TIBERIAS. 221 
ground upon which the city was built being full chap. 
of sepulchres, and thereby considered as pol- > 
luted by dead bodies*. Hence we may infer 
the existence of a former city upon the same 
territory. Tiberias makes a conspicuous figure 
in the Jeivish annals^ : it was tlie scene of some 
of the most memorable events recorded by 
Josephus. In refuting the writings of Justus, an 
historian often quoted by Stephanus Bijzantinus> 
he speaks of Sepphoris and Tiberias as the two 
most illustrious cities of Galilee". During a 
visit paid to it by jigrippa, the successor of 
Herod, the kings of Comagene, of Emessa, of 
the Lesser Armenia, of Pontus, and of Ckalcis, 
here met to do him honour, and were magnifi- 
cently entertained ^ After the downfal of 
Jerusalem, it continued, until the Jiftk century^, 
the residence of Jewish patriarchs, rabbins, and 
learned men. A university was founded here. 
(5) Antiquit. lib. xviii. c. S. et De Belt. Jad. lib. il. c. 8. 
(6) " Vide Misnam Schabbath, III. 4. et XXII. 5. &c." Reland. 
Palast. Illust. tom.ll. lib.iu. ;^ 1039. Josephus, Aatiq. Mb. xwiW. c. 3. 
lib. xix. c. 7. In Fit. &c. &c. 
(7) Josephus in Vita sua. 
(8) Antiq. lib. six. c. 7. 
(9) Reland says, " usque ad sceculum quartum." Egmont and ffcj/man 
mention the Jiftit ; and Fococke, the eleventh century. I have preferred 
the aera assigned by Egmont and Heyman, (vol. II. p. 31.) because they 
mention the precise year, and give their authority. 
p 2 
