[ 6 97 ] 
1 doubted truth, we may fairly infer from the third line 
of the eighth infcription, and the lecond of the 
fourth ; where both thefe words drawn out at length, 
after the oriental manner, evidently occur. 
8. The true reading of the word AlTAnETHN, 
in the fixteenth and feventeenth Greek infcriptions, 
which neither Dr. Halley, Dr. Bernard, Dr. Smith, 
nor 1 Mr. Seller could afcertain, is clearly difcovered 
by the word [a) ARGABETA, in the fecondlineof 
the eighth, as well as of the ninth, Palmyrene infcrip- 
tion j both of which are here exhibited to our view. 
5>. The tenth infcription, the lateft of thofe whofe 
dates have been prefer ved, did not precede the 574th 
year of the asra of Seleucus, nearly coincident with 
the 263d of Christ ; having been drawn out in 
the month Apellceus , or December , that year. This 
therefore will fix the date, that the correfpondent 
Greek infcription originally bore ; and confequently 
render that infcription fomething more complete, than 
it was before. 
jo. It appears from thefe infcriptions, that the let- 
ter Van was fometimes pronounced by the Palmy- 
renes, in the third century after Christ, like O, and 
at other times like OV or V ; as alfo that they fome- 
(a) It Teems to appear from the word APfABI A, which in Le® 
denotes a fort of hamper , ufed by the cavalry chiefly for the carriage 
of water, that API'AIIETHC, AITABETHC, or ARGABETA, 
fignified an officer at Tadmor, whofe province it was to fupply the 
troops with water, in order to fupport them in their march over 
the vaft defarts furrounding that place. Nor can it be doubted, but 
fuch an officer muft have been extremely neceflary in a city diftin • 
guifhed from all others by fo remarkable a fituation. 
Vid. Leonis Imperat. TaBic. Cap. xiii. S. 11. Filip. Pigafetta, 
in annotat. ad Leon. ibid. Mauric. Lib. vii. p. 143. Upfaliae, 1664* 
Vid. etiam Carol. Du Frefn. GloJJar . ad Scriptor. med. & infim. 
Gnecitat: in voc. APrABlA. 
4 T 
times 
