BOOK V.] History of Nature. 77 



CHAPTER XXV. 

 Palmyra. 1 



THE City Palmyra, noble for its situation, the Riches of 

 its Soil, and its pleasant Streams, encloseth its Fields with a 

 vast compass of Sand. And as if shut out by Nature from 

 all other Lands, it is by a peculiar lot between two mighty 

 Empires, the Romans and the Parthians ; wherein Dis- 

 cord is ever the first object on both Sides. It is distant 

 from Seleucia of the Parthians, which is called, on the 

 Tigris, 537 Miles : and from the nearest Coast of Syria, 252 : 

 and from Damascus, 27 nearer. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

 Hierapolis. 



BENEATH the Solitudes of Palmyra, lieth the Country 

 Stelendena, 2 wherein are the Cities named at this Day 

 Hierapolis, Beroea, and Chalcis. Beyond Palmyra also, 

 Hemesa taketh up some part of those Deserts : and likewise 

 Elutium, nearer to Petra by one-half than is Damascus. 

 And next to Astura standeth Philiscum, a Town of the Par- 

 thians, on Euphrates. From which by Water it is a Journey 



1 We are at a loss to account for the praise bestowed on the site of 

 Palmyra, situated as it is on the borders of a vast wilderness ; it can only 

 be from comparison with the surrounding sterility, and the supply of 

 water obtained here, which is so rare a blessing in the sandy plains of the 

 East. The country does not appear to have undergone any change from 

 the period of the foundation of this ancient city, until now ; Tadmor (its 

 original name) was built by king Solomon, probably for the purpose of 

 cutting off all commerce between the Syrians and Mesopotamians, and it 

 rose into note in consequence. In later times it was also much frequented 

 by the caravans of Persia and the countries beyond. Wern. Club. 



2 Stelendena does not appear to be mentioned by any other writer than 

 Pliny. Hierapolis has been just before spoken of under the name of 

 Bambyce or Magog, as the Syrians call it. It is the Magog of Holy 

 Scripture (Ezekiel, xxxviii.) concerning the situation of which great 

 diversity of opinion has been entertained. Wern. Club. 



