Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 16.djvu/279

* PONTTJS. 239 PONZ. till after the time of Alexander the Great. I'luperly, the region was called Cappadocia ad I'ontum. The early inhabitants seem to have been barbarous but warlike tribes, over whom the monarchs of Assyria, L}dia, and even Persia had but little more than a nominal control, though the region formed one of the satrapies under Darius. The advantages of the fertile coast and the prospects of trade early attracted Greek merchants, and the Argonautic epic re- flects the voyages of the early -Eolian and Ionian traders. As early as the seventh century B.C. the Jlilesians had founded Sinope, and that city and Miletus planted a number of settlements along the Pontic coast, of which the most famous was Trapezus (Trebizond) ; others were Amisus (Samsun), Cotyora, and Cerasus (near the later Pharnacia ). In the interior were native cities which later attained prominence, such as Amasia, the old capital and burial place of the earlier kings ; Comana Pontica, the chief seat of the worship of the Asiatic goddess JIa; and Cabira or Xeocsesarea, the modern Xiksar. Some of the earlier satraps or local princes seem to have assumed a royal title in the fourth century B.C., or at any rate were regarded as the founders of the dynasty, but the foundation of the King- dom of Pontus was really laid by Mithridates III. Ctistes (or founder), who in B.C. 302 fled to this region from Antigonus. At first little more than a robber chief, he so skillfully used the disturbances of this time that in B.C. 280 he could assume the title of king. He seems to have died about B.C. 26(J. master of Paphlagonia and Xorthern Cappadocia, though Sinope was still independent. He was succeeded by his son, Ariobarzanes III., who was followed by Jlithri- dates IV., and Pharnaces I., who took Sinope and removed the inhabitants of Cotynra and Cerasus to his new city of Pharnacia. He was, however, forced by the Romans to give up most of his Paphlagonian conquests. To him suc- ceeded Mithridates V., and about B.C. 121 the great Mithridates VI. Eupator (see Mithri- D.TES), one of the most dangerous opponents of Roman rule in the East, ascended the throne. After his overthrow, B.C. 63, by Pompey. his king- dom was divided. The portion west of the Halys was joined to the Province of BithjTiia. Xext to this district the valley of the Iris and the region inland were given to King Deiotarus. and from that time were known as Pontus Galaticus. The eastern region was given to other princes, and later the central portion was given by Antonius to a certain Polemon, whence it was called Pon- tus Polemoniacus. It was ceded to Rome during the reign of Xero. and at first joined to Galatia. Later both divisions of Pontus were joined to Cappadocia. and in the redistricting of the Em- pire by Constantine it formed two provinces. The narrow eastern strip along the Black Sea was called Pontus Polemoniacus, while the west- ern district, extending to the highlands of Cap- padocia, was named Hellenopontus. Consult : E. Meyer, Das Konigreich Pontus (Leipzig, 1879) ; T. Reinach, Trois roi/mimes de VAsie Mineure (Paris, 1888) : and ilithridate Eupator, roi de Pont (Paris, 1^00). PONTTJS EUXI'NXJS. The ancient name of the Black Sea (q.v. ). PONTYPRIDD, Welsh pron. pon't^-prrth' (Welsh, Bridge of Beautv), also called Xew- BRIUGE. A town in Glamorganshire, Wales, on the Taff, 11 miles southeast of Merthyr Tydfil (Map: Wales, C 5). The municipality owns gas works and abattoirs, maintains libraries and recreation grounds, and is instituting numerous improvements and public industries. Its growth and importance are due to its various manufac- tures, collieries, iron mines, and supplemental industries, Pontypridd is named from the fa- mous bridge built bv a self-taught architect over the Tatr in 175.5. Population, in 1891, 15,400; in 1901, 19,400. PONY ( probably from Fr. poulenet, diminu- tive of poulain, from ML. puUanus, foal, colt, from Lat. pullus, young animal, chicken ; con- nected with Gk. -ij/.of, polos, foal, and ultimately with 'Enu. foal). A small horse. The name pony is commonly applied to the many small active breeds of horse (q.v.) which are to be found throughout the world, more especially in the warmer parts and in mountainous or sterile regions. In general they are exceptionally hardy and possess a strength great in proportion to their size. Possibly the smallest race of ponies is the Shetland, although the Iceland pony diflFers but little from it and is sufliciently hardy to flourish in the winter of Iceland. The Galloway, Welsh, Dartmoor. Exmoor. and Canadian breeds are types of ponies considerably larger than that of Shetland. Sardinia and Corsica also possess small races of pony, which have existed un- changed from ancient times. PONY EXPRESS. The name given to a mail service established between Saint Joseph, Mo., and San Francisco, Cal., in 1860. At this time there were three transcontinental mail lines, but the greater part of the mail between the east and the far west was sent b}' way of Panama, in about twenty-two days. The demand for a more rapid mail servic-e between the east and the west led to the establishment in the spring of 1800 of the famous "Pony Express," the mail being car- ried rapidly overland on horseback under tlie di- rection of the Central Overland California and Pike's Peak Express Company. The first pony express left, on April 3, 1860. Saint Joseph and San Francisco, between which places the schedule allowed 8 days. Stations averaging at first 25 miles apart were established, and each rider was expected to cover 75 miles per day. Eventually there were 190 stations, 200 station-keepers, 200 assistant station-keepers, 80 riders (who were paid from .$100 to .$125 per month), and between 400 and 500 horses. The quickest trip was that made for the delivery of President Lincoln's in- augural address, the distance between Saint .Jo- seph, Moi. and Sacramento, Cal.. about 1400 miles, being covered in 7 days and 17 hours. At first the company charged .$5 for each half ounce, but later the charge was reduced to $2.50. The regular pony express service was discontinued upon the completion of the line of the Pacific Telegraph Company, in October. ISOl. The service was often interrupted by Indian hostilities, and was extremely hazardous for riders and station- keejiers alike. Consult an article in The Centuiy Maiiaxine, vol. 34 (Xew York, 1898). PONZ, ponth, AxTONio (1725-92). A Spanish archieologist, painter, and art critic. He was born at Bexix, and was sent to Valencia and to Gandia to study letters and philosophy, but became an art-pupil of Richart in the former