Gell, William: The geography and antiquities of Ithaca (London, 1807)

remote ages, when security was more sought than conve-
nience. Also Ulysses could not have built the city of
Ithaca, for one of his predecessors, Ithacus, lived in it;
but he founded a second city, called Alalcomense,' in me-
mory of the city in Boeotia, where Minerva was worshipped,
and he was born.

The geographical hints of Plutarch1 are in general so
accurate, that though he quotes the passage, there can be
little doubt of his veracity or judgment on this occasion.
Whether Alalcomense was founded by Ulysses, or by his
immediate posterity, may be questioned; but it appears
that Homer knew nothing of the town of Alalcomenae,
consequently it must have been built long after the time
of Ulysses, though named from the place of his birth. The
town did certainly exist in Ithaca in the age of Plutarch,
who says that the Coliadse are the descendants of Eumseus,
as the Bucolii are of Philaetius.3 Strabo, whose informa-
tion, as far as relates to Greece, is always confused, and
often incorrect, seems to have been at a loss to discrimi-

* Plutarch Qusest Graecse.
3 Plutarch Quoest Greec.

Ister Alexandrinus,