( 94 ) 
Syrians generally do ; the very Chriftians at this day fol- 
lowing the fame ufage. Yet though they mark the 
date of the Year by Greek Letters, you may obferve 
they place them a different way from the Greeks, fetting 
the lefTer Number firft, as if they were to be read back- 
ward, from the right hand to the left ; as N T here , 
denoting 450. The third Letter A, I take to ftand for 
the day of the Month, viz, the laft o{ Xandkus^ which 
is with us April ; this and other names of Months , 
which are found in other Infcriptions, being borrowed 
from the Macedonians with very little variation. That 
they were Idolaters, is plain by the mention of their 
Country Gods, both here and in other places : So that 
their Commerce with the Jews, did not, it ftems, bring 
them to the knowledge ot the true God, or elfe they 
muft have degenerated therefrom, and relapfed into 
Idolatry. The other Pillar towards the Weft in Height 
and Circumference anfwers this, and has upon the fide 
the following Infcription engraved. 
H BOTAH KAI O AHMOC BAP6IX6IN 
AMPICAMCOT TOT I APlBct) AGOTC KAI 
MOKIMON TION ATTOT 6TC6B6IC KAI 
^lAOnATPlAAC T6IMHC XAPiN 
The Date of this is not legible, neither does one know 
what Judgment to make ol the thing it felf. That fuch 
a Pillar ihculd be erefted only to fupport the Infcription, 
and convey thefe mens Names to After- Ages, without 
particularizing what they did to deferve that Honour, 
is fcmething ftrange : unlefs we may fuppofc it was a 
prevaling Vanity in thefe Eaftern Countries thus to en- 
deavour to Eternize their Fame. An Inftance whereof 
we have in Scripture, in Ahfaloms fetting him up a Pil- 
lar, X Kings? iS, 18. and perhaps before him, in Saul, 
I Sam. 
