en and demolished by the Saracens in 1268 As to its situation Mr. Wells says it lay on both sides the river Orontes, about 12 miles distant from the Mediterranean sea. The place is worthy of remembrance on account of several interesting events, which here took place. Here the disciples of Jesus Christ were first called Chris tians, having before been called, by way of derision, Nazarenes, as the Jews scornfully call them to the present time, and as the Pagans called them Galileans. Here was the frequent residence of several Roman emperors, especially Verus and Valens, who spent a great part of their time in Antioch. Here was the birth place of St. Luke the Evangelist, of Theophilus, Antiochenus. The celebrated martyr Ignatius was bishop of this place. Here St. Paul and Barnabas preached a whole year. Josephus says it was the third city of the Roman provinces; it was in fact for a long time, the most powerful city of the East. It was famous among the Jews for the jus civitatis, or right of citizenship, which Seleucus had given to them in common with the Greeks and Macedonians. This consideration, involving Antioch of Pisidia, mentionprivileges, dear to their hearts, ed in Acts xiii, 14. St. Paul rendered this place so desirable and Barabas preached here, to the early Christians, who were at first considered as a sect of Jews, and who, therefore, could here perform public worship, and enjoy all religious privileges without any persecution or disturbance. This also accounts for the zeal of the apostles in introducing the gospel here. The present state of this city is thus described by Mr. Volney. "This city," saith he, "anciently renowned for the luxury of its inhabi tants, is now no more than a ruinous town, whose houses, built with mud and straw, and whose narrow and miry streets, exhibit every appearance of misery and wretchedness. It is situated on the southern bank of the Orontes, at the extremity of an old and decayed bridge, and is covered to the south by a mountain, upɔn the slope of which a wall was built by the Crusaders. The distance between the present town. and mountain, may be about four hundred yards, which space is occupied by gardens and heaps of rubbish, but presents nothing nothing interesting." Such is the condition of the celebrated Antioch. So transient is the glory of this world. Lat. 35, 30. and the Jews, concerned to see that some of the Gentiles had received the gospel, raised a sedition against St. Paul and Barnabas, and obliged them to leave the city. Lat. 38, 50. ANTIPATRIS, (Acts xxiii, 31,) a town of Palestine on the border of Samaria, anciently called Caphar-Saba, according to Josephus, but of this Jerome expresses strong doubts; it was named Antipatris by Herod the Great, in honor of his father Antipater. It was situated in a pleasant valley, near the mountains, in the way from Jerusalem to Cæsarea. Josephus places it about seventeen miles from Joppa; it was 42 from Jerusalem, and 26 from Cæsarea. Here Paul and his guard made a halt on their way to Cæsarea. Lat. 32, 19. ANTONIA, a tower or fortress of Jerusalem, situated to wards the west and north angle of the temple, and built by Herod the Great in honor of his friend M. Anthony. It stood upon an eminence cut steep on all sides, and enclosed with a wall, three hundred cubits high. It was built in the form of a square tower, with a tower at each corner to defend it; there was a bridge or vault, whereby a communication was kept up between this tower and the temple, so that as the tem ple was in some sort the citadel of the town, the tower of Antonia was the citadel of the temple. The Romans generally kept a garrison in this tower; and from thence it was, that the tribune ran with his soldiers to rescue St. Paul out of the hands of the Jews, (Acts xxi, 31, 32,) who had seized him in the temple, designing to put him to death. ANUA, a village fifteen miles from Neapolis, otherwise called Shechem, in the way to Jerusalem. APAMEA, a city of Syria on the Orontes, probably the same place called Shepham. 4 Apamea, a city of Phrygia; this city was called Kibotos, the ark, and on its medals is an ark, with a man receiving a dove flying to him, and part of the inscription is Noe, hence it has been supposed, that the ark rested near this place. APHÆREMA, a place, mentioned 1 Macab. xi, 34, taken from Samaria, and added to Judah, being so called because its name signifies in the Greek language, a thing taken from another. It may here be observed with advantage to the reader, that the books of the Maccabees, being written in Greek, several names are varied according to the Greek form. This being re collected may sometimes prevent mistakes. If the place be not found in this Gazetteer under one name, probably it may under another. Thus Accaron is the same with Ekron, Amathis is the same as Hamath, Gazara with Gozor, Bethsura with Bethshur, Bosora with Bo.. sor, &c. Sometimes the same place has different names, or seems to have, from the mistakes of copyists, or a change in the pronunciation in the lapse of ages, as well as the different terminations of the languages into which the word is translated. Thus Zabadeans, which in Maccabees is said to be the name of some Arabians, is probably a corrupt reading for Nabatheans, and so of other names, noticed in the margin of our bibles. APHARSACHITES, or APHARSATHCHITES, people sent by the kings of Assyria to inhabit the country of Samaria, in the room of those Israelites, who had been removed beyond the Euphrates, Ezra v, 6. They with the other Samaritans opposed the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. APHEK, a city of Syria. near Libanus, on the banks of the Adonis, between Heliopo lis and Byblos. Probably it is the same mentioned by Paul Lucas, which has been swallowed up in a lake, nine miles in circuit, in which may be seen several houses entire under the water. The ancients say, that the soil in this region. was bitumenous, which con- . firms those who suppose, that the earth under the city being consumed, the city sunk at once, and a lake has risen over it. 1 Kings xx, 26. Aphek,the name of several other cities mentioned in Scripture. 1. Aphek in the tribe of Judah where the Philistines encamped, when the ark was brought from Shiloh, which was taken by them in battle, 1 Sam. iv, 1, 2, &c. It is thought to be the same with Aphekah, mentioned in Josh. xv,53. 2.Aphek, mentioned in the valley of Jezreel, where the Philistines encamped, while Saul and his army were near Jezreel, upon the mountains of Gilboa, i Sam. xxix, 1, &c. 3. Aphek, a city belonging to the tribe of Asher, and the country of the Sidonians; Josh. xix, 30, and xiii, 4. APPII-FORUM, a place in Italy about 50 miles from Rome; so called from the same. Appius, who gave name to the Appian way. Lat. 41, 25. APPOLONIA, a city of Macedonia through which and Amphipolis, St. Paul passed in his way to Thessalonica, Acts. xvii, 1; where Cesar Augustus learned the Greek language. The name also of a city in the west of Canaan. AR, ARIEL of MOAB, or RABBATH MOAB, Numb. xxi, 28; Isa. xxix, 1; Deut. iii, 11, &c. The capital of the Moabites situated upon the river Arnon which divided it in two. St Jerome, says that this city was entirely destroyed by an earthquake, while he was a young man. ARABIA, desert of, that desolate region in which the Israelites wandered forty years, after leaving Egypt. The Mahometans reduce these forty years to forty days. One of their poets sarcastically says of the Jews, they are always wandering in a desert. ARABIA, a celebrated country of Asia, bounded west by the Red Sea, and the isthmus of Suez; north-east by the Euphrates, which divides it from Diarbeker, the ancient Mesopotamia; east by the gulf of Persia and Ormus, and south by the Indian ocean. On the north this country runs up to an angle, about 100 miles east of Palmyra, which is not included in Arabia. Arabia lies between Lat 12, 30, and 31, 30 north, and Long. 34, and 59 east, being 1800 miles in length from the strait of Babelmandel to the opposite point on the Euphrates. The medial breadth is about 800 miles. From the proximity of the Euphrates to the Mediterranean, Arabia is a peninsula; and one of the largest in the world. Arabia Proper, however is more narrow, including little more than was anciently called Arabia Felix. We learn from scripture, that the first division of this country was into Arabak, and Kedem the first sig nifying west, the latter east, denoting the situation of the two regions. More than two thous and years ago, Ptolemy divid ed the peninsula into three parts, Arabia Petrea, Arabia Descrta, Arabia Felix. Arabia Petrea was bound. ed by Syria and Arabia Deser· ta, on the east; by Egypt, or the isthmus of Suez, which separates Asia from Africa, on the west; by Palestine, the lake Asphaltites, and ColoSyria on the north, and by Ara bia Felix on the south. This tract admitted of little cultiva tion, being in great part cov ered with sand and rocks, with here and there a fruitful spot. The metropolis was Petra, by the Syrians called Rakam, and by the scriptures Joktheel. Arabia Deserta, was bounded on the north by the Euphrates, which separated it from Mesopotamia; on the west by Syria, Judea, and Arabia Petrea; on the east by a ridge of mountains, which separated it from Babylonia and Chaldea; on the south by Arabia Felix, from which it was separated by a ridge of hills. By far the greatest part of this section of the country, as well as the preceding, was a lonesome desert, diversified only with plains of sand and mountains of rocks. Unless sometimes at the equinoxes, these regions were never refreshed with a shower of rain. The few vegetables, which struggled for existence, were scorched by burning suns, which drank up the scanty dews of the night. Hot poisOnous winds are often fatal to travellers. The most intolera ble is called Samiel. A thick haze gives notice of its approach; at sight of which the people throw themselves with their faces on the ground, and so continue till the gale is over, which sometimes is only momentary in its continuance, Those, who neglect this precaution, suffer instant death. The immense fields of burning sands, when roused by the howling winds of the desert, are agitated like the rolling billows of the ocean; they rise into hills and mountains; whole caravans, men and beasts, are buried and lost. In this country the tribes of Israel wandered forty years; manna was rained from heaven for their support; for here are no pastures to support flocks or herds; here are no vallies of corn; no trees of fruit; no olive yards, nor vines, blushing with grapes. All is a lonesome desert, a region of desolation. No spacious inn, no hospitable cottage, welcomes the weary traveller; at night the sand is his couch; the heavens are his covering, the provision in his sack, and the water in his bottle, are his only support; his camels, his only protectors. When he has prepared his frugal meal, the Arab ascends the highest hill, which is near, and calls to all his brethren of the faithful to come and partake with him, though probably, not a soul is within a hundred miles. This custom might have its origin in humanity and kindness; probably, sometimes a poor starving brother might be discovered among the burning sands. Wells and fountains of water are rarely found; still in these regions of barrenness |