They leave on the left a deep gulf, at the
bottom of which Nicomedia was seated, the imperial residence
of Diocletian, and they pass the small islands of Cyzicus
and Proconnesus before they cast anchor at Gallipoli, where
the sea which separates Asia from Europe is again contracted
to a narrow channel.
"The geographers, who with the most skilful accuracy have
surveyed the form and extent of the Hellespont, assign about
sixty miles for the winding course and about three miles for
the ordinary breadth of those celebrated straits. But the
narrowest part of the channel is found to the northward of
the old Turkish castles between the cities of Sestos and
Abydos. It was here that the adventurous Leander braved the
passage of the flood for the possession of his mistress. It
was here, likewise, in a place where the distance between
the opposite banks cannot exceed five hundred paces, that
Xerxes imposed a stupendous bridge of boats for the purpose
of transporting into Europe an hundred and seventy myriads
of barbarians.
Pages:
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166