10. Macedonia is bounded, first, on the west, by the coastline of the Adrias; secondly, on the east, by the meridian line which is parallel to this coastline and runs through the outlets of the Hebrus River and through the city Cypsela; thirdly, on the north, by the imaginary straight line which runs through the Bertiscus Mountain,1 the Scardus,2 the Orbelus,3 the Rhodope,4 and the Haemus;5 for these mountains, beginning at the Adrias, extend on a straight line as far as the Euxine, thus forming towards the south a great peninsula which comprises Thrace together with Macedonia, Epeirus, and Achaea; and fourthly, on the south, by the Egnatian Road,6 which runs from the city Dyrrhachium towards the east as far as Thessaloniceia. And thus7 the shape of Macedonia is very nearly that of a parallelogram.
11. What is now called Macedonia was in earlier times called Emathia. And it took its present name from Macedon, one of its early chieftains. And there was also a city Emathia close to the sea. Now a part of this country was taken and held by certain of the Epeirotes and the Illyrians, but most of it by the Bottiaei and the Thracians. The Bottiaei came from Crete originally, so it is said,8 along with Botton as chieftain.
Уобће је занимљива судба старих народа Балкана под Римљанима. Ево како то описује Страбон.
Later writers call the Ardiæi, Vardæi. The Romans drove them into the interior from the sea-coast, which was infested by their piracies, and compelled them to cultivate the ground; but as the country was rugged and barren, and not adapted to husbandry, the nation was entirely ruined and nearly extinguished. The same happened to other neighbouring nations. People formerly very powerful are extinct, or were reduced to the lowest condition, as the Boii and Scordisci among the Galatæ; the Autariatæ, Ardiæi, and Dardanii, among the Illyrians; and the Triballi among the Thracians. They first declined in consequence of disputes amongst themselves, but were finally prostrated by wars with the Macedonians and Romans.
Је ли вриједно трпати Албанце између Илира и Трака, ако су Грци разликовали осим њих и Епироте и Пеонце? То што се праалбански не поклапа ни с илирским ни с трачким, иде у прилог тој могућности.
Thracians, Illyrians, and Epirotæ are settled even at present on the sides of Greece. Formerly the territory they possessed was more extensive, although even now the barbarians possess a large part of the country, which, without dispute, is Greece. Macedonia is occupied by Thracians, as well as some parts of Thessaly; the country above Acarnania and Ætolia, by Thesproti, Cassopæi, Amphilochi, Molotti, and Athamanes, Epirotic tribes.
In travelling this road from the neighbourhood of Epidamnus and Apollonia, on the right hand are the Epirotic nations situated on the coast of the Sicilian Sea, and extending as far as the Gulf of Ambracia;[p 90] on the left are the Illyrian mountains, which we have before described, and the nations that live near them, extending as far as Macedonia and the Pæones.
На Балкану ништа није једноставно и никада није било.
The Autariatæ were the most populous and the bravest tribe of the Illyrians. After the Autariatæ had subdued the Triballi, they became masters of the Thracians and Illyrians.
The Autariatæ were first conquered by the Scordisci, and afterwards by the Romans, who overpowered the Scordisci, for a long time a powerful nation.They increased so much in strength and numbers as to advance even to the Illyrian, Pæonian, and Thracian confines.
Тhe Daci depopulated a part of this country (Illyria) in their wars with the Boii and Taurisci, Keltic tribes whose chief was Critasirus. The Illyrians were destroyed by the Daci, while the Scordisci were frequently their allies.
Next to the territory of the Scordisci, lying along the banks of the Danube, is the country of the Triballi and Mysi,
Next are the people about the Mount Hæmus, and those who live at its foot, extending as far as the Pontus, Coralli, and Bessi, and some tribes of Mædi and of Dantheletæ. All these nations are very much addicted to robbery. The Bessi possess far the greatest part of Mount Hæmus, and are called Robbers from their mode of life as free-booters. Some of them live in huts and lead a life of hardship. They extend close to Rhodope, the Pæones, and to the Illyrian nations; to the Autariatæ also, and the Dardanians.
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