DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.44973#0054
The Description o/Larissa and Thessaly.
The Thessalians have been a warlike Nation, and are still a flout Peo-
ple* I heard the Turks complain of them, as a flurdy and despe-
rate People ; and Men, who, if injured, would find opportunity to be
revenged : and that divers of the Turks had been surprized, and had lost
their lives by them.
The Country of Theffaly seemed the more considerable to me, in re-
gard that it hath formerly been the Seat of great Actions, and produ-
ced many worthy Persons ; and particularly, because the famous Hip-
pocrates, the Father of Physicians lived and pradtised here, as may be
colle&ed from the Oration of his Son Thessalus,zn<\ the Narration of his
Life by Soranus, annexed to his Works; wherein it is delivered That he
lived in Theffaly, and was warned by a Dream to abide in that Coun-
try. That the Princes and Rulers of the Barbarous Nations about Il-
lyria and Pre onia, sent hither to him; as also the King of Macedonia.
That he dyed in, or about Lariffa. That he was buried between La-
ri JJ a and Gyrton, and it may be observed in the Epidemies or Books
of Hippocrates: wherein he sets down the Particulars of the Diseases
of his Patients, together with their Names and Places of Habitation.
That a great number of his Patients were of the City of Larissa.
Many famous Battles have been fought in the Plains of Theffaly- and
a greater than any there might have been, if the Gratians had accep-
ted of the Challenge of Mardonius, the Persian General, when he sent
unto them, to come out of their fast Places, and fight with them in
Theffaly, where there were Plains and open Places enough, wherein to
Ihow their Valour.
The Theffalians are an handsom race of People, having black Hair,
black Eyes, and their Faces of a fresh and ssorid sanguine, much like
our freih Complexions in England: so that Strangers much admired
the Women, and spoke often of the lei fargue de Greci, or fair blood
of the Gratians. The Macedonians, who live in hilly Countries, are
of a coarser Complexion: and the Moreans or Peloponnesians, who live
more South-ward, incline unto a swarthiness.
They have always had the name of good Horse-men, and the Coun-
try still abounds in good jHorses. They have also great Buffalos,
esteemed the largest in Greece, except thole of Santa Maura in Epi-
rus. There are also large and well-coloured Tortoises, of a fine yel-
low and black ; and esteemed very good meat. But the Turks laugh-
ed at the Christians, for feeding on such Food, where they might have
Mutton, Pullets and Partridges.
The Country produces very large, fair, and delicious Figs, Water-
melons, the largest and most pleasant I have tasted; which were very
refressiing unto us ; as also fair and delicate Pomegranates, Orainges,
Limons and Citrons, Vines, which are low, like those about Mont-
pellier, and not supported ; but the Branches and Clusters great, and
the Grapes as big as good Damafens,and of a delicious taste. The Wine
of the Country is rich, but much thereof hath a resinous taste or tang of
the Boracho.
They plant Tabaco, and esteem it better, than what is brought
from other Parts, as being more strong and pungent. The Fields are
spread with Sefamum and Cotton Trees-, but the Trees grow low, yet
make a fair ihow. The Country abounds in Almonds and Olives; and
the Greeks delight most in the ripe Olive pickled, as we in the green.
G ' The
The Thessalians have been a warlike Nation, and are still a flout Peo-
ple* I heard the Turks complain of them, as a flurdy and despe-
rate People ; and Men, who, if injured, would find opportunity to be
revenged : and that divers of the Turks had been surprized, and had lost
their lives by them.
The Country of Theffaly seemed the more considerable to me, in re-
gard that it hath formerly been the Seat of great Actions, and produ-
ced many worthy Persons ; and particularly, because the famous Hip-
pocrates, the Father of Physicians lived and pradtised here, as may be
colle&ed from the Oration of his Son Thessalus,zn<\ the Narration of his
Life by Soranus, annexed to his Works; wherein it is delivered That he
lived in Theffaly, and was warned by a Dream to abide in that Coun-
try. That the Princes and Rulers of the Barbarous Nations about Il-
lyria and Pre onia, sent hither to him; as also the King of Macedonia.
That he dyed in, or about Lariffa. That he was buried between La-
ri JJ a and Gyrton, and it may be observed in the Epidemies or Books
of Hippocrates: wherein he sets down the Particulars of the Diseases
of his Patients, together with their Names and Places of Habitation.
That a great number of his Patients were of the City of Larissa.
Many famous Battles have been fought in the Plains of Theffaly- and
a greater than any there might have been, if the Gratians had accep-
ted of the Challenge of Mardonius, the Persian General, when he sent
unto them, to come out of their fast Places, and fight with them in
Theffaly, where there were Plains and open Places enough, wherein to
Ihow their Valour.
The Theffalians are an handsom race of People, having black Hair,
black Eyes, and their Faces of a fresh and ssorid sanguine, much like
our freih Complexions in England: so that Strangers much admired
the Women, and spoke often of the lei fargue de Greci, or fair blood
of the Gratians. The Macedonians, who live in hilly Countries, are
of a coarser Complexion: and the Moreans or Peloponnesians, who live
more South-ward, incline unto a swarthiness.
They have always had the name of good Horse-men, and the Coun-
try still abounds in good jHorses. They have also great Buffalos,
esteemed the largest in Greece, except thole of Santa Maura in Epi-
rus. There are also large and well-coloured Tortoises, of a fine yel-
low and black ; and esteemed very good meat. But the Turks laugh-
ed at the Christians, for feeding on such Food, where they might have
Mutton, Pullets and Partridges.
The Country produces very large, fair, and delicious Figs, Water-
melons, the largest and most pleasant I have tasted; which were very
refressiing unto us ; as also fair and delicate Pomegranates, Orainges,
Limons and Citrons, Vines, which are low, like those about Mont-
pellier, and not supported ; but the Branches and Clusters great, and
the Grapes as big as good Damafens,and of a delicious taste. The Wine
of the Country is rich, but much thereof hath a resinous taste or tang of
the Boracho.
They plant Tabaco, and esteem it better, than what is brought
from other Parts, as being more strong and pungent. The Fields are
spread with Sefamum and Cotton Trees-, but the Trees grow low, yet
make a fair ihow. The Country abounds in Almonds and Olives; and
the Greeks delight most in the ripe Olive pickled, as we in the green.
G ' The