^o6 Geographical Ohfervations in the Inland Country 



Surfeff, Tyfee Suffeff {t\vQ Sarfuru of Hirttus') ^nd^reejis, are two Con- 

 tiguous Villages, fix Miles to the Weftward of El Medea. They 

 are fituated below a Ridge of Hills, which, reaching with few 

 Tntermiflions from Jimmel to Sale&o, feems to be the fame 

 that is taken Notice of by Hirtius\ particulary when He de- 

 fcribeth the Oppofition that Cajar met with from Lahienus in 

 the taking of Sarfura. 

 jemme, The From SdrfuTa we find that Cafar^ continued His Marches 

 f i'sDRo' the next Day to Tifdra or Jemme as It is called at prefent. 

 drXIJ £.«. This Village lyeth about fix Leagues to the S. S. W. of Surjeff, 

 i;!c.^p.?'7.and five to the S. ^/W. of Elalia, which is the Situation that 

 ^■^* Ttolemy hath given to Thyfdrti^s with Regard to Achola. 

 The Anftqni- At Jemme there are feveral Antiquities ; as Altars with de- 

 '"'"^•^^"""^ faced Infcriptions ; a Variety of Columns; a great many 

 Trunks and Arms of marble Statues ; one of which is of the 

 Colofs Kind, in Armour ; another is of a naked Venus, in the 

 Pofture and Dimenfions of the Medicean ; both of Them by 

 good Mafters, but without Heads. But this Place is the moft 

 remarkably diftinguiflied by the beautiful Remains we have 

 Iheat^^^'' ^^^^ ^^ ^ fpacious Amphitheatre, confifting originally of fixty 

 four Arches and four Orders of Columns. The upper Order, 

 which was perhaps no more than an Attick, hath fulFered by 

 the Arabs : Mahamet Bey likewife blew up four of the 

 Arches from Top to Bottom , in a late Revolt of the 

 Arabs, who made ufe of It as a Fortrefs : otherwife, as to 

 the Outfide at leaft, nothing could be more entire and beauti- 

 ful. Within, the Plat Form of the Seats, with the Galleries 

 and Vomitoria leading up to Them, are ftill remaining. The 

 Arena is nearly circular : and in the Centre of It, there is a 

 deep Well of hewn Stone, where the Pillar, that fupported the 

 Velum or Awning, may be fuppofed to have been fixed. 

 lohahi hum ^y comparing This with other Stru6lures at Spaitla , 

 qotLS"^' Hydrah^c, It feems to have been built about the Time of the 

 Antonines, agreeing exaftly in Proportion, and Workmanfhip 

 with the Buildings of that Age. And as the elder Gordian 

 was proclaimed Emperor at this City, it is not improbable, 

 but that in Gratitude to the Place where He received the 



I Ctf/rfr* ad oppidum Sarfuram ire contendk ** Lablenus per jugum fummum collis dcx- 

 trorfus procul milites fubfequi non defiftit. Hirt. ut fupra. 5.63. 2 Citfrr ad oppidum Sur- 

 furam venit*poftero die ad oppidum Tifdram pervenit. Id. ^.64. 



Purple, 



