4M PLINY's NATURAL HISTOKT. [Book V* 



Botrys\ Gigarta^, Trieris^, Calamos'', Tripolis®, inhabited, 

 by the Tyriaiis, Sidonians, and Aradians ; Orthosia®, the 

 river Eleutheros'', the towns of Simyra and Marathos* ; and 

 opposite, Arados^, a town seven stadia long, on an island, 

 distant 200 paces from the mainland. After passing 

 through the country in which the before-named mountains 

 end and the plains that lie between, Mount Bargylus'® 

 is seen to rise. 



CHAP. 18. — STRIA AKTIOCHIA. 



Here Phoenicia ends, and Syria recommences. The towns 



situate at the foot of Lebanon. The ancient name seems to have been 

 Gebal, and the GebHtes are mentioned in Joshua, xiii. 5 ; 1 Kings, v. 18 ; 

 and Ezek. xxvii. 9. The ruins of the ancient city are very extensive. 

 Astarte and Isis seem to have been worshipped here. 



^ Now Batrun, a small town about twelve miles north of Byblus, said 

 to have been founded by Ithobal, king of Tyre. 



2 Now Grazir, according to D'AnviUe. 



3 Twelve miles from Tripolis. Its name would seem to bear reference 

 to a trireme, or galley. It has been said that this is the place referred to 

 in the Book of Daniel, xi. 30. 



^ Polybius speaks of this place as being burnt by Antiochus. Its site 

 Btill bears the name of Calamon, according to D'Anville. 



* This properly consisted of three distinct cities, 600 feet apart, each 

 with its owTi walls, but all connected in a common constitution ; having 

 one place of assembly, and forming in reality one city only. They were 

 colonies, as here suggested by Pliny, of Tyre, Sidon, and Arados respec- 

 tively. It is still a considerable place, called Tarabolos, or Tarablis, by 

 the Turks. 



6 Its site is still known as Ortosa, or Tortosa. 



7 Probably the same as the Nahr-el-Kebir, or " G-reat River," to the 

 north of TripoHs. It may have derived its Greek name, which signifies 

 *'free," from its similarity to that given to it by the people of the 

 country. 



* This was an important city, near Antarados. Its ruins are spoken 

 of as very extensive. Simyra is still called Sumira. 



5* Now called Euad ; an island off the northern coast of Phoenicia, at 

 a distance of twenty stadia from the mainland, Pliny falling short here 

 in his measurement. The city of Arados was very populous, though 

 built on a mere rock ; and, contrary to Eastern custom, the liouses con- 

 tained many stories. It is spoken of by the prophet Ezekiel vmder the 

 name of Arvad : see c. xxvii. 8, 11. In importance, it ranked next to 

 the cities of Tyre and Sidon. 



^^ Its modern name does not appear to be known. 



