IlaA^;, which Hefycbius inlQrpms 0ct(nAiv<; Trmfi^ 
or perhaps from TlccPifjjjTjig, which (according to the 
fame Author) was an Egyptian God. Neither is the 
word izsnn but IQH that in Hebrew fignifies a Palm-Tree. 
Hiftory is fileot as to the Fate and Circumftaoces of this 
City, during the great Revolutions in the feveral Em- 
pires of the Eaft but it may well be fuppofed, that fo 
advanced a Garnifbn as this was, being above Three hun- 
dred Miles from Jeridfakm, continued not long in the 
Pofleffibn of the fews^ who immediately after Solomon^ 
fell into Civil Diilention^ and divided their Force : fo 
that it is not to bedoubtedj but that it fubmitted to the 
Bahylonian and Perfian Monarchies, and afterwards to 
the Macedofiians under Alexander and the Seleucidie. 
But when the Romans got footing in thefe Parts, and the 
Parthians feemed to put a ftopto their farther Conquefts 
in the EaB^ then was this City of Palmyra, by reafon of 
its Situation, being a Frontier and in the midft of a 
vaft Sandy Defarty where Armies could not well fubfift 
to reduce it by force,- courted and carefled by the con- 
tending Princes, and permitted to continue a Free State, 
a Mart or Staple for Trade, for the Ccovenieoce of both 
Empires, as is abmsdantly made out from the words of 
Appian and Pliny. 
Appian (lih. de Bellis Civil) tells us, that M. An- 
toniusj after his Viftory at Philippic about forty Years 
before ChriB, fent his Horfe to plunder the City of Pal- 
myra, pretending only that they were not fufficiently 
in the Roman Intereft. on 'Poi>juc(^m it^ Tict^^ajioQv ovrzg 
i'(poZpi h Ifc^-ri^^ '^^^m ^x^^^ ^'-^^^^ being Mer- 
chants, they conveyed the Indian and Arahian Commo- 
dities by the way of Perfia into the Roman Territories | 
though the true reafoo were their Riches : But the Pal- 
myrenes being informed of the Defign, took care to pre- 
vent them, and Co efcaped Plunder : and this Attempt 
oi Antony s cccafioned a Rupture between the twoEra- 
Cc pires. 
