Chap. 30.] ACCOUNT OF COUNTRIES, ETC. 71 



formed these communities into cities, being prompted thereto 

 by the extraordinary fertility of the soil. Besides the cities 

 already mentioned, it contains those of Seleucia, 20 Laodicea, 21 

 Artcmita ; 22 and in Arabia, the peoples known as the 

 Orel 23 and the Mardani, besides Antiochia, 24 founded by Nica- 

 nor, the governor of Mesopotamia, and called Arabis. Join- 

 ing up to these in the interior is an Arabian people, called 

 the Eldamani, and above them, upon the river Pallaconta, the 

 town of Bura, and the Arabian peoples known as the Sal- 

 mani and the Masei. Up to the Gordysei 25 join the Aloni, 

 through whose territory runs the river Zerbis, which falls into 

 the Tigris ; next are the Azones, the Silici, a mountain 

 tribe, and the Orontes, to the west of whom lies the town of 

 Gaugamela, 26 as also Sue, situate upon the rocks. Beyond 

 these are the Silici, surnamed Classitas, through whose dis- 

 trict runs the river Lycus on its passage from Armenia, the 

 Absithris 27 running south-east, the town of Accobis, and then in 

 the plains the towns of Diospage, Polytelia, 28 Stratonice, and 

 Anthermis. 29 In the vicinity of the Euphrates is Nicephorion, 

 of which we have 30 already stated that Alexander, struck with 



20 On the left bank of the Euphrates, opposite to the ford of Zeugma ; 

 a fortress of considerable importance. 



21 Its site is unknown. Dupinet confounds it with the place of this name 

 mentioned in the last Chapter, calling them by the name of Lor. 



2 * Pliny is wrong in placing Artemita in Mesopotamia. It was a city 

 of Babylonia, in the district of Apolloniatis. The modern Sherban is 

 supposed to occupy its site. 



a Burnouf, having found the name of these people, as he supposes, in 

 a cuneiform inscription, written " Ayura," would have them to be called 

 Aroei. The Orei are also mentioned in B. v. c. 20. 



24 This Antioch does not appear to have been identified. 



25 The mountains of the Gordyoei are mentioned in c. 12. 



26 This, as previously mentioned in a Note to c. 16, was the scene of 

 the last great battle between Alexander and Darius, and known as the 

 battle of Arbela. It has been suggested that it may perhaps be repre- 

 sented by a place now called Karnelis. See p. 27. 



27 Accordng to Ansart, now called the Lesser Zab, and by the inha- 

 bitants the Altun-su, meaning the "Golden river." 



28 According to Parisot, the modern name is Calicala. 



29 Strabo speaks of the Aborras, or modern Khabur, as flowing in the 

 vicinity of Anthemusia, the district probably in which the town of An- 

 thermis was situate. According to Isidofus of Charax, it lay between 

 Edessa and the Euphrates. Its site does not appear to have been any 

 further identified. It is called Anthemusia in B, v. c. 21. 



30 In B. v. c. 21. 



