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e unable to bear it； whereas in other countries mules and asses are found to endure the cold； while horses； if they stand still； are frost…bitten。 To me it seems that the cold may likewise be the cause which prevents the oxen in Scythia from having horns。 There is a line of Homer's in the Odyssey which gives a support to my opinion：…
Libya too； where horns hud quick on the foreheads of lambkins。
He means to say what is quite true； that in warm countries the horns come early。 So too in countries where the cold is severe animals either have no horns； or grow them with difficulty… the cold being the cause in this instance。 Here I must express my wonder… additions being what my work always from the very first affected… that in Elis； where the cold is not remarkable； and there is nothing else to account for it； mules are never produced。 The Eleans say it is in consequence of a curse； and their habit is； when the breeding…time comes； to take their mares into one of the adjoining countries； and there keep them till they are in foal； when they bring them back again into Elis。 With respect to the feathers which are said by the Scythians to fill the air； and to prevent persons from penetrating into the remoter parts of the continent； even having any view of those regions； my opinion is that in the countries above Scythia it always snows… less； of course； in the summer than in the wintertime。 Now snow when it falls looks like feathers； as every one is aware who has seen it come down close to him。 These northern regions； therefore； are uninhabitable by reason of the severity of the winter； and the Scythians； with their neighbours； call the snow…flakes feathers because； I think； of the likeness which they bear to them。 I have now related what is said of the most distant parts of this continent whereof any account is given。 Of the Hyperboreans nothing is said either by the Scythians or by any of the other dwellers in these regions； unless it be the Issedonians。 But in my opinion； even the Issedonians are silent concerning them； otherwise the Scythians would have repeated their statements； as they do those concerning the one…eyed men。 Hesiod； however； mentions them； and Homer also in the Epigoni； if that be really a work of his。 But the persons who have by far the most to say on this subject are the Delians。 They declare that certain offerings； packed in wheaten straw； were brought from the country of the Hyperboreans into Scythia； and that the Scythians received them and passed them on to their neighbours upon the west； who continued to pass them on until at last they reached the Adriatic。 From hence they were sent southward； and when they came to Greece； were received first of all by the Dodonaeans。 Thence they descended to the Maliac Gulf； from which they were carried across into Euboea； where the people handed them on from city to city； till they came at length to Carystus。 The Carystians took them over to Tenos； without stopping at Andros； and the Tenians brought them finally to Delos。 Such； according to their own account； was the road by which the offerings reached the Delians。 Two damsels； they say； named Hyperoche and Laodice； brought the first offerings from the Hyperboreans； and with them the Hyperboreans sent five men to keep them from all harm by the way； these are the persons whom the Delians call 〃Perpherees；〃 and to whom great honours are paid at Delos。 Afterwards the Hyperboreans； when they found that their messengers did not return； thinking it would be a grievous thing always to be liable to lose the envoys they should send； adopted the following plan：… they wrapped their offerings in the wheaten straw； and bearing them to their borders； charged their neighbours to send them forward from one nation to another； which was done accordingly； and in this way the offerings reached Delos。 I myself know of a practice like this； which obtains with the women of Thrace and Paeonia。 They in their sacrifices to the queenly Diana bring wheaten straw always with their offerings。 Of my own knowledge I can testify that this is so。 The damsels sent by the Hyperboreans died in Delos； and in their honour all the Delian girls and youths are wont to cut off their hair。 The girls； before their marriage…day； cut off a curl； and twining it round a distaff； lay it upon the grave of the strangers。 This grave is on the left as one enters the precinct of Diana； and has an olive…tree growing on it。 The youths wind some of their hair round a kind of grass； and； like the girls； place it upon the tomb。 Such are the honours paid to these damsels by the Delians。 They add that； once before； there came to Delos by the same road as Hyperoche and Laodice； two other virgins from the Hyperboreans； whose names were Arge and Opis。 Hyperoche and Laodice came to bring to Ilithyia the offering which they had laid upon themselves； in acknowledgment of their quick labours； but Arge and Opis came at the same time as the gods of Delos；' and are honoured by the Delians in a different way。 For the Delian women make collections in these maidens' names； and invoke them in the hymn which Olen； a Lycian； composed for them； and the rest of the islanders； and even the Ionians； have been taught by the Delians to do the like。 This Olen； who came from Lycia； made the other old hymns also which are sung in Delos。 The Delians add that the ashes from the thigh…bones burnt upon the altar are scattered over the tomb of Opis and Arge。 Their tomb lies behind the temple of Diana； facing the east； near the banqueting…hall of the Ceians。 Thus much then； and no more； concerning the Hyperboreans。 As for the tale of Abaris； who is said to have been a Hyperborean； and to have gone with his arrow all round the world without once eating； I shall pass it by in silence。 Thus much； however； is clear： if there are Hyperboreans； there must also be Hypernotians。 For my part； I cannot but laugh when I see numbers of persons drawing maps of the world without having any reason to guide them； making； as they do； the ocean…stream to run all round the earth； and the earth itself to be an exact circle； as if described by a pair of compasses； with Europe and Asia just of the same size。 The truth in this matter I will now proceed to explain in a very few words； making it clear what the real size of each region is； and what shape should be given them。 The Persians inhabit a country upon the southern or Erythraean sea； above them； to the north； are the Medes； beyond the Medes； the Saspirians； beyond them； the Colchians； reaching to the northern sea； into which the Phasis empties itself。 These four nations fill the whole space from one sea to the other。 West of these nations there project into the sea two tracts which I will now describe； one； beginning at the river Phasis on the north； stretches along the Euxine and the Hellespont to Sigeum in the Troas； while on the south it reaches from the Myriandrian gulf； which adjoins Phoenicia； to the Triopic promontory。 This is one of the tracts； and is inhabited by thirty different nations。 The other starts from the country of the Persians； and stretches into the Erythraean sea； containing first Persia； then Assyria； and aft