438 plint's NATUBAL HISTOET. [Book V. 



On the promontory is Seleucia\ called Pieria, a free city. 

 (22.) Beyond it lies Mount Casius*, a different one from tne 

 mountain of the same name^ which we have already mentioned. 

 The height of this mountain is so vast, that, at the fourth 

 watch ^ of the night, you can see from it, in the midst of the 

 darkness, the sun rising on the east ; and thus, by merely 

 turning round, we may at one and the same time behold both 

 day and night. The winding road which leads to its summit 

 is nineteen miles in length, its perpendicular height four. 

 Upon this coast there is the river Orontes, wliieh takes its 

 rise near Heliopolis*, between the range of Libanus and An- 

 tilibanus. The towns are, Ehosos^, and, behind it, the Grates 

 of Syria^, lying in the space between the chain of the Eho- 

 sian mountains and that of Taurus. On the coast there is the 

 to\STi of Myriandros*, and Mount Amanus', upon which is the 

 town of Bomitae ^". This mountain separates Cilicia from Syria. 



CHAP. 19. (23.) — THE EEMAINING PAETS OF STEIA. 



"We must now speak of the interior of Syria. Coele Sjrria 



* Now Seleuca, or Kepse, at the foot of Mount Pieria. It has been 

 referred to in a previous note. ^ j^q^^ known as Djebt'l-el-Akra. 



* In the extreme north-east of Egypt. See pp. 422 and 424. 



* The beginning of the fourth watch was three o'clock in the morning. 

 The height of this mountain does not in reahty appear to be anything 

 remarkable, and has been ascertained to be but 5318 feet. There is 

 probably no foundation for the marvellous stoiy here told by Pliny ; 

 nevertheless, we are told by Spartianus, that the Emperor Adrian passed 

 a night upon the mountain, for the purpose of seeing this extraordinary 

 sight J but a storm arising, it prevented the gratification of his curiosity. 

 It lay near Nymphreum and Seleucia, and its base was washed by the 

 waters of the Orontes. * Or Baalbec, in the interior of Syria. 



^ According to Ansart, it still retains that name. 



7 Now called Bylan. This was the name of the narrow pass between 

 a portion of Mount Taurus and the Rock of Rossicum. According to 

 Ansart, the spot is called at the present day Saggal Doutan. 



* This was a Phoenician colony, on the eastern side of the Gulf of 

 Is^s ; it is said by Ansart still to retain its ancient name. 



^ Now called Aima-Dagh, a branch of Mount Taurus, running from 

 the head of the Gulf of Issus, north-east, to the principal chain, and 

 dividing Syria from Cilicia and Cappadocia. There were two passes in 

 it, the Syrian Gates and the Amanian Gates. It is often spoken of by 

 Cicero, who was the Roman governor of CiUcia. 



^^ The locality of this place is unknown, as Pliny is the only author 

 who mentions it. 



