444 
PLlIfT'S KATUIIAL HISTOET 
[Book y. 
there. Adjoining to this is the praefecture of Mesopotamia, 
which derives its origin from the Assyrians, and in which are 
the towns of Anthemusia^ and Nicephorium^ ; after which 
come the Arabians, known by the name of Pj-aetavi, with Sin- 
gara^ for their capital. Below Samosata, on the side of Syria, 
the river Marsyas^ flows into the Euphrates. At Cingilla 
ends the territory of Commagene, and the state of the 
Immei begins. The cities which are here washed by the 
river are those of Epiphania^ and Antiochia^, generally 
known as Epiphania and Antiochia on the Euphrates ; also 
Zeugma, seventy- two miles distant from Samosata, famous 
for the passage there across the Euphrates. Opposite 
to it is Apamia^, which Seleucus, the founder of both 
cities, united by a bridge. The people who join up to 
Mesopotamia are called the Ehoali. Other towns in Syria 
are those of Eur opus ^, and what was formerly Thapsa- 
was here, as alluded to by Pliny, that Crassus was defeated and slain by 
the Parthian general, Surena. It was situate in Osroene, in Mesopo- 
tamia, and not far from Edessa. According to Stephanus, it had its 
name from Carrha, a river of Syria, and was celebrated in ancient times 
for its temple of Luna, or Lunus. 
^ According to Strabo, the Aborras, now the Khabur, flowed round 
this town. By Tacitus it is called Anthemusias. According to Isidorus 
of Charax, it lay between Edessa and the Euphrates. 
2 Now Rakkah, a fortified town of Mesopotamia, on the Euphrates, 
near the mouth of the river Bilecha. It was built by order of Alexander 
the Great, and completed probably by Seleucus. It is supposed to have 
been the same place as Callinicum, the fortifications of which were re- 
paired by Justinian. Its name was changed in later times to LeontopoHs 
by the Emperor Leo. 
3 Now called Sinjar, according to Brotier. Some writers imagine 
that this was the site of " the plain in the land of Shinar," on which the 
Tower of Babel was built, mentioned in the Book of Grenesis, xi. 2. 
•* Mentioned in C. 17 of the present Book. 
^ Probably not that m the district of Cassiotis, and on the western 
bank of the Orontes, mentioned in C. 19 of the present Book. Of this 
locahty nothing seems to be known, except that Dupinet states that it 
is now called Adelphe by the Turks. 
6 Probably the " Antiochia ad Taurum " mentioned by the geographer 
Stephanus, and by Ptolemy. Some writers place it at the modem 
Aintab, seventy-five miles north-east of Aleppo. 
7 Now called Roum-Cala, or the "Roman Castle." For Zeugma 
see p. 424. 
^ In the north-east of the district of Astropatene, originally called 
Rhaga. It was rebuilt by Seleucus Nicator, and by him called Euro- 
