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Seven nations inhabit the Peloponnese. Two of them are aboriginal,
and still continue in the regions where they dwelt at the first - to
wit, the Arcadians and the Cynurians. A third, that of the
Achaeans, has never left the Peloponnese, but has been dislodged
from its own proper country, and inhabits a district which once
belonged to others. The remaining nations, four out of the seven,
are all immigrants - namely, the Dorians, the Aetolians, the
Dryopians, and the Lemnians. To the Dorians belong several very
famous cities; to the Aetolians one only, that is, Elis; to the
Dryopians, Hermione and that Asine which lies over against
Cardamyle in Laconia; to the Lemnians, all the towns of the
Paroreats. The aboriginal Cynurians alone seem to be Ionians; even
they, however, have, in course of time, grown to be Dorians, under
the government of the Argives, whose Orneats and vassals they were.
All the cities of these seven nations, except those mentioned above,
stood aloof from the war; and by so doing, if I may speak freely,
they in fact took part with the Medes.
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