Book 14
1.24
The city has an arsenal and a harbour. The entrance of the harbour was made narrow, by order of the king Attalus Philadelphus, who, together with the persons that constructed it, was disappointed at the result. The harbour was formerly shallow, on account of the embankment of earth accumulated by the Caÿster; but the king, supposing that there would be deep water for the entrance of large vessels of burden, if a mole were thrown up before the mouth of the river, which was very wide, gave orders for the construction of a mole ; but the contrary effect took place, for the mud, being confined within the harbour, made the whole of it shallow to the mouth. Before the construction of the mole, the flow and ebb of the sea cleared the mud away entirely, by forcing it outwards.
1.24
Such then is the nature of the harbour.
1.24
The city, by the advantages which it affords, daily improves, and is the largest mart in Asia within the Taurus.
1.25
Among illustrious persons in ancient times natives of Ephesus were Heracleitus, surnamed Scoteinus, or the Obscure, and Hermodorus, of whom Heracleitus himself says: The Ephesians, youths and all, deserve hanging, for expelling Hermodorus, an honest citizen,ὀνήιστος a citizen distinguished for his virtues, and saying, let there be no such amongst us; if there be, let it be in another place and among other people. Hermodorus seems to have compiled laws for the Romans. Hipponax the poet was an Ephesian, and the painters Parrhasius and Apelles.
