Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 11.djvu/642

608  1em 1em  HEBRON, the most southern of the three cities of refuge west of Jordan (Josh. xx. 7), built “seven years before Zoan (Tanis) in Egypt” (Num. xiii. 22). Tanis, according to Brugsch, was standing at least Hebron was originally called Mamre and Kirjath Arba, after Arba, one of the Anakim (Josh, xiv. 15), It is frequently mentioned in the Old Testament (Gen. xiii. 18 and xxiii. 19; 2 Sam. iii, 20 and v. 5). The present town encloses the /uram or sanctuary built over the supposed site of Machpelah ; but if this site be (as seems probable) genuine, the ancient Hebron must have faced the cave, as is re- marked by many ancient writers (Gen. xxiii. 17). The name Machpelah signifies “ place of division,” and the cave was therefore called as early as the Speluaca Dupler. In the an iron door (still visible) is mentioned as leading from the Haram wall to the cavern. In Hebron became the see of a Latin bishop, and it was taken in by Saladin. In 1834 it joined the rebellion against Ibrahim Pasha, who took the town and pillaged it. Modern Hebron rises on the east slope of a shallow valley—a long narrow town of stone houses, the flit roofs having small stone domes. The main quarter is about 700 yards long, and two smaller groups of houses exist north and south of this, The hill behind is terraced, and luxuriant vineyards surround the place, which is well watered on the north by three principal springs, including the Well Sirah, now ’Ain Sérah (2 Sam. iii, 26). Three conspicuous minarets rise, two from the Haram the other in the north quarter. The population includes 17,000 Moslems and 600 Jews. The Bedawin bring wool and camel’s hair to the market; and glass bracelets, lamps, and leather water-skins are manufactured in the town. The modern name of Hebron is El Khalil, “the friend,” in allusion to Abraham the friend of God. The most con- spicuous building is the Haram, an enclosure measuring 112 feet east and west by 198 north and south, surrounded with high rampart walls of masonry similar in size and dressing to that of the Jerusalem Haram walls, These ramparts are ascribed by architectural authorities to the Herodian period. The interior area is partly occupied by a Gothic church, and contains six modern cenotaphs of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, and Leah. The cave beneath the platform has probably not been entered for at least. The numerous tradi- tional sites now shown round Hebron are traceable gene- rally to medieval legendary topography, including the tombs of Adam, Esau, Judah, Abner, and Jesse, the Field of Damascus, the Vale of Tears, and the Oak of Mamre (“plain ” in A. V.,Gen. xiii. 18), which has at various times been shown in different positions from 3 mile to 2 miles from the town.  HECATÆUS, son of Hegesander, was sprung from an ancient and noble family of Miletus. His life seems to fall between and  His earlier years were spent in travelling. He lived some time in Egypt (Herod., ii, 143); he was well acquainted with the resources and power of the Persian empire (Herod., v. 34) ; and the extant fragments of his writings seem to imply personal acquaintance with Libya, Spain, and Italy, as well as with the countries bordering on the /Zgean and Euxine seas. After middle life he seems to have settled in Miletus, where he occupied a position of great honour, and to have devoted his time to the composition of geographical and _ historical works, When Aristagoras held a council of the leading Tonians at Miletus, to organize a revolt against the Persian rule, Hecatzus tried to dissuade his countrymen from the undertaking. Being overruled, he then advised them to equip a strong fleet, using for the emergency the treasures of the temple at Branchide, which might be repaid after the war. But both then and at a later period of the war (Herod., v. 124) his skilful and prudent advice was given in vain. When the remainder of the revolted Ionians sued for terms, he was one of the ambassadors sent to the Persian satrap Artaphernes. He wrote a work on geography entitled IepizAovs or Tepijynots tis Tis, in which he went over the countries of the known world, told their inhabitants, enumerated the towns, and described their situation and history. He improved the map of the world which Anaximander had made. He also wrote a work called Teveadoyiat or “Ioropiat, describing systematically the traditions and mythology of the Greeks. According to Arrian, he was the first to employ critical method to distinguish myth from historical fact; though he accepts Homer and the other poets as trustworthy authority. Herodotus, though obviously regarding him with respect, often controverts his statements.  HECATÆUS, of Abdera, sometimes confounded with Hecatzeus of Miletus, was a Greek historian and philosopher of the He was a disciple of Pyrrho and a contemporary of Alexander the Great and Ptolemy Sotor. He accompanied the latter in an expedition to Syria, and during the reign of the same prince sailed up the Nile as far as Thebes. Some fragments of works by him on Egypt and on the Hyperboreans still exist. According to Suidas, he also wrote a treatise on the poetry of Hesiod and Homer. Regarding his authorship of a work on the Jews, of which some fragments remain, there is some disagreement among critics, but in all probability he is not the author of it.

1em  HECATE, a Greek goddess who is never mentioned in Homer, but is of great importance in other parts of the literature as well as in religious observance. The name Hecatos, the masculine corresponding form, is a frequent