The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville - Pot-pourri

292 XIV.iv.28–v.10 Isidore of Seville
boundary of most of it, and which encloses it almost in a
circle.
28. Hispania was first named ‘Iberia’ after the river
Iberus (i.e. Hiberus,the Ebro), later ‘Hispania’ from Hispalis
(i.e. Seville). This is the real Hesperia (see section
19 above), named after Hesperus, the evening star. It
is situated between Africa and Gaul, closed off by the
Pyrenees mountains to the north and everywhere else
shut in by the sea. It is temperate in its healthy climate,
abundant in all types of produce, and very rich in
its abundance of precious stones and metals. 29. Great
rivers flow through it: the Baetis (Guadalquivir), Mineus
(Miño), Iberus (Ebro), and Tagus (Tajo), which carries
gold, just like the Pactolus (see iii.43 above). It is composed
of six provinces: the Tarraconian (i.e. of Tarragona),
the Cartagenian, Lusitania, Gallicia, Baetica and,
across the straits in Africa, the Tingitanian (i.e. of Tangiers).
30.Furthermore there are two Spains: Inner Spain,
whose area extends in the north from the Pyrenees to
Cartagena; and Outer Spain, which in the south extends
from Celtiberia to the straits of Cadiz. Inner (citerior)
and Outer (ulterior) aresocalled as if it were citra (on
this side) and ultra (beyond); but citra is formed as if
the term were ‘around the earth’ (circa terras), and ultra
either because it is the last (ultimus), or because after it
there is not ‘any’ (ulla), that is, any other, land.
v. Libya (De Libya) 1. Libya (Libya)issocalled because
the Libs, the African wind, blows from there. Others say
that Epaphus, the son of Jupiter and founder of Memphis
in Egypt, had a daughter named Libya with his wife Cassiopeia,
and Libya afterwards established a kingdom in
Africa. From her name the land Libya received its name.
2.Further, there are those who think that Africa (Africa)
is named as though the word were aprica (“exposed to
the sun”), because it is open to the sky and the sun and
without bitter cold. Others say Africa is named from
one of the descendants of Abraham and Keturah, who
was called Afer (i.e. Epher), of whom we made mention
above (IX.ii.115). 3. Africabeginsatthebordersof
Egypt, stretching along the south through Ethiopia up
to the Atlas range. In its northern region it is enclosed
by the bordering Mediterranean and is bounded by the
straits of Cadiz (i.e. Gibraltar), containing the provinces
of Libya Cyrenensis, Pentapolis, Tripolis, Byzacium,
Carthage, Numidia, Mauretania Sitifensis, Mauretania
Tingitana, and Ethiopia under the burning sun.
4. Libya Cyrenensis is in the first part of Africa and
is named after Cyrene, the chief city within its borders.
From here Egypt is in the east, the Greater Syrtes and
the Trogodytae (i.e. the Troglodytes) are in the west, the
Libyan Sea lies to the north, and in the south are Ethiopia
and various barbarian nations and inaccessible wilderness,
which also brings forth basilisk serpents. 5. ‘Pentapolis’
in the Greek tongue is so called after its ‘five cities’
(cf. , “five”; , “city”), namely Berenice, Ceutria,
Apollonia, Ptolomais, and Cyrene; of these Ptolomais
and Berenice were named after their rulers. Pentapolis
is next to Libya Cyrenensis and is considered to
be within its borders. 6.Intheirowntongue the Greeks
also name a province ‘Tripolitana’ from the number of
its three great cities: Oea, Sabrata and Leptis Magna.
This province has the Greater Syrtes and the Trogodytae
(i.e. the Troglodytes) to the east, the Adriatic Sea in the
north, in the west Byzacium and in the south the Gaetuli
and the Garamantes, extending to the Ethiopian Ocean.
7.The Bizacene region is allotted its name from its two
very famous towns, one of which is called Hadrumetum
(perhaps cf. bi-,“two”; ,“yoke, pair”). This region
is located below Tripoli, extending for two hundred miles
or more, rich in oil, and so rich in its soil that seeds that
are sown there return a crop nearly a hundredfold. 8.
Great Carthage is in Zeugis. This is the true Africa, situated
in between Byzacium and Numidia, bounded in the
north by the Sicilian Sea. In the south it stretches as far
as the region of the Gaetuli. The nearer part of it is fruitful,
but the more remote part is filled with wild beasts
and serpents and great onagers wandering in the desert.
Gaetulia is the interior region of Africa. 9. Numidia is
so called after inhabitants that wander about far and
wide because they do not have a fixed abode. For in their
language temporary and mobile settlements are called
numidia. Itbegins at the river Amsiga and it marks its
end in Zeugis. East of it are the Lesser Syrtes, in the north
the sea that stretches toward Sardinia, in the west Mauretania
Sitifensis, in the south the tribes of Ethiopia: it is
aregion of very fertile fields. However, in areas covered
by forest it produces wild animals, in steep mountains
horses and onagers. It is also renowned for its excellent
marble, which is called Numidian marble. It has distinguished
cities as well: Hippo Regius and Rusicada.
10. Mauretania is so called after the color of the
inhabitants; for the Greeks call ‘black’ . Just as
the name for Gaul is derived from the whiteness of its