Listed 9 sub titles with search on: Various locations for wider area of: "SYRIA Ancient country SYRIA" .
KILI SYRIA (Ancient province) SYRIA
Balanea (Balanaia Strab. xvi. p. 733; Balaneai, Steph. B.; Balanaiai, Ptol. v. 15; Balanea, Hierocles; Balanea, Plin. v. 18; Eth. Balaneotes, Belinas: Banias), a town of Syria subject to Aradus. (Strab. l. c.) It was situated 27 M. P. from Gabala, and 24 M. P. from Antaradus. The Balneis of the Peutinger Tables, which is fixed at pretty nearly the same distance from Antaradus and Gabala, must be identified with Balanea. The name arose no doubt from the baths in the neighbourhood. For coins of Balanea both Autonomous, and belonging to the Empire, see Rasche (vol. i. p. 1444) and Eckhel (vol. iii. p. 310). This city was pleasantly situated, facing the sea to the N., and having the river Banias on the S. and W. The foundations of a handsome church are still visible, and Roman remains cover the plain to some considerable extent. Near the sea are many granite columns, marking the site of some public building. To the E., on a low hill, are what appear to be the ruins of the Acropolis. The name of a bishop of Balanea occurs in the acts of the Council of Nice, and it is mentioned by the Crusaders under the name of Valania. (Wilken, die Kreuz, vol. i. p. 255, ii. 596, iii. (2) 257.) It is now utterly deserted. (Pococke, Trav. vol. ii. pt. 1; Buckingham, Arab Tribes, p. 526; Thomson, Bibl. Sacra, vol. v. p. 257; Chesney, Euphrat. Exped. vol. i. p. 452.)
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited October 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
Lycus (Lukos), a river of Syria, between ancient Byblus and Berytus. (Strab. xvi. p. 755; Plin. v. 20.) Although both these geographers mention the river Adonis as distinct from this, more to the north, between Palae-Byblus and Byblus, the two rivers have been sometimes confounded. Their Wolf-river is plainly identical with the Dog-river of the present day (Nahr-el-Kelb), about 2 hours north of Beyrut; which derives its name, says Maundrell, from an idol in the form of a dog or wolf, which was worshipped, and is said to have pronounced oracles, at this place. It is remarkable for an ancient viaduct cut in the face of a rocky promontory immediately on the south of the stream, the work of Antoninus Pius, as a Latin inscription, copied by Maundrell, and still legible, records (Journey, March 17, pp. 35-37). Cuneiform inscriptions and figures resembling those found at Behistun would seem to indicate that the Roman emperor did but repair the work of some Persian king. There are casts of the inscriptions and figures in the British Museum.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited August 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
A river of Syria, under mount Libanus, mentioned by Pliny (v. 20) apparently between
Sidon and Berytus, and probably identical with the Tamyras of Strabo (xvi. p.
756), now Nahr-ed-Damur; though Dr. Robinson suggests the Nahr-Beirut. (Bib. Res.
vol. iii. pp. 433, 439.)
Chalus (Chalos), a river of Syria, four days' march from Myriandrus, full of fish, which were held sacred by the inhabitants (Xen. Anab. i. 4. 9). Though the identity has not been made out sufficiently, it is in all probability the same as the Koweik which takes its rise from two sources in the high ground S. of Antab; the larger, owing to the abundance of its fish, has the name Baluk Su (fish river). From the pass in the Beilan chain advancing NE. and keeping quite clear of the lake of Aga Denghiz and the surrounding marshes, it is about 61 geographical miles to the upper part of the Baluk Su, and about 68 or 70 miles from the town of Beilan, if a greater sweep be made to the N along the slopes of the hills. As there were three rivers to cross, the Kara Su, the Aswad and the Afrin, four days would be required for this part of the march. (Chesney, Exped. Euphrat. vol. i. p. 412, ii. p. 212.)
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited August 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
Seleucis (Seleukis), a district of Syria, mentioned by Ptolemy,as containing the cities of Gephura, Gindarus, and Imma (v. 15. § 15). Strabo calls it the best of all the districts: it was also called Tetrapolis, on account of its four most important cities, for it had many. These four were, Antioch, Seleuceia in Pieria, Apameia, and Laodiceia (xvi. p. 749). It also comprehended, according to Strabo, four satrapies; and it is clear that he uses the name in a much wider sense than Ptolemy, who places the four cities of the tetrapolis of Strabo's Seleucis in so many separate districts; Antioch in Cassiotis, Apameia in Apamene, Laodiceia in Laodicene, while he only implies, but does not state, that Seleuceia lies in Seleucis.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited September 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
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