel past a series of towns situated on both its banks. The Baetis rises in Tarraconensis, not at the town of Mentesa, as some authorities have said, but in the Tugiensian Forest bordered by the river Tader that waters the territory of Carthago at Ilorci it avoids the 'Pyre of Scipio' and, turning westward, makes for the Atlantic Ocean, giving its name to the province it is first of moderate size, but it receives many tributaries, from which it takes their glory as well as their waters. The stories related of Hercules, Pyrene or Saturn I regard as absolutely mythical. of those who revelled with him, that gave its name to Lusitania, and that Pan was the governor of the whole of it. Wherever possible, links are provided to further information about the places. ![]() In this web version, many of the place names have been altered to reproduce the Latin spellings - for instance, 'Massilia' instead of 'Marseilles'. Click on the L symbols to go to the Latin text of each chapter. Translated by H.Rackham (1952), with some minor alterations. Pliny, Natural History, 3 (a) Pliny, Natural History - Book 3, sections 1-75
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