<w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltou%5Cs">Κελτοὺς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w>. <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="xrh%2Fsimon">χρήσιμον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kefalaiw%2Fdh">κεφαλαιώδη</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsasqai">ποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29ch%2Fghsin">ἐξήγησιν</w>, <w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="prokataskeuh%3Ds">προκατασκευῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%3Don">οἰκεῖον</w> <w lemma="sussw%2Fswmen">συσσώσωμεν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fqesin">πρόθεσιν</w>, <w lemma="a%29nadramei%3Dn">ἀναδραμεῖν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnois">χρόνοις</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%2Fn">ἀρχήν</w>, <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Ftou">ὅτου</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fsxon">κατέσχον</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnoi">προειρημένοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran:">χώραν·</w>
<w lemma="h%28gou%3Dmai">ἡγοῦμαι</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fan">ἱστορίαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="a%29ci%2Fan">ἀξίαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fsews">γνώσεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mnh%2Fmhs">μνήμης</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%2Fan">ἀναγκαίαν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="maqei%3Dn">μαθεῖν</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fsi">τίσι</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="pisteu%2Fsas">πιστεύσας</w> <w lemma="a%29ndra%2Fsi">ἀνδράσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="e%29peba%2Fleto">ἐπεβάλετο</w> <w lemma="katalu%2Fein">καταλύειν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fan">δυναστείαν</w>.
<w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="r%28hte%2Fon">ῥητέον</w> <w lemma="poi%2Fa">ποία</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fs">τίς</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllhn">ἄλλην</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w>. <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstai">ἔσται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Fronta">διαφέροντα</w> <w lemma="katanoei%3Dn">κατανοεῖν</w> <w lemma="be%2Fltion">βέλτιον</w>, <w lemma="u%28pografe%2Fntwn">ὑπογραφέντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="peri%2F">περί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="i%29diwma%2Ftwn">ἰδιωμάτων</w>.
<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Ath%3Ds">Τῆς</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="sumpa%2Fshs">συμπάσης</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="sxh%2Fmati">σχήματι</w> <w lemma="trigwnoeidou%3Ds">τριγωνοειδοῦς</w> <w lemma="u%28parxou%2Fshs">ὑπαρχούσης</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="mi%2Fan">μίαν</w> <w lemma="o%28ri%2Fzei">ὁρίζει</w> <w lemma="pleura%5Cn">πλευρὰν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29natola%5Cs">ἀνατολὰς</w> <w lemma="keklime%2Fnhn">κεκλιμένην</w> <w lemma="o%28%2F">ὅ</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29io%2Fnios">Ἰόνιος</w> <w lemma="po%2Fros">πόρος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sunexe%5Cs">συνεχὲς</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29adri%2Fan">Ἀδρίαν</w> <w lemma="ko%2Flpos">κόλπος</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="meshmbri%2Fan">μεσημβρίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dusma%5Cs">δυσμὰς</w> <w lemma="tetramme%2Fnhn">τετραμμένην</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeliko%5Cn">Σικελικὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aturrhniko%5Cn">Τυρρηνικὸν</w> <w lemma="pe%2Flagos">πέλαγος</w>.
<w lemma="au%28%3Dtai">αὗται</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="pleurai%5C">πλευραὶ</w> <w lemma="sumpi%2Fptousai">συμπίπτουσαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flas">ἀλλήλας</w> <w lemma="korufh%5Cn">κορυφὴν</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dsi">ποιοῦσι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="trigw%2Fnou">τριγώνου</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="prokei%2Fmenon">προκείμενον</w> <w lemma="a%29krwth%2Frion">ἀκρωτήριον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="meshmbri%2Fan">μεσημβρίαν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="prosagoreu%2Fetai">προσαγορεύεται</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Ako%2Fkunqos">Κόκυνθος</w>, <w lemma="diairei%3D">διαιρεῖ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29io%2Fnion">Ἰόνιον</w> <w lemma="po%2Fron">πόρον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeliko%5Cn">Σικελικὸν</w> <w lemma="pe%2Flagos">πέλαγος</w>.
<w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loiph%5Cn">λοιπὴν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="para%2F">παρά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frktous">ἄρκτους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="meso%2Fgaian">μεσόγαιαν</w> <w lemma="paratei%2Fnousan">παρατείνουσαν</w> <w lemma="o%28ri%2Fzei">ὁρίζει</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sunexe%5Cs">συνεχὲς</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Falpewn">Ἄλπεων</w> <w lemma="parw%2Freia">παρώρεια</w>, <w lemma="lamba%2Fnousa">λαμβάνουσα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Amassali%2Fas">Μασσαλίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Asardw%3D%7Con">Σαρδῷον</w> <w lemma="pe%2Flagos">πέλαγος</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w>, <w lemma="parh%2Fkousa">παρήκουσα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sunexw%3Ds">συνεχῶς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="panto%5Cs">παντὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29adri%2Fou">Ἀδρίου</w> <w lemma="muxo%2Fn">μυχόν</w>, <w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="braxe%2Fos">βραχέος</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="prokatalh%2Fgousa">προκαταλήγουσα</w> <w lemma="lei%2Fpei">λείπει</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="suna%2Fptein">συνάπτειν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w>.
<w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnhn">προειρημένην</w> <w lemma="parw%2Freian">παρώρειαν</w>, <w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="noei%3Dn">νοεῖν</w> <w lemma="w%28sanei%5C">ὡσανεὶ</w> <w lemma="ba%2Fsin">βάσιν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="trigw%2Fnou">τριγώνου</w>, <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="meshmbri%2Fas">μεσημβρίας</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fkeitai">ὑπόκειται</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fa">πεδία</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sumpa%2Fshs">συμπάσης</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="teleutai%3Da">τελευταῖα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frktous">ἄρκτους</w>, <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgos">λόγος</w>, <w lemma="a%29reth%3D%7C">ἀρετῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mege%2Fqei">μεγέθει</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Fronta">διαφέροντα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29rw%2Fphn">Εὐρώπην</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fsa">ὅσα</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fptwken">πέπτωκεν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28mete%2Fran">ἡμετέραν</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fan">ἱστορίαν</w>.
<w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flon">ὅλον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Ddos">εἶδος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fa">πεδία</w> <w lemma="perigrafou%2Fshs">περιγραφούσης</w> <w lemma="grammh%3Ds">γραμμῆς</w> <w lemma="trigwnoeide%2Fs">τριγωνοειδές</w>. <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="sxh%2Fmatos">σχήματος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="korufh%5Cn">κορυφὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28%2F">ἥ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29apenni%2Fnwn">Ἀπεννίνων</w> <w lemma="kaloume%2Fnwn">καλουμένων</w> <w lemma="o%29rw%3Dn">ὀρῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29alpeinw%3Dn">Ἀλπεινῶν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fmptwsis">σύμπτωσις</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="makra%5Cn">μακρὰν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Asardw%2F%7Cou">Σαρδῴου</w> <w lemma="pela%2Fgous">πελάγους</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="%2Amassali%2Fas">Μασσαλίας</w> <w lemma="a%29potelei%3D">ἀποτελεῖ</w>.
<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pleurw%3Dn">πλευρῶν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frktwn">ἄρκτων</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29pa%2Fnw">ἐπάνω</w> <w lemma="proei%3Dpon">προεῖπον</w>, <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Falpeis">Ἄλπεις</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%5Cs">αὐτὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="disxili%2Fous">δισχιλίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diakosi%2Fous">διακοσίους</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fous">σταδίους</w> <w lemma="parh%2Fkein">παρήκειν</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w>,
<w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="meshmbri%2Fas">μεσημβρίας</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29apenni%3Dnon">Ἀπεννῖνον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="trisxili%2Fous">τρισχιλίους</w> <w lemma="e%28cakosi%2Fous">ἑξακοσίους</w>.
<w lemma="ba%2Fsew%2Fs">βάσεώς</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcin">τάξιν</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnei">λαμβάνει</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="panto%5Cs">παντὸς</w> <w lemma="sxh%2Fmatos">σχήματος</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="parali%2Fa">παραλία</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29adri%2Fan">Ἀδρίαν</w> <w lemma="ko%2Flpou:">κόλπου·</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgeqos">μέγεθος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ba%2Fsew%2Fs">βάσεώς</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="%2Ash%2Fnhs">Σήνης</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="muxo%5Cn">μυχὸν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="disxili%2Fous">δισχιλίους</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fous">σταδίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pentakosi%2Fous">πεντακοσίους</w>,
<w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="peri%2Fmetron">περίμετρον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fwn">πεδίων</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="lei%2Fpein">λείπειν</w>
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<head>Cisalpine Gaul</head>This war itself I shall treat only summarily, to avoid breaking the thread of my history; but I must go back somewhat in point of time, and refer to the period at which these tribes originally occupied their districts in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>. For the story I think is worth knowing for its own sake, and must absolutely be kept in mind, if we wish to understand what tribes and districts they were on which Hannibal relied to assist him in his bold design of destroying the Roman dominion. I will first describe the country in which they live, its nature, and its<pb n="112" />relation to the rest of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>; for if we clearly understand its peculiarities, geographical and natural, we shall be better able to grasp the salient points in the history of the war.<a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, taken as a whole, is a triangle, of which the eastern<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note36">The Geography of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>.</note>side is bounded by the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ionian Sea&groupId=650&placeId=1190">Ionian Sea</a> and the Adriatic Gulf, its southern and western sides by the Sicilian and Tyrrhenian seas; these two sides converge to form the apex of the triangle, which is represented by the southern promontory of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> called Cocinthus, and which separates the Ionian from the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicilian Sea&groupId=972&placeId=1723">Sicilian Sea</a>.<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note37">The southernmost point of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> is Leucopetra (Capo dell'Armi). Cocinthus (Punta di Stilo) is much too far to the north; yet it may have been regarded as the conventional point of separation between the two seas, Sicilian and Ionian, which have no natural line of demarcation.</note>The third side, or base of this triangle, is on the north, and is formed by the chain of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alps&groupId=313&placeId=609">Alps</a> stretching right across the country, beginning at Marseilles and the coast of the Sardinian Sea, and with no break in its continuity until within a short distance of the head of the Adriatic. To the south of this range, which I said we must regard as the base of the triangle, are the most northerly plains of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, the largest and most fertile of any with which I am acquainted in all Europe. This is the district with which we are at present concerned.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note38">Col di Tenda.</note>Taken as a whole, it too forms a triangle, the apex of which is the point where the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Apennines&groupId=343&placeId=664">Apennines</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alps&groupId=313&placeId=609">Alps</a> converge, above Marseilles, and not far from the coast of the Sardinian Sea. The northern side of this triangle is formed by the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alps&groupId=313&placeId=609">Alps</a>, extending for 2200 stades; the southern by the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Apennines&groupId=343&placeId=664">Apennines</a>, extending 3600; and the base is the seaboard of the Adriatic, from the town of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sena&groupId=968&placeId=1716">Sena</a> to the head of the gulf, a distance of more than 2500 Stades. The total length of the three sides will thus be nearly 10,000 stades.
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Walbank Commentary