Page:The Natural History of Pliny.djvu/472

 438 pliny's natural histoet. [Book Y. On the promontory is Seleucia called Pieria, a free city. (22.) Beyond it lies Mount Casius^, a different one from the -mountain of the same name^ which we have already mentioned. The height of this mountain is so vast, that, at the fourth watch ''of the night, you can see from it, in the midst of the darkness, the sun rising on the east ; and thus, by merely turning round, we may at one and the same time behold both day and night. The winding road which leads to its summit is nineteen miles in length, its perpendicular height four. Upon this coast there is the river Orontes, which takes its rise near Heliopolis", between the range of Libauus and An- tilibanus. The towns are, Ehosos^, and, behind it, the Grates of Syria'', lying in the space between the chain of the Rho- siaji mountains and that of Taurus. On the coast there is the town of Myriaudros^, and Mount Amanus^, upon which is the town of Bomitse ^°. This mountain separates Cilicia from Syria. CHAP. 19. (23.) — THE REMAINING PARTS OF STRIA. We must now speak of the interior of Syria. Ccele Syria ^ Now Seleuca, or Kepse, at the foot of Mount Pieria. It has been referred to in a previous note. 2 -^qw known as DjebL4-el-Akra. 3 In the extreme north-east of Egypt. See pp. 422 and 424. '* The beginning of the fourth watch was three o'clock in the morning. The height of this mountain does not in reahty appear to be anything remarkable, and has been ascertained to be but 5318 feet. There is probably no foundation for the marvellous story here told by Phny ; nevertheless, we are told by Spartianus, that the Emperor Adrian passed a night upon the mountain, for the purpose of seeing this extraordinary Bight ; but a storm arising, it prevented the gratification of his curiosity. It lay near Nymphaeum and Seleucia, and its base was waslied by the waters of the Orontes. » Or Baalbec, in the ulterior of Syria. ^ According to Ansart, it still retams that name. 7 Now called Bylan. This was the name of the narrow pass between n portion of Mount Taurus and the Kock of Rossicuni. According to Ansart, the spot is called at the present day Saggal Doutan. ^ This was a Phoenician colony, on the eastern side of the Gulf of Issvis ; it is said by Ansart still to retain its ancient name. " Now called Aima-Dagh, a branch of Mount Tam-us, running from the head of the Gulf of Issus, north-east, to the principal chain, and dividing Syria from Cilicia and Cappadocia. There were two passes in it, the Syrian Gates and the Amanian Gates. It is often spoken of by Cicero, who was the Roman governor of Cihcia. ^° The locality of this place is unknown, as Pliny is the only author who mentions it.