cities of Libya Pentapolis we owe to the liberality of Ptolemy. After
this long digression, I will now return to my original subject.

[121] Ammianus uses the phrase "worship of _the gods_," in opposition to
Christianity.

[122] Pro Archias Poeta, cap. xxii.

[123] The fable was that Hecuba was turned into a bitch, from which this
place was called +konos sema+, a dog's tomb.

[124] To--the name +Bosporos+ is derived from +Boos
poros+, the passage of the Cow.

[125] So Virgil calls them Indomitique Dahae. In the Georgics, also, he
speaks of the Chalybes as producers of iron. At Chalybes nudi ferrum.

[126] Or triennial, from +treis+, three; and +etos+, a
year.

[127] From +Dioskouroi+, the sons of Jupiter, _i.e._, Castor and
Pollux.

[128] From +heniochos+, a charioteer.

[129] The old name was +Axeinos+, inhospitable; turned into
+euxeinos+, friendly to strangers--+euethes+, according to
etymology, would mean "of a good disposition:" +euphrone+, "the
time when people have happy thoughts;" +Eumenides+, "deities of
propitious might."

[130] A people living in one of the islands near Sicily, and changed by
Jupiter as related, Ov. Met. xiv., into monkeys.

[131] Two of the chief giants, Hom. Od. xi.

[132] A time spoken of by Pliny as before the fourth watch.

[133] These books are lost.

[134] We must remark here Ammianus's complete ignorance of comparative
geography and the bearings of the different countries of which he
speaks. The Syrtes and Cape Ras are due _west_, not south of Egypt, The
Ethiopians and Catadupi are on the north; while the Arabs, whom he
places in the same line, are on the south-east. The Sea of Issus, on the
Levant, which he places on the west, is on the north.

[135] The Blemmyae were an Ethiopian tribe to the south of Egypt.

[136] These names seem derived from the real or fancied shape of the
snakes mentioned: the amphisbaena, from +amph+ and +baino+,
to go both ways, as it was believed to have a head at each end. The
scytalas was like "a staff;" the acontias, like "a javelin;" the dipsas
was a thirsty snake.

[137] From +anti+, opposite; and +skia+, shadow.

BOOK XXIII.

ARGUMENT.

I. Julian in vain attempts to restore the temple at Jerusalem,
which had been destroyed long before.--II. He orders Arsaces, king
of Armenia, to prepare for the war with Persia, and with an army
and auxiliary troops of the Scythians crosses the Euphrates.--III.