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Of these nations, the Carians submitted to Harpagus without
performing any brilliant exploits. Nor did the Greeks who dwelt in
Caria behave with any greater gallantry. Among them were the
Cnidians, colonists from Lacedaemon, who occupy a district facing
the sea, which is called Triopium. This region adjoins upon the
Bybassian Chersonese; and, except a very small space, is surrounded
by the sea, being bounded on the north by the Ceramic Gulf, and on
the south by the channel towards the islands of Syme and Rhodes.
While Harpagus was engaged in the conquest of Ionia, the Cnidians,
wishing to make their country an island, attempted to cut through this
narrow neck of land, which was no more than five furlongs across from
sea to sea. Their whole territory lay inside the isthmus; for where
Cnidia ends towards the mainland, the isthmus begins which they were
now seeking to cut through. The work had been commenced, and many
hands were employed upon it, when it was observed that there seemed to
be something unusual and unnatural in the number of wounds that the
workmen received, especially about their eyes, from the splintering of
the rock. The Cnidians, therefore, sent to Delphi, to inquire
what it was that hindered their efforts; and received, according to
their own account, the following answer from the oracle:
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Fence not the isthmus off, nor dig it through
Jove would have made an island, had he wished.
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So the Cnidians ceased digging, and when Harpagus advanced with his
army, they gave themselves up to him without striking a blow.
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