DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4099#0140
128 MOUNT OETA.
Thera, and several others, are volcanic, besides the promontory of
Methana in Argolis. Strabo' gives a detailed and interesting ac-
count of the changes which happened at different periods in Greece,
where several islands disappeared, and others rose from the sea;
where rivers changed their course, or totally failed. I imagine that
if even the Thessalian Olympos were examined, it would be found,
in some parts, to be composed of volcanic matter, and that Hesiod's1
account of the war between Jupiter and the Titans, and the burning
Olympos, is a symbolical description of the warring elements. Ju-
piter's triumph over Typhceos appears, in all respects, to charac-
terise the horrors of a volcano. This volcano is personified by
the giant Typhosus, who is represented as having a hundred heads
vomiting fire ! A hundred is here put indefinitely for a great many,
and not for any particular number. Olympos has many sum-
mits, and is hence called -TroXudcagag by the poets. These heads
were probably thrown up by volcanos; and his sons Geryon, Cer-
berus, and Orthos, were other smaller volcanos, on, or near Olympos.'
Seneca4 gives the epithet of ignifer to Olympos. Some authors will
have it that Typhceos was put under iEtna; others say under Ina-
rime;5 both of which were always celebrated for their volcanic fires.
It is also said that the river Dyras first made its appearance in
order to assist Hercules, and to extinguish the fire which was burn-
ing upon Oeta. Nothing is more common in volcanic countries than
the appearance of new rivers, and the disappearance of old ones,
which frequently takes place during great eruptions. It would be
an object worthy the research of future travellers to examine in
detail the mountains of Oeta and Olympos, and the island of Lichas
in the M'aliac Gulf. Volcanos may still exist in the impenetrable
bowels of these mountains, which, like those of iEtna and Vesuvius,
' B. 1. s Deor. Generat. v. 673, See.
s The smaller volcanos which have issued from the sides of /Etna, are at this day called
the sons of iEtna. * Hippolytus, act. 3. v. 960.
5 The island of Ischia, in the Bay of Naples.
Thera, and several others, are volcanic, besides the promontory of
Methana in Argolis. Strabo' gives a detailed and interesting ac-
count of the changes which happened at different periods in Greece,
where several islands disappeared, and others rose from the sea;
where rivers changed their course, or totally failed. I imagine that
if even the Thessalian Olympos were examined, it would be found,
in some parts, to be composed of volcanic matter, and that Hesiod's1
account of the war between Jupiter and the Titans, and the burning
Olympos, is a symbolical description of the warring elements. Ju-
piter's triumph over Typhceos appears, in all respects, to charac-
terise the horrors of a volcano. This volcano is personified by
the giant Typhosus, who is represented as having a hundred heads
vomiting fire ! A hundred is here put indefinitely for a great many,
and not for any particular number. Olympos has many sum-
mits, and is hence called -TroXudcagag by the poets. These heads
were probably thrown up by volcanos; and his sons Geryon, Cer-
berus, and Orthos, were other smaller volcanos, on, or near Olympos.'
Seneca4 gives the epithet of ignifer to Olympos. Some authors will
have it that Typhceos was put under iEtna; others say under Ina-
rime;5 both of which were always celebrated for their volcanic fires.
It is also said that the river Dyras first made its appearance in
order to assist Hercules, and to extinguish the fire which was burn-
ing upon Oeta. Nothing is more common in volcanic countries than
the appearance of new rivers, and the disappearance of old ones,
which frequently takes place during great eruptions. It would be
an object worthy the research of future travellers to examine in
detail the mountains of Oeta and Olympos, and the island of Lichas
in the M'aliac Gulf. Volcanos may still exist in the impenetrable
bowels of these mountains, which, like those of iEtna and Vesuvius,
' B. 1. s Deor. Generat. v. 673, See.
s The smaller volcanos which have issued from the sides of /Etna, are at this day called
the sons of iEtna. * Hippolytus, act. 3. v. 960.
5 The island of Ischia, in the Bay of Naples.