<w lemma="dunastei%2Fas">δυναστείας</w>. <w lemma="ta%2F">τά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="i%28ppofo%2Frbia">ἱπποφόρβια</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="basilika%5C">βασιλικὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Amh%2Fdois">Μήδοις</w> <w lemma="e%29gkexei%2Fristai">ἐγκεχείρισται</w>, <w lemma="si%2Ftou">σίτου</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qremma%2Ftwn">θρεμμάτων</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="a%29nari%2Fqmhton">ἀναρίθμητον</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w>.
<w lemma="peri%2F">περί</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%29xuro%2Fthtos">ὀχυρότητος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="mege%2Fqous">μεγέθους</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnait%27">δύναιτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29ci%2Fws">ἀξίως</w> <w lemma="ou%29dei%2Fs">οὐδείς</w>.
<w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2Amhdi%2Fa">Μηδία</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fshn">μέσην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fan">Ἀσίαν</w>, <w lemma="diafe%2Frei">διαφέρει</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgeqos">μέγεθος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fyos">ὕψος</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Ftasin">ἀνάτασιν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fan">Ἀσίαν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="qewroume%2Fnh">θεωρουμένη</w>.
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fkeitai">ἐπίκειται</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29lkimwta%2Ftois">ἀλκιμωτάτοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fstois">μεγίστοις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqnesi">ἔθνεσι</w>. <w lemma="pro%2Fkeitai">πρόκειται</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fw">ἕω</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29natola%5Cs">ἀνατολὰς</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frhmon">ἔρημον</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fa">πεδία</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="keime%2Fnhn">κειμένην</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Apersi%2Fdos">Περσίδος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aparquai%2Fas:">Παρθυαίας·</w>
<w lemma="e%29pi%2Fkeitai">ἐπίκειται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kratei%3D">κρατεῖ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kaloume%2Fnwn">καλουμένων</w> <w lemma="%2Akaspi%2Fwn">Κασπίων</w> <w lemma="pulw%3Dn">πυλῶν</w>, <w lemma="suna%2Fptei">συνάπτει</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Atapu%2Frwn">Ταπύρων</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fresin">ὄρεσιν</w>, <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28urkani%2Fas">Ὑρκανίας</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="die%2Fsthke">διέστηκε</w>.
<w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="meshmbri%2Fan">μεσημβρίαν</w> <w lemma="kli%2Fmasi">κλίμασι</w> <w lemma="kaqh%2Fkei">καθήκει</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fs">πρός</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amesopotami%2Fan">Μεσοποταμίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29apollwnia%3Dtin">Ἀπολλωνιᾶτιν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w>, <w lemma="para%2Fkeitai">παράκειται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Apersi%2Fdi">Περσίδι</w>, <w lemma="probeblhme%2Fnh">προβεβλημένη</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Aza%2Fgron">Ζάγρον</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fros">ὄρος</w>,
<w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fbasin">ἀνάβασιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%28kato%5Cn">ἑκατὸν</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fdia">στάδια</w>, <w lemma="diafora%5Cs">διαφορὰς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sugklei%2Fseis">συγκλείσεις</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxon">ἔχον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3D%7C">αὑτῷ</w> <w lemma="die%2Fzeuktai">διέζευκται</w> <w lemma="koila%2Fsi">κοιλάσι</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="au%29lw%3Dsin">αὐλῶσιν</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="katoikou%3Dsi">κατοικοῦσι</w> <w lemma="%2Akossai%3Doi">Κοσσαῖοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akorbrh%3Dnai">Κορβρῆναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aka%2Frxoi">Κάρχοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fw">πλείω</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnh">γένη</w> <w lemma="barba%2Frwn">βαρβάρων</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Ftera">ἕτερα</w>, <w lemma="diafe%2Frein">διαφέρειν</w> <w lemma="dokou%3Dnta">δοκοῦντα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="polemika%5Cs">πολεμικὰς</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w>.
<w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="du%2Fseis">δύσεις</w> <w lemma="me%2Fresi">μέρεσι</w> <w lemma="keime%2Fnois">κειμένοις</w> <w lemma="suna%2Fptei">συνάπτει</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Asatrapei%2Fois">Σατραπείοις</w> <w lemma="kaloume%2Fnois:">καλουμένοις·</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="diesta%2Fnai">διεστάναι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29qnw%3Dn">ἐθνῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29%2Fceinon">Εὔξεινον</w> <w lemma="kaqhko%2Fntwn">καθηκόντων</w> <w lemma="po%2Fnton">πόντον</w>.
<w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frktous">ἄρκτους</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="tetramme%2Fna">τετραμμένα</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="perie%2Fxetai">περιέχεται</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29elumai%2Fois">Ἐλυμαίοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aniara%2Fkais">Ἀνιαράκαις</w>,
<w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akadousi%2Fois">Καδουσίοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Amatianoi%3Ds">Ματιανοῖς</w>, <w lemma="u%28pe%2Frkeitai">ὑπέρκειται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="sunapto%2Fntwn">συναπτόντων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amaiw%3Dtin">Μαιῶτιν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fntou">Πόντου</w> <w lemma="merw%3Dn">μερῶν</w>.
<w lemma="au%29th%5C">αὐτὴ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="%2Amhdi%2Fa">Μηδία</w> <w lemma="die%2Fzeuktai">διέζευκται</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fosin">πλείοσιν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fresin">ὄρεσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="h%29ou%3Ds">ἠοῦς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="du%2Fseis">δύσεις</w>, <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fa">πεδία</w> <w lemma="plhqu%2Fonta">πληθύοντα</w> <w lemma="po%2Flesi">πόλεσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kw%2Fmais">κώμαις</w>.
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<head>Geography of Media</head>But, indeed, even before that he was a formidable<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note97">Description of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Media&groupId=742&placeId=1354">Media</a>.</note>enemy owing to the importance of his province. For the whole of the royal horses out at grass are entrusted to the Medes;<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note98">Hence the sacred breed of Nisaean horses, used for the Persian king's chariot (<bibl n="Hdt. 7.40" default="NO" valid="yes">Herod. 7, 40</bibl>;<bibl n="Hdt. 9.20" default="NO" valid="yes">9, 20</bibl>). The Nisaean plain was one of those in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Media&groupId=742&placeId=1354">Media</a> containing the best pasture, and is identified by Rawlinson with that of<term>Khawar</term>and<term>Alistan</term>near<term>Behistun.</term></note>and they have an incalculable quantity of corn and cattle. Of the natural strength and extent of the district it would be impossible to speak highly enough. For <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Media&groupId=742&placeId=1354">Media</a> lies nearly in the centre of Asia and in its size, and in the height of its steppes compares favourably with every other district of Asia. And again it overlooks some of the most warlike and powerful tribes. On the east lie the plains of the desert which intervenes between <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Persia&groupId=871&placeId=1571">Persia</a> and Parthia; and, moreover, it borders on and commands the "<a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Caspian Gates&groupId=445&placeId=827">Caspian Gates</a>," and touches the mountains of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tapyri&groupId=1003&placeId=1766">Tapyri</a>, which are not far from the Hyrcanian Sea. On the south it slopes down to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mesopotamia&groupId=757&placeId=1377">Mesopotamia</a> and the territory of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Apollonia&groupId=1066&placeId=1873">Apollonia</a>. It is protected from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Persia&groupId=871&placeId=1571">Persia</a> by the barrier of Mount Zagrus, which has an ascent of a hundred stades, and containing in its range many separate peaks and defiles is subdivided by deep valleys, and at certain points by cañons, inhabited by Cosseans, Corbrenians, Carchi, and several other barbarous tribes who have the reputation of being excellent warriors. Again on the west it is coterminous<pb n="398" />with the tribe called Satrapeii, who are not far from the tribes which extend as far as the Euxine. Its northern frontier is fringed by Elymaeans, Aniaracae, Cadusii, and Matiani, and overlooks that part of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a> which adjoins the Maeotis. <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Media&groupId=742&placeId=1354">Media</a> itself is subdivided by several mountain chains running from east to west, between which are plains thickly studded with cities and villages.
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Walbank Commentary