DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4099#0200
182 MOUNT GERANIA. SKIRONIAN ROCKS.
form the sea of Halcyon, one chain advancing towards Cithaeron
and Bosotia, the other terminating opposite Sicyon in the Olmian
or Akraian promontory, which PJutarch1 calls the promontory of
Heraia, from the Temple of Juno upon its summit.
The modern name of Mount Gerania is Derbeni-Bouno, or Kake-
Skala, which latter it takes from the dangerous road by the Ski-
ronian way, which George Phranza2 terms TXwytov tccacov. The road
by the custom-house is modern. The Skironian way, which is on
the southern side of the mountain, is difficult and dangerous, and
only used by foot travellers. I understand that it is picturesque
and grand, particularly the impending rock Moluris, from which Ino
precipitated herself into the sea with her son Melicertes to escape
the fury of her husband Athamas, king of Thebes. They became
marine deities. The former was worshipped under the name of
Leucothoe by the Greeks, and under that of Matuta by the
Romans. Melicertes was known by the name of PaJaemoD to the
Greeks, and by that of Portumnus to the Romans. Sailors who
navigate near the Skironian rocks dread the sudden gusts of the
wind Skiron, which frequently bursts upon them from the mountains
with unexpected violence. The neighbouring sea is rendered still
more dangerous by some pointed rocks near the foot of the moun-
tain, which Ovid3 calls the bones of Skiron.
sparsisque latronis
Terra negat sedem, sedeni negat ossibus unda
Quaejactata diu fertur durasse vetustas
Iu scopulos, scopulis nonien Sciionis adhajret.
The Skironian precipices are two hours from Megara, and six from
' Ibid. ' B. I.e. 38. p. 39. Paris edit.
3 Metam. b. 7. 444. et seq.
" But earth nor sea his scattered bones would keep,
Which, after floating long, a rock became,
Still infamous with Sciron's hated name."
form the sea of Halcyon, one chain advancing towards Cithaeron
and Bosotia, the other terminating opposite Sicyon in the Olmian
or Akraian promontory, which PJutarch1 calls the promontory of
Heraia, from the Temple of Juno upon its summit.
The modern name of Mount Gerania is Derbeni-Bouno, or Kake-
Skala, which latter it takes from the dangerous road by the Ski-
ronian way, which George Phranza2 terms TXwytov tccacov. The road
by the custom-house is modern. The Skironian way, which is on
the southern side of the mountain, is difficult and dangerous, and
only used by foot travellers. I understand that it is picturesque
and grand, particularly the impending rock Moluris, from which Ino
precipitated herself into the sea with her son Melicertes to escape
the fury of her husband Athamas, king of Thebes. They became
marine deities. The former was worshipped under the name of
Leucothoe by the Greeks, and under that of Matuta by the
Romans. Melicertes was known by the name of PaJaemoD to the
Greeks, and by that of Portumnus to the Romans. Sailors who
navigate near the Skironian rocks dread the sudden gusts of the
wind Skiron, which frequently bursts upon them from the mountains
with unexpected violence. The neighbouring sea is rendered still
more dangerous by some pointed rocks near the foot of the moun-
tain, which Ovid3 calls the bones of Skiron.
sparsisque latronis
Terra negat sedem, sedeni negat ossibus unda
Quaejactata diu fertur durasse vetustas
Iu scopulos, scopulis nonien Sciionis adhajret.
The Skironian precipices are two hours from Megara, and six from
' Ibid. ' B. I.e. 38. p. 39. Paris edit.
3 Metam. b. 7. 444. et seq.
" But earth nor sea his scattered bones would keep,
Which, after floating long, a rock became,
Still infamous with Sciron's hated name."