hium. Compare Appian, _Civil
Wars_, c. 79.]

[Footnote 266: This phenomenon is mentioned by Strabo (p. 316), Dion
Cassius (41, c. 45), and AElian (_Various History_, 13, c. 16). I do
not know if this spot has been examined by any modern traveller. It is
a matter of some interest to ascertain how long a phenomenon of this
kind has lasted. The pitch-springs of Zante (Zakynthus), which
Herodotus visited and describes (iv. 195), still produce the native
pitch. Strabo, who had not seen the Nymphaeum, describes it thus after
the account of Poseidonius: "In the territory of Apollonia is a place
called the Nymphaeum; it is a rock which sends forth fire, and at the
base of it are springs of warm asphaltus, the asphaltic earth, as it
appears, being in a state of combustion: and there is a mine of it
near on a hill. Whatever is cut out, is filled up again in course of
time, as the earth which is thrown into the excavations changes into
asphaltus, as Poseidonius says." We cannot conclude from this confused
description what the real nature of the phenomenon was. Probably the
asphaltus or bitumen was occasionally set on fire by the neighbouring
people. (See the art. "Asphaltum," _Penny Cyclopaedia_.)]

[Footnote 267: The Cohors was the tenth part of a Roman Legion. Appian
(_Civil Wars_, i. 82) says that on this occasion the opponents of
Sulla made their cohorts contain 500 men each, so that a legion would
contain 5000 men. According to this estimate there were 90,000 men
under arms in Italy to oppose Sulla, who had five legions of Italian
soldiers, six thousand cavalry and some men from Peloponnesus and
Macedonia; in all forty thousand men. (Appian, _Civil Wars_, i. 79.)
Appian says that he had 1,600 ships.]

[Footnote 268: This passage is explained by the cut p. 287 in Smith's
_Dict. of Antiquities_, art. "Corona."]

[Footnote 269: Caius Junius Norbanus and L. Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus
were now consuls B.C. 83.]

[Footnote 270: Silvium is a town in Apulia on the Appian road, on the
Apennines. As to the burning of the Capitol, see Appian, _Civil Wars_,
i. 86.]

[Footnote 271: Fidentia was in North Italy not far from Placentia
(Piacenza): it is now Borgo San Donnino. Appian (_Civil Wars_, i. 92)
speaks of this battle near Placentia, which Lucullus gained over some
of Carbo's troops, not over Carbo himself, as is stated by some modern
writers. Carbo was now in Central Italy.]

[Footnote 272: Sulla, with Metellus Pius, who had