THESSALONICA. 447 
Alexander the Great. For the truth of this, we chap. 
have the high authority of Strabo^; therefore, . ^^1 . 
however plausible the opinion of some anti- 
quaries may be', who would maintain that the 
change originated in a victory gained by Philip the 
Second, few will be inclined to adopt their belief. 
In consequence of the subjection of Macedon to 
the Roman power, after the fatal battle of Pydna, 
the country was divided into four districts, and 
Thessalonica was made the capital of the second. 
This city was the residence of Cicero, during a 
part of the time that he remained in exile. Many 
of the Emperors had divine honours rendered to 
them in Thessalonica ; but Jupiter, as the father 
of Hercules, was its patron-divinity. In the Antient 
days of its prosperity, Thessalonica boasted of of the City. 
an Amphitheatre for gladiators, and also a 
Hippodrome for the solemnization of the public 
games. The Emperors Valerian and Gallienus 
raised it to the rank of a colonial city. In the 
citadel, according to Beaujour*, there may still 
be seen some pillars of the Verde-antico, or 
Atracian marble; from the quarries of which, 
(2) Kriirftx ifrii li.aetra,vd^ou' o; iv) rw ofifian rn; laurcu lyvtaixif 
Aaoftafvi. Excerpt, ex Strabon. Geog. lib. vii. fine, p. 480. ed. Oxon. 
(3) See Felix Beaujour Comm. de la Grice, tarn. I. p. 25. Note (2). 
(4) Ibid. p. 28. 
