for as she follow'd him in all his Wars so she accompany'd him in his Expedition against the Goths when he was assassinated at Heraclea and acknowledg'd to be so by the Army after they had dispatch't her Ephemerous Competitor Maeonius a Man of the loosest Manners profuse Luxury and an ungovernable Temper managed that vast Empire with a Bravery and Conduct truly Heroick and above her Sex and by the Assistance of the wise Ministers and Generals Odenathus left her kept up the Reputation of her Government and advanc'd it She was Prudent and Fair Learned and Stout as rigorous as a Tyrant to those who were perverse and obstinate but humane and kind to all who were ready to live under Laws and Discipline She surpast even her Husband who was one of the most Illustrious Personages in the World in Courage Magnanimity and every generous Quality In a word she was an addroit Accomplish't Lady who had all the transcendent Qualities that would create her the Esteem of the World and render her worthy the Noblest Throne upon Earth being of High Birth Extraordinary Accomplishments and the Greatest Performances Her Original was Noble Treb. Pol. p. 196 198 200. and the best Blood of the Egyptian Kings flow'd in her Veins for she deriv'd her self from the Family of the Ptolemy's and from Cleopatra and had a great Regard for the last Queen of Egypt whom with Dido and Semiramis she celebrated as the Heroins of their several Ages Zenobia particularly proposing to her self the Imitation of all Cleopatra's Illustrious Qualifications while she avoided those Vices that eclip'st her Glory Her Mother's Name we are ignorant of but her Father was Achilleus Zozimus calls him Antiochus whom the Palmyrenians chose to be their Prince Vopisc p. 219. when they took Arms against Aurelian To him Zosimus says that Aurelian gave his Life and Liberty after he had made him his Prisoner Nor is it the most unpardonable Conjectures to imagine that he was the Father of Lucius Epidius Achilleus who twenty years afterthe Sack of Palmyra being made Governor of Egypt took upon him the Imperial Purple and maintained his Pretensions for six years at the least as the Coins expresly inform us and at last after he had been besieged eight Months in Alexandrid was overcome by Dioclesian and Galerius and put to death Her Beauty was as Illustrious as her Birth Id. p. 192. but Manly and August not Soft and Effeminate Cornelius Capitolinus affirming that she was the Handsomest of all the Eastern Ladies though Syria were famous for Beauties more than one of the Roman Empresses owing their Birth to that Country Her Face was of a Brownish colour Pag. 199. and 't is no wonder that she appear'd so at Rome who in Palmyrene had been inur'd to march in the Head of her Army on foot several miles at a time where the Rays of the Sun were so servent and so troublesom Her Eyes Black and Sparkling her Mien Divine her Charms Irresistable her Teeth of such an extraordinary Whiteness that some Men thought them Pearls Her Voice Clear and Masculine And all her Shapes Regular and Lovely And with her Beauty she had Youth and Vigour for after her Captivity she was marry'd at Rome and there had Children by a Man of the Senatorian Dignity But all the Symmetry of her Face and the Beauties of her Mien were not fit to stand in competition with the more ravishing Accomplishments of her Mind CHAP. XVIII HEr Ancestor Cleopatra was a Lady of great Wit Plut. M. Anton. p. 1698. pass edit Steph. and many Languages so that she seldom made use of an Interpreter but her self answered all Foreigners that petition'd her in their own Languages Aethiopians Troglodytes Jews Arabs Syrians Medes and Parthians whereas her Predecessors hardly understood the Speech of their own Country the Greek and the Coptick and all this variety was recommended by a charming Delivery her Words flowing with a delicate Sweetness intermixt with a becoming Raillery The several Languages which she spake were like the several Notes of a well-tun'd Lute every thing that she said was harmonious and gave a new pleasure to all who heard her And in this Qualification * Pol. p. 199. Zenobia strove to imitate that Great Lady she had some knowledge of the Latin Tongue but out of Modesty used it not but she spake Greek and the Language of Egypt in perfection And so well skill'd was she in the Alexandrian and Oriental Histories that she is said to have written an Epitome of them and she was also acquainted with as much of the Roman Affairs as were treated of in Greek And though she understood other Tongues more accurately than the Latin and thought it not worth her while to be a Critick in it yet she commanded her Sons to inure themselves to the Language of Rome rather than that of Greece which they spake but seldom and with some difficulty designing them probably in her ambitious Thoughts for the Government of that proud City as she had already declared them Emperors to which end she had provided her self of a pompous Chariot in which she intended to have made her triumphant Entry into the Capital of the World as a Conqueror while it happen'd that she was carry'd in the same Chariot a Captive into that haughty City Vopisâ— And as she was very Learned her self so she became a declared Patroness of Arts and a Favourer of Scholars Longinus the best Critick of the Age he liv'd in and perhaps of any Age and a Philosopher of unquestionable Reputation fix'd his Residence at the Court of this Heroick Empress was admitted to a share in our Councils taught her Greek and was probably made the Governor of her Sons And could Longinus have persuaded Porphyry whom by Letter he earnestly invited to Palmyra with the Queen's Allowance I doubt not that admirable Platonist had tasted of her Bounty as did Paulus of Samosata and other Votaries of Learning in that Age. * Id. p. 198. Sec. Satrectionem Her Magnificence went an equipage with her Learning and her Charms From the Coins it appears that she took the Name of Augusta managing the Empire not only in her Son's Name as the Historian says but in her own And while Gallienus was sauntring in Rome among Fidlers and Players she kept the State of a Persian Monarch and to perpetuate her Memory she built a City on the Banks of the River Euphrates toward the West five Miles from the Castle of Mambri nearer to the Roman Territories but three Days Journey from Circesium which she call'd by her own Name Zenobia which Proeop Pers l. 2. c. 5. p. 97. de Aedific l. 2. c. 8. p. 42 43. when in after Ages it fell into decay was repair'd fortify'd and beautify'd by Justinian and the Place where the Emperor Aurelian gave her a House at Tivoli thought it self happy to change its old Name for that of this
for and that he was satisfied that their Argument from the Inconstancy of Humane Affairs never made any impression on their Minds in the days of their Prosperity while he was resolv'd to tread in the steps and to imitate the nobler Practices of his Predecessors who were accustom'd to suppress the Stubborn and Obstinate but to comfort and support the Penitent And having thus spoken he commanded the Embassador to return to his Master and to represent to him the Clemency of the Romans of whose Courage he had lately met with an unquestionable Demonstration bidding him to expect in a short time the return of the Prisoners according to his Desires Having dismist the Persian Embassador the Triumphant Galerius return'd into Mesopotamia to Dioclesian cover'd with Lawrels and the Trophies of an entire Victory and was received with the testimonies of the greatest Honour as he justly deserv'd At Nisibis Galerius met the Emperor without whose Consent himself being only Caesar at that time could not confirm a Peace and having made Dioclesian acquainted with the Particulars consulted with him what Articles they should propose to the Persian Monarch P. Patric Excerp p. 29. 30. When they had adjusted the Affair they sent Sicorius Probus the Emperor's Secretary into Persia with the Terms of Agreement The King treated the Embassador with all Civility but pretending some hinderance or other carried him with him from place to place till he came to Asprudis a River of Media where the scattered remains of his routed Army having rallyed and embody'd themselves pitcht their Tents there he granted the Embassador all the Demands of his Master the Emperor except that the Place of Meeting should be Nisibis Upon which the Persian Monarch's Wife and Children were restored him and the Captive Nobility had their Liberty At this time Castra was founded by Dioclesian says * Lib. 23. cap. 5. Ammianus Marcellinus and †Par. 2. p. 17. Johannes Malela which he calls Cercusium Malela Circisium but the Subscriptions of the Chalcedon Council Castro-Circon by a complication of both Names For the Irruptions of the Persians into the Roman Territories on the side of the Euphrates were so destructive to those Provinces that the ‖ Procop. Persic l. 2. c. 5. p. 97. de Aedific l. 2. c. 3. p. 42. Emperors saw it very necessary to build several Cities and Castles upon the Banks of that River to secure their Borders particularly in that large and barren Desart that lies between Euphratesia and the Persian Limits in that Solitude Dioclesian erected three Castles built of unbak'd Bricks of which number Mambri was one which was situate five miles below Zenobia but Circesium stood three days Journey lower than Zenobia and as far from Palmyra being the last and remotest Castle that the Romans had on their Confines a little below Thapsacus it was built very neat and very strong on the confluence of the Euphrates and the Abora or Chaborras as it is called in Ptolemy two noble Rivers which wash the Walls of the City being situated on the farther side of the Euphrates in that very Angle which the two Rivers make when they meet Besides the Ramparts of the Castle it was defended by a long Wall which extended it self for some miles on the sides of both the Rivers and was built in the figure of a Triangle In times past it was a mean place and not tenable but Dioclesian fenced it with high Walls and Towers when in the Confines of the Barbarians he fix'd the Limits of the Roman Empire lest the Persians should by that Pass invade Syria as they had in times past often done to the great detriment of the Provinces paricularly under * Ammian ubi supr Gallienus when they march'd their Army over this Ford and sack't and burnt Antioch In †Malel par 2. p. 17. the Reign of Julian the Apostate it was garrison'd with 6000 Men and in the 13th Year of ‖ Precop ubi supr Justinian when Chosroes brought his Forces thither with a design that way to invade the Empire he durst not attempt it After which time how long it continued in the hands of the Emperors of the East I know not By all which it appears that Castra was founded Anno Christi 27 8 9. and that at that time Hierocles was Governor of Palmyra CHAP. XXXIII IN the Reign of Honorius Palmyra continued a Roman Garrison the Town being then under the Inspection of the Dux Phoeniciae as the Notitiae collected probably in that Emperor's Reign affirm commanded by a Colonel or Praefect of the first Illyrian Legion which was left there in Garrison And in this state it was when Stephen the Grammarian of Constantinople publish'd his Work concerning the Cities for he calls it expresly a Castle of Syria 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Hermolaus his Epitomator who dedicated his Breviate to the Emperor Justinian informs us But though the Civil Privileges of the City were infring'd it retain'd the Honour of an Episcopal See this fell not under the cognizance of the Pagan Emperors and for that reason was not fortified the Church being careful to preserve her Rights when the City honour'd with the Episcopal Jurisdiction had lost her's Justinian having determin'd in the First Year of his Reign Ann. Chr. 52⅞ to make War upon the Persians resolv'd to re-build Palmyra says Procopius who thus describes it Procop. de Aedific l. 2. c. 11. p. 50. l. 5. c. 1. p. 95. That there was a City of Phoenicia near Mount Libanus called Palmyra built of old in a Country that had no Neighbours but such as were at a great distance but most commodiously situated to observe the movements of the Saracens the Enemies of the Romans having been built on purpose to prevent the Irruptions of those Barbarians into the Roman Territories This City having been for a long time deserted Justinian strengthened with extraordinary Fortifications bringing Water to the Place for the support of a strong Garrison which he fix'd there And to Justinian I am enclined to attribute the building the Castle of Palmyra Vid. Journal p. 84 85 103. rather than to a Prince of the Druses who never that we read of enlarged their Territories as far as Tadmur as also that noble Aqueduct seems to be of his Foundation which runs under-ground in a direct passage five miles and is cover'd all the way with an Arch of bastard-Marble and a Path on both sides the Chanel large enough for two Persons to walk a breast in with Ventiducts at every twenty yards distance being built for the supply of the Garrison with Water This was done says * Chronogr p. 148. Theophanes in the First Year of Justinian after the Death of his Uncle Justin the Emperor having given Commission to Patricius the Armenian the Governor of the East to see the Work done effectually having furnish'd him with Money to that purpose commanding also the Governor of the East to
old Syriac name kept its Interest among the Natives and has at this day recover'd an entire Possession as some other neighbouring Cities in that Country have done So Caesarea in Palestine is at present call'd as of old Paneas and Petra in Arabia is now named Bosra to omit other Instances For as Lib. 14. c. 8. Seleucus Nicator urbes construxit multis opibus firmas viribus quarum ad praesens plereque licet Graecis nominibus appellentur quae iisdem ad arbitrium imposita sunt conditoris primogenita tamen nomina non amittunt quae ex Assyriâ linguâ institutores veteres indiderunt Ammianus Marcellinus has well observ'd When Seleucus Nicator rebuilt many old Cities in Syria among whom we may reckon Palmyra and gave them Strength and Riches tho' many of them are still called by the Greek Names which their Founder Seleucus gave them yet they did at the same time among the Natives retain their old Syrian Appellations which their first Founders imposed Hence came it that the new name of Adrianople given to Palmyra was in a little time worn out and tho' the Greeks called the Island of Corsica Diod. Sic. l. 5. p. 205. Cyrnus the Natives still maintain'd the Interest of the true name and it continues to this day Steph. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and tho' Heraclea was for a while called Plistarchia in time it asserted its ancient Right and was called as formerly Heraclea And I heartily wish that the Learned Men who have visited those Oriental Countries had furnisht themselves with Instruments and spent some time in taking the exact Longitudes and Latitudes of the several Cities In the Chronological Accounts I have followed the commonly receiv'd Epochas and accordingly fixt my Series of Times without entring into an over-nice Examination of particular Disputes in Chronology which was not so consonant to my present Subject having fixt the year of the Creation according to the Computation of our most Learned Arch-bishop Vsher I have freely used the names of the Heathen Gods tho' for the most part with a distinguishing Epithet and besides the necessity of my Subject which obliged me to it I might plead the usual practise in other Languages that the Fathers did the same and some of the antient Christians who went larger lengths than I ever durst witness that Epitaph in Gruter 1050. Jovis optimi maximi beneficio hic in spe resurrectionis quiescit nor can I be perswaded that such Studies are disagreeable to my Profession if any passage of that kind appears in the History I here renounce it and may it be as if it had never been said or written while the Learned Synesius hath publisht the Life of Typhon and Osiris St. Ambrose as 't is said and Palladius the History of the Brachmanes and Nonnus besides his Paraphrase upon St. John was the Author of the Dionysiaca Tho' after all I must profess I expect to be treated rudely by some sowre Criticks but having no private design in these Papers I shall please my self to be corrected by a Man of Sense and Temper and for the rest of the Tribe they are beneath Consideration it must be acknowledg'd that a Treatise of this kind ought to have been written in the Learned Language as probably it may be hereafter but it was requisite to publish the Commentary in the same Language with the Text and that the Journals having been set forth in English the History ought to be written in the same Tongue and had not a good part of my Papers when finisht been unhappily lost past retrieving my Genius also nauseating the Drudgery of doing the same thing over again I might perhaps have managed the Subject with more Accuracy P. 258. I have affirmed that the Saturns and Jupiters of the Heathens were born after the days of Job and of Joshua and herein I have followed the Fathers particularly Theophilus of Antioch an excellent Chronologist and who by that unanswerable Argument hath ruined all that was then said for the Eternity of the World and of the Heathen Gods who in one place of his excellent Work against Autolycus which for this reason is justly stiled by Lactantius liber de temporibus affirms L. 2. p. 58. that Saturn Jupiter Neptune and Pluto were much younger than the Creation in a second L. 3. p. 258. that Jupiter was much younger than Moses and the Law but more expresly in a third P. 282. that Cronus and Belus i. e. Saturn as Thallus says in his History lived but 322 years before the Trojan War whereas Moses lived 630 years before that famous Epocha And the Chronologer Petavius proves that when Saturn fled into Italy driven out by his Son Jupiter Ehud was then a Judge in Israel about the year 1330 before Christ and that from the time of Janus to whom Saturn fled to Aeneas the whole was not 200 years The Arabick Authors as well as the common People of the Country are to this day possest with the Opinion that Tadmur was built by Solomon and that by the help of Spirits as was also Baalbec says Benjamin Tudelensis the superstitious Jews and Arabs thinking it impossible that Art should perfect a stupendous Building without the assistance of a familiar If the City were destroy'd by Nebuchadnezzar before he laid siege to Jerusalem as John Malela expresly affirms and in this account we may give him Credit because he was of that Country and may be presum'd not to be ignorant of the Affairs of Syria then it is not improbable that Seleucus Nicator the Founder of the Syrian Empire rebuilt Tadhmur as he did many other Cities and that then in honour to him and compliance with both their Benefactor and Conqueror they dated their publick Writings from the first year of his Empire the aera Seleucidarum as it is commonly stiled The Situation of the City fitted it for a publick Mart and the Cities Alalis Sura Ptol. l. 5. c. 15. and Alamata being parts of Palmyrene and built on the Banks of the Euphrates may be presumed the Ports where they brought their Goods either exported or imported on that noble River the Cities being subject to the Re-publick Of what Bigness and Capacity for carriage the River that did run by its Walls was we know not it having been many years since absorpt That there ran a River there in Ptolemy's time the Geogragrapher affirms expresly that many other Rivers have been lost in Earthquakes to which the Eastern Regions are very subject no Man doubts and some which yet continue to run are soon buried L. 1. c. 13. Mela avers that a great River arises near Corycus in Cilicia and having made a great noise is immediately swallow'd and disappears and the River that runs by Aleppo is in a few hours afterward buried in the Sands When the Romans began to enlarge their Conquests in Syria I question not but Palmyra was under the Jurisdiction of the Arabs for when Pompey the Great after the Death
of the famous Mithradates marcht against Aretas the King of the Arabs Appian calls him King of the Nabataean Arabs ann V. C. 690. ante Christum 63. his Kingdom reacht from the River Euphrates to the Red Sea says Dio L. 36. in which compass Palmyra must be included this Aretas was doubtless one of the Al-Hariths of the Arabians who were Kings of Gessan and in later Ages Lords of Taahmur After which time I believe it acknowledg'd the Roman Power but was govern'd by its own Laws having under its immediate Jurisdiction besides the three Cities on the River already mentioned twelve more in the Inland of Syria When Trajan made his glorious Expedition into Persia I conjecture Palmyra was a Sufferer in the common Calamity of that Country for Pliny says it was sometime in the Roman at others in the Parthian Interest or else it would not have needed Hadrian's assistance to rebuild and beautify it while other Cities tasted of Trajan's Bounty for from Trajan's Expedition in the 8th year of his Reign of Christ 105. the Inhabitants of Bozra and Petra dated their Writings says the Author of the Alexandrian Chronicle L. 3. p. 105. and Zosimus affirms that at Zaragardia not far from the Euphrates on the Persian side in his time there stood a noble Throne built of stone which the Natives called Trajan's Throne erected I doubt not in memory of his illustrious Atchievements in that Country But whatever Palmyra might have suffered under Trajan was repair'd by his Successor who gave the City his own name and they in Gratitude made Vows for his Recovery not in the last the 19th of his Reign as thro' haste is said F. 35 36. he reigned almost 22 years but in the seventeenth from which Sickness he recover'd to dye afterwards in greater torment and this I mention here that I may correct the Mistake in the History To this City Septimius Severus may also be presumed a Benefactor to whom before his famous Expedition against the Parthians Spart vit Septim p. 67. when he routed Niger with whom the Arabs Parthians and the Inhabitants of Adiabene join'd their Forces the Re-publick gave their assistance against the Allies of the Empire and adopted his name into their most eminent Families after which time till the Reign of Zenobia I take them to have been in confederacy with and subject to the Emperors for they assisted both Alexander Severus and Gordian in their Expeditions into the East against the Persians as the Inscriptions testify only it looks probable that upon the Captivity of Valerian the Senate for a while dissembled their Interests and acknowledg'd the Power of Sapores In the Battel at Immae where Zenobia was routed S. Hierom affirms that Pompeianus the Frank settled at Antioch but the Family was unquestionably fixt in that Country long before Capitol Marcus for when Marcus the Philosopher undertook the German War he married his Daughter to Claudius Pompeianus who was of Antioch This also I mention to correct another Mistake After the Captivity of Zenobia the City was a Spectacle of pity but being a necessary Frontier was repair'd and in Dioclesian's time was the Seat of the Governor of the Province In the days of Constantius the Inhabitants were noted as now for great Robbers P. 8. says the old Geographer set out by Gothofred and govern'd by Women but that I take for granted is an Error as if when Zenobia had begun to wield a Scepter none but her own Sex in that Country durst pretend to command Malel part 2. p. 39. Theodosius the Great divided Libanesia from the Sea-coast of Phoenicia and made it a distinct Province Emesa being the Metropolis under whose Jurisdiction Palmyra was put and so continued when the Followers of Mahomet had made themselves Masters of that Country and for many Centuries after for in Abulfedas's time above 1300 after Christ Tadhmur acknowledg'd Hems Emesa its Metropolis and probably it was so after his time In the Reign of the same Theodosius if P. 28. ed. Gron. Ethicus or whoever goes under that name lived in those days or before for St. Hierome is said to have translated him Palmyra is reckoned among the famous Towns of the East as it is also by P. 8. Julius Honorius who lived before Theodoric for Cassiodore mentions him Palmira damascus read Palmyra Damascus and the Author of the Alexandrian Chronicon among the famous Cities of the fourth Climate reckons Palmyra with Apamea Emesa c. in Caele Syria In Justinian's time it became the Residence of the Governor of the East and subject to the Constantinopolitan Empire but 't is probable did not continue long in that State for about the year of Christ 640. when Heraclius was Emperor Jabalah the Son of Al Iham was King of Gassan and Lord of Tadhmur perhaps a Tributary to Heraclius who being overcome by Omar the Caliph one of Mahomet's Successors submitted and turn'd Mahometan but repenting he afterward went to Constantinople Pococ not in Specim hist Ar. p. 77 136. and became a Christian and at this time I believe Mahometanism settled it self at Tadhmur the Tribe of Gassan being before those days Christian I shall not particularly undertake to demonstrate the Usefulness of Coins and Inscriptions the Learned World hath been already fully convinc'd of that truth how many difficult and obscure Passages in Chronology have been set in their due light how many Series of Kings have been regularly deduc't what Rites and Customs both sacred and civil have been by those helps discover'd needs no further proof though were there nothing else at Palmyra to be seen but the noble Ruines of the Temples and Palaces built according to the best and boldest Rules of the ancient Architecture I should think a Journey thither on that Errand alone worth the Undertaking And though the oldest of the Palmyrene Inscriptions is a hundred years younger than our blessed Saviour's Incarnation as I have made appear in the Commentary yet they are not so contemptible as some have imagin'd but afford us some Memorials of those times which no where else occur And by the same Argument the use of the Greek Ε which appears not till about Domitian's time by which I postpone the oldest Inscription at Tadhmur a hundred years may we prove the Spuriousness of that Table preserv'd at Rome which is reported to contain the very Title which by Pilate's Order was affixt to the Cross of our Lord for therein 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is written with the same sort of Ε. It must be confest that in the Palmyrene Inscriptions are some peculiar words which occur not in the Lexica as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. of which sort there are more in other old Marbles nor is it any wonder that in a remote part of Syria where a different Language was spoken Pric in Apul. Apolog. p. 67. De foedere Hierapytniorum Priansens sciunt doctiores usquequo huc progredi licet scripta hoc genus non
Chap. 2. Of the names of the Inhabitants p. 187. Chap. 3. Of the publick Officers p. 197. Chap. 4. Of their Idolatry and Superstition p. 241. Chap. 5. An Account of Vaballathus p. 272. Chap. 6. The History of Longinus p. 287. Chap. 7. The Commentary on the Inscriptions p. 295. A View of the Ruines of Palmyra alias Tadmor taken on the Southern Side THE HISTORY OF Palmyra HISTORIES of Remote Countries and Strange Revolutions have been always entertained with Respect And the pleasure of Seeing at so great a Distance and Hearing of dismal Catastrophe's wherein we have no other immediate share but that of Wonder and Pity is not to be reckon'd among the meanest Satisfactions of a Wise Man's Life since every Turn of Providence in a Foreign Nation every new Scene of Prosperity or Adversity is a Lesson to the rest of the World And the best Rules of Behaviour both for a publick and private Capacity are deducible from such remarkable Occurrences And among all the great Revolutions that have call'd for the Astonishment and Commiseration of Mankind the several Fortunes of Palmyra are not the least remarkable a Country far distant from our Region distinguisht by Nature from the rest of the World by a separate Situation and an Empire that in the space of Ten Years over-ran all the East baffled the Forces of the Persians subdued Egypt and made all Asia to the Hellespont tremble But in a few Months afterward was stript of all its Grandeur and by degrees reduced to the lowest state of Poverty as it is this day Of this Country I intend to treat of its Founder and Antiquity its Situation and Plenty its Government Ecclesiastical and Civil and its several Fortunes and Conditions as far as my Reading will assist me till some more able Critick shall undertake the Task and I shall begin with such an Account of the Place as the Antients furnish us with CHAP. I. WHen Solomon had finisht his stupendious Temple at Jerusalem which better deserv'd to be reckon'd among the World's Wonders than that at Ephesus and the Noble Palace which he built for himself 1 King 9.10 18. 2 Chron. 8.3 4. in the Twentieth Year of his Reign he made War against Hamath-Zobah which had been subdued by David but revolted and having conquer'd it he built Tadmor in the Wilderness the Vpper and Nether Bethhoron Baalath and all the store-Store-Cities which he strongly fortify'd with Walls and Gates and Bars they being his Frontier Towns and the Limits of his vast Empire 2 Chron. 9.26 For he reign'd over all the Kings from the River Euphrates to the Land of the Philistines and to the Border of Egypt 1 King 4.24 From Tiphsac even to Azzah i. e. from Gaza to Thapsachus which Was one of the Passes over the Euphrates The Arabick Translator of 2 Chron. 8.3 implies that Tadmor was a City before Solomon's time and that he only reedified it that it was a Metropolis of old as it was in the latter times and had many Towns under its Jurisdiction nor is it altogether improbable those Parts of the World near the Place where the Ark rested after the Deluge ceas'd being first peopled The Arabick Historian * Vers Poc. p. 53. Abulfarajus says That Solomon in the Twenty fourth Year of his Reign having destroy'd the City of Antioch built seven Cities in its stead of which Tadmor was one But the Fabulous Historian of Antioch †Par. 1. p. 185. Par. 2. p. 152. John Matela averrs That the Foundations of Palmyra were lay'd in the same place in which David slew Goliah and cut off his Head with his own Sword and that King Solomon in Memory of this great Victory built a Noble City there and from the Fate of the Giant call'd it Palmyra While ‖ Antiq. l. 8. c. 2. Josephus thus informs us That Solomon after he had built Gazara which Pharoah having taken it from the Philistines gave to his Daughter not far from it built two Cities Betachora and Baleth with other Places to which he might retire for his Pleasure that he might enjoy a temperate Air excellent Fruits and pleasant Streams From whence he past into the Desart above Syria and making himself Master of it lay'd the Foundations of a great City which * Hier. in Ezek. 47. he beautified with extraordinary Buildings two Days Journey from the Vpper Syria and one from Euphrates but from Babylon six Days Journey And the reason why he built this City so far from the inhabited Places of Syria was that in the Upper Parts there was no Water but in that Place only there were Fountains and Wells as it appears by the Peutinger Tables that near it stood the Centum Putei (a) Concerning the Names Tadhmur and Palmyra consult the Appendix When therefore he had built the City and fenced it with strong Walls he named it Tadmor as it is now called by the Syrians while the Greeks call it Palmyra CHAP. II. FRom its Founder and Name I shall proceed to consider its Situation and Plenty As to its Situation from the Description that Josephus gives of it it is plain that though it stood in a Desart Country it was a very Fertile Spot of Ground the Air being very moderate and healthy For when * Epist ad Porph. Longinus invites his Friend Porphyry thither he encourages him to undertake the Journey upon two Accounts first That they might renew their old Friendship secondly That he might recover his broken Health by the excellency of the Air of Palmyra †Lib. 8. p. 205. Ptolemy places it East from Alexanandria in the same Climate with Antioch Seleucia Hierapolis Emesa and other Cities of Alexandria says the Author of the Alexandrian Chronicon Chron. Alex p. 82. in the Longit. of 71 deg 30 min. and the Latit of 34 deg the Longest Day being there above 14 Hours The first Inhabitants of Tadmur I conjecture were the Sons of Abraham by Keturah for they are said to be sent by their Father into the East Gen. 25.6 i. e. into the East from Jerusalem and the Land of Canaan into the Desarts of Arabia and the Countries bordering on the Euphrates whose Inhabitants are called in Holy Writ The Children of the East and were for that reason also call'd Saracens that is Orientals or Easterlings as our most Learned Pocock affirms Now the Saracens are said by * Lib. 23. cap. ult Amm. Marcellinus to be the Arabes Scenitae though Pliny and Ptolomy distinguish them to whom the Palmyrenians were conterminous if not the same and for this reason I doubt not but Odenathus in all the latter Writers is call'd the King of the Saracens though Zenobia in her Letter to Aurelian distinguishes the Saracens from her Subjects reckoning the Saracens among her Foreign Troops and Auxiliaries In the Ecclesiaslick Notitia it is accounted a part of Phoenicia Libanesia And Porphyry treating of Longinus's Inviting him to
make that Place the Seat of his constant Residence and to preserve the Churches from the Sacrilegious Saracens Eight Years after this Procop. Bel. Pers l. 2. c. 1. p. 88. when Belisarius had reduced Italy under the Obedience of the Emperor Ann. Chr. 535 Chosroes King of Persia concerted his Affairs with Alamundarus one of the Arabian Princes that he should invade Arethas another of the Saracen Kings but in the Roman Interest upon the pretext that Arethas detain'd from him a little Region called Strata that lies to the South of the City Palmyra but barren of all things being burnt with the fervent Sun so that it produces neither Trees nor Fruits and is destin'd only to the feeding of a few Cattle Id. c. 5. p. 97. Whereupon Chosroes made an Inroad into the Roman Territories march'd his Army three days by the Banks of the River Euphrates till he came to Zenobia the Foundation of the Queen of Palmyrene but finding the Region uninhabited and destitute of all Necessaries the City also refusing to surrender when required to do so he retired to Sura another City upon the Euphrates CHAP. XXXIV ABout a hundred Years after the repairing of Palmyra by Justinian it pleased God to permit Mahomet an obscure Arab to scourge the Eastern Churches for their Heresies and their loose Manners and to lay the Foundations of an Empire which with the Religion call'd Mahometan hath prevail'd over a great part of the known World and in a very few years after the first appearance of that false Prophet establish't its Jurisdiction in Tadmur where it prevails to this day In the Year of Christ Elmacin l. 1. c. 1. 623. the Second of the Hegira Chosroes the Second the King of Persia commanded all the Churches in Syria and Mesopotamia to be destroy'd carrying away with him all the Gold and Silver with all the Ornaments of those Holy Places even to the very Marble into his own Country It is probable that Tadmur was not exempt from this dreadful Persecution But whatever its Fate was under Chosroes it is unquestionable that a few years afterwards it fell into the Hands of the Mahometans who Anno Christi 638 Hegirae 16 having taken the Capital City of the Persians and routed Izdigerdes their last King and seiz'd his Empire the Constantinopolitan Princes not concerning themselves as they ought to prevent these sudden and large Conquests may be presumed to have made Palmyra their own After which time I believe the Fortifications were permitted to run to decay it being no longer a Frontier since Persia was in their hands on one side of it and Arabia on the other And then also I conjecture it ceas'd to be a Mart the Mahometans being in constant Hostility with the Christians so that the Caravans not being able to travel safely the Trade with the Persian Gulph was diverted and lost of which beneficial Commerce the City being deprived and situate in a desart Country soon fell into Poverty and Ruine In the Year 659 the 39th Elmac. l. 1. c. 5. of the Mahometan Computation when Muavias the Son of Abusofianus with his Army of Syrians march'd against Alis the Fifth of Mahomet's Successors he sent Dahacus with 3000 Men to plunder Iraca after which they fell into the Province of Higiaza and having murther'd all the Arabs they met with loaded themselves with their Spoiles Whereupon Alis sent against him his General Hagjar the Son of Adis with 4000 Men who folfowed them as far as Tadmur within the District of Emesa for so it was reckon'd at that time where they had a sharp Engagement in which Dahacus was routed And by this it is very plain that Tadmur came very early into the hands of the Successors of Mahomet Anno Christi 746 Id. l. 1. c. 21. of the Hegira 127 the People of Emesa at that time the Metropolis of the Country rebell'd against Merwan the Caliph who came against the Town with a strong Force and besieged it Whereupon the Inhabitants supplicated his Pardon promised Obedience and open'd their Gates But when the Caliph had entred the City in the Head of 300 Men the Citizens betook themselves to their Arms and slew all the Soldiers Merwan himself hardly escaping through the Gate that leads to Tadmur the old Roman Road lay from Emesa to Apamea and thence to Palmyra but the direct Road lay through the Desart without touching at Apamea and when Suleiman the Son of Hisjam being created Caliph in opposition to Merwan by the Men of Basra was overthrown in Battle he retired first to Emesa which he fortified but being a second time beaten he fled to Tadmur leaving his Brother Saidus his Lieutenant in Emesa From which Passages it appears to me credible that Tadmur was then a Place of little Trade or Interest but a Sanctuary for the Unfortunate for Banditti and Free-booters who fled thither and found a secure retreat being protected by the advantageous Situation of the Town which for several Days Journey was on every side surrounded with wild and uninhabited Solitudes And if I might be allowed a bold Conjecture how the River that ran by Palmyra in Ptolemy's time and which Marius Niger says emptied it self into the Euphrates happen'd so to be lost that now there remain no footsteps of it I would affirm Elmacin l. 2. c. 11. that it was buried in that terrible Earthquake that happen'd in those Countries Anno Christi 859 of the Hegira 245 which ruin'd many a noble City threw down the Palace at Bagdat did great damage to Carrae Emesa Damascus Edessa Laodicea and all along the Coast of Syria for at this time the Arabick Historian avers that a River vanish't nor is it unusual in such most violent Concussions being swallowed up of the Earth that no Man ever could discover what new Channel it had found under ground At this time 't is highly probable Tadmur did not escape when all the neighbouring Cities were harrast and then the River might be absorpt Nor does Justinian's bringing Water to Tadmur for the service of his Garrison contradict this Opinion because a River may be for other uses and yet not fit for Drink many other of the Springs in those Countries being brackish and sulphurous About the Year of Christ 1172 Itiner p. 57 58. Benjamin Tudelensis the Jew among other Parts of the East which he visited in his Travels touch'd at Tadmur and he informs us though he is mistaken in the exact distances of Places that from Baalbeck or Baalath built by Solomon in the Valley of Libanus to Tadmur in the Desart was four Days Journey that Solomon built it of large Stones and fenced it with a strong Wall that it was built in a Desart far from any Inhabitants and that in his time there were in the City 2000 stout Jews who waged War with the Christians and with the Arabs the Subjects of Sultan Noraldin but were ready to assist their Neighbours the Ishmaelites
Name I have in the History affirm'd from the Authority of * Lib. 1. Censibus Vlpian that Caracalla made Palmyra a Colony Juris Italici but if I might be allowed a Conjecture I could think that Septimius Severus made it a Colony as he did several other Cities in that Country Rhesaina Tyrus Laodicea Nisibis and Singara which from his Name were stiled in the Coins Septimia Rhesaina Colonia Septimia Tyrus Septimia Colonia Laodicea Septimia Colonia Nisibis or as it is always in the Coins 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but that his Son Caracalla gave it the Priviledges of an Italian City as Vlpian affirms for it seems to me past all doubt from the frequent use of the Names Septimius and Septimia by the Inhabitants of Palmyra who gave it as a Praenomen to the People of both Sexes of the best Families and Condition that the Citizens of Tadmur had a very reverend regard for the Emperor Septimius Severus but we want Coins to determine this Question In an Inscription about the Year 296. Pag. 99. Journal for I am willing to supply the Date from the former Inscription pag. 98. because they both treat of the same Person Tadmur is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as if it were the Mother of other Colonies says the Editor a word that occurs not in any Author which was a very honourable appellation Thucyd. l. 1. § 25. p. 15. Ed. Ox. cum Schol. the Colonies being obliged 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to Honour their Mother City and to give it the Preference the Law had appointed but the word should be divided into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Palmyra being both a Metropolis and a Colony as were several other Cities in Syria as appears from the Coins Colonia Damascus Metropolis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sephyrus Metropolis Colonia Tyrus Metropolis Colonia Now though to be a Roman Colony was a great Honour and entitled the City to great Priviledges yet it must be acknowledged that it left the City deprived of its former unlimited Liberty for in time past it was govern'd by its own Statutes Agel lib. 16. c. 13. Harduin Antirrhet p. 37 52. but when made a Colony was under the Roman Jurisdiction paid Submission to their Laws and Tribute to the Emperors from which it was before exempt and if a Frontier Town as Palmyra was it admitted of a Roman Garrison the First Legion of the Illyrians being posted there with the Liberty reserv'd to the Citizens that they were to be Listed as Romans into their Legions not as Auxiliaries In the Ecclesiastick Notitia Palmyra was at first a Metropolitan as long as it was the Chief City of the Province i. e. till its Destruction by Aurelian At the Division of the Empire by Constantine the Great it was a Suffragan See under the Archbishop of Damascus who in the Sixth Act of the Council held at Chalcedon thus subscribes for the Bishops of his Province 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. From whence also it appears that that Church was Orthodox in those days and that Palmyra was the first of the Suffragans to that Metropolitan but afterward it became subject to the Metropolitan of Edessa as appears by the Notitia of the Emperor Leo since which time it hath no longer a place in the Ecclesiastical Account Christianity having been for some Ages totally banisht from Palmyrene Whether the Merchants who Travell'd from Syria to Seleucia Strab. lib. 16. p. 747. and Babylon thro' the Country of the Arabes Scenitae thro' the Malii and their Desarts and Ferried over the Euphrates near Anthemusia in Mesopotamia a City Situate near the river Aborrhas took Palmyra in their way I cannot determine nor whether Alexander the Great marcht his Army thro' or by that City when having left Egypt and past thro' Phaenicia to Thapsacus he carried his Troops over the Euphrates since none of the Writers of the Atchievements of that Miraculous Prince take any notice of Palmyra tho' it be to me unquestionable that Palmyra submitted to that irresistible Conqueror as did many other Cities of whom the Historians make not any mention The Situation of the City as to its Longitude and Latitude is differently accounted for by the Writers of the Country the Arabs as the very Learned Dr. Hyde informs me Ismael Abul-Feda Geograph M.S. the Prince of Hamah i. e. of that part of Syria wherein Tadmur was Situate who was Born in the Year 672. of the Mahometan Aera and constituted the Lord of the Country in the Year 710. of the same Computation confesses that his Country-men who make it part of Arabia are not agreed three several Authors placing it in different degrees The first fixes it in Long. 67.40 Lat. 34.00 The second in Long. 67. 40. Lat. 30.00 The third in Long. 64.00 Lat. 33.50 But Calcashendi Tâ—n 1. p. 321. another Arabian Author gives this Account out of other Writers as the Excellent Master of the Oriental Languages Dr. Hyde Translates him As for the Territory of Tadmur the Author of the Book Al Tarîph says it is Situate between the Two Villages and Rahba and is reckon'd to be in Arabia in the fourth of the Seven Climes The Author of the Book of Longitudes says its Longitude is 62 degrees and its Latitude 34 degrees The Lord of Hamath i. e. Abulpheda says it belongs to the Territory of Hems i. e. Emesa on the East-side of it and that most of its Soil is saltish that in it there is a sort of soure Plant called Nagjel and also Olives There are likewise very great and Ancient Ruins consisting of Pillars and Rocks and a Castle with a Wall The Author of the Book called Al Raud Almîtar says that it was Originally an Ancient City which the Spirits Built for Solomon with extraordinary Fortifications It was called Tadmur from Tadmur the Daughter of Hassân whose Sepulchre is there and Solomon did Inhabit it after her The Author of the Book Al-Azîzi saith that between Tadmur and Damascus are 59 Miles between Tadmur and Rahba 102 Miles The Lord of Hamath says it is from Hem's about three Stations The only difference in the Accounts is in this that the Longitude of Palmyra in words at length out of the Book of Longitudes is 62. which in Abulpheda's Geography is 67. where it is exprest in Letters which must be attributed to the Carelesness of the Transcribers I was a little surpriz'd when reading Al Edrisi commonly but wrongly call'd the Nubian Geographer I found a Tademyr in Spain which comprehended the Kingdoms of Murcia and Tarragon and was enclined to believe that the Caliph sent a Colony from the Syrian Tadmur as well as from the other Cities of his vast Dominions to People Spain when he had conquer'd it who from their own Native City gave the Name to that part of Spain But my Learned and much
Syrian Graver might spell it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Custom of bestowing Oyl upon the Citizens on solemn Festivals being well understood Cestrania Severina gave a great Sum to the Colledge of the Dendrophori Grut. 312.4 that every year upon her Birth-day such a quantity of Oyl might be distributed to every one of them And T. Fundilius Geminus gave Id. 414.2 besides his Bequest to the Chest of the Augustales and the Magistrates c. to the People a Feast Id. 136.5 and a Largess of Oyl on his Birth-day And L. Caecilius bequeath'd to the Inhabitants of Como every year on the Feast of Neptune Oyl for their Gymnasia and their Baths and for the Exercises in the publick Places of Sport as I would rendert he words in campo I have read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as many other Eastern Cities are stiled in the Coins though Monsieur Patin P. 130. c. in his Edition of the Coins of Maurocenus retains 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in those of the Cities of Emsea Carrae and Antioch Cities of the East not far from Palmyra in all which I am of opinion the word should be rendred Metropolis colonia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 never appearing in any Lexicon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is rendred by the Critics Conjunctio in via or iter commune and Septimius is magnified in the Inscription for his defraying the Expence of the Caravan for which reason the Presidents of the Merchants in a publick Meeting gave him their Testimonial according to custom Grut. 309.1 So Metrodorus the Son of Hermogenes the Grandson of Metrodorus was honoured with a Testimonial from the whole Synod or Colledge of Priests of Ceres and advanc'd to the Office of Stephanephorus or the President of their Country in holy things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and others are said to have been 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rewarded with the Thanks of their publick Assemblies Inscript Cossou n. 12. the Merits of Septimius were as illustrious as his Country's Love toward him He had obliged their private Societies and been very magnificent to the whole City he had been an Officer and behav'd himself with Courage and Reputation under his Prince Odaenathus probably when he routed the Persians and was that year when the Monument was erected the Symposiarch in the Festival dedicated to Jupiter Belus their Patron Deity viz. in the year 266. after Christ and of the Empire of Odaenathus the ◠◠9. I proceed in the next place to consider the Monuments erected by private Persons to the Memory of their Friends The first of which contains the grateful Remembrance which the Palmyrene Merchants trading to Vologesias retain'd of the great Services which Julius Aurelius Zebeidas did them in that Expedition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 .... Which with leave to fill up the vacant Spaces and to correct the Mistakes may thus be read and rendred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 .... Julium Aurelium Zebeidam Mocimi F. Zebeidae N. perpetuum commercii curatorem qui cum illo descenderunt ad emporium Vologessiam elegerunt virum iis gratissimum cultûs gratiâ Mense Martio anno 558. h. e. Christi 246. Philippi Arabis Imp. 2o. That Palmyra was a City of great Trade and the Inhabitants eminent Merchants hath been already prov'd from Appian and Pliny as also that their Commerce was maintain'd both with Persia and the Western Empire which also was done by other Frontier Cities though under the Jurisdiction of the Roman Princes as by Nisibis and Edessa of whom the old Geographer says that they were peopled with Men of condition excellently skill'd in all the Methods of Trade 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 §. 16. p. 10 great Navigators very rich and Masters of all worldly Plenty that what they bought of the Persians they sold to the Romans dealing in all sort of Commodities but Contraband Goods Brass and Iron which they were forbidden to sell to the Enemies of Persia Which Character seems exactly suited to the Palmyrene Merchants For that they traded to Vologesias a City under the Persian Jurisdiction is plain from the Inscription in which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is neither the Town of Olgassus nor the Name of a Man but of a famous City on the Euphrates not far from its Confluence with the Tigris Babylon says * Nat. Hist l. 6. §. 30. p. 71⅔ Pliny was once the Seat of the Eastern Empire and the great Mart of Trade but it fell into decay when Seleucus Nicator built Seleucia where the two Rivers meet situated in a most fruitful Soil and commonly called Babylon To eclipse the Glory and lower the Trade of Seleucia the Parthians after they had made themselves Masters of the East built Ctesiphon three miles from Seleucia on the Eastern Bank of Tigris and there sixt the Residence of their Kings but this Project not answering expectation King Vologeses who in a Coin in the Cabinet of Pope Alexander the 7th is stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with all his lofty Titles according to the Rhodomontade of the Parthian and Persian Kings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to which Epithets in another Coin in Monsieur Patin is added 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being Contemporary with Nero and Vespasian built another City which from his own Name he called Vologesocerta in the Neighbourhood 18 miles distant say the Peutinger Tables but to the South of Babylon and there probably fixt the staple of Trade from the Persian Gulph and the other parts of the East This City is called by Stephanus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Ptolomee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Volocessia in the Peutinger Tables and Vologessia by Ammianus Marcellinus but by Pliny according to the Persic Termination Vologesocerta 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 says Hesychius to prove which Assertion there is an eminent Passage in Pliny N. H. l. 6. §. 10. p. 66¾ that among the Cities of Armenia the Less Armosate is situate near the Euphrates Carcathiocerta near the Tigris which * Lib. 11. p. 527. Strabo affirms was the Royal City of Sophene but on the Mountains Tigranocerta stood And for Artasigarta which Ptolemee * L. 5. c. 13. places in Armenia the Greater I would read Artaxicerta Zadracarta being also the chief City of Hyrcania says †Lib. 3. de exped Alex. p. 71. Arrian And I cannot but remark that this word either in Termination or Praefixt in almost all Languages signifies a City In Hebrew Kiriath-Arba is the City of Arba Kiriath-Sepher is the City of Books in the Punick Carthage is the new City in the Scythian Carpaluk the City of Fish says Tzetzes Chil. 8. c. 224. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And in our own British Cair-Lundein London Cair-Kent Canterbury Cair-went Winchester c. and probably among the Aegyptians Gran-Cair hath its name from this Original or al Cahira as the Arabians call it To this City Vologesia the Merchants of Palmyra traded not long after it was made a Mart
Shipwrights c. sometimes whole Cities and Regions and the Title and Office was very honourable C. Torasius being by the unanimous Suffrages of the Magistrates chosen the Patron of a Town by the River Clitumnus ob merita ejus erga Remp. for his great Services done to the Common-wealth This Patronage it was requisite that even the Romans themselves during the Reign of Odenathus in the East in whose time the Inscriptions were made should court as Julius Palmes did I call him Palmes because it is a known Roman name and perhaps Melenaeus should be written Mellinius or Menelaus for which reason I have inserted Publius for Puilsus He was a Man of the Equestrian Dignity which intitled him at Rome to eminent Privileges which I shall not minutely enumerate only mentioning that the Roman Knights install'd the Princeps juventutis presenting him with a Horseman's Shield Parma and a Silver Spear for so says the Ancyran Marble as Gronovius judiciously hath supplied the eras't Letters Marm. Ancyr p. 60.84 Equites autem Romani universi Principem Juventutis Romanorum parmis utrumque hastis argenteis donatum appellaverunt for that both Caius and Lucius were Principes juventutis the Coins put out of all doubt And that whenever a Native of any of the Romon Colonies was admitted to the Honour of being made a Roman Knight he reckon'd the Privilege among his noblest Titles Grut. 388.4.400.3 Marm. Cos son p. 141. So L. Claudius the chiefest Person of the Island of Malta glories in the Honour as does Fl. Aelianus or Ti. Flavius Taeanus as it is written in the Marble of Cosson though the High-priest of the whole Province of Galatia and Galatarches the 2d Founder of his native City Ancyra and their Embassador to the Emperor Antoninus 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Septimium Airanem Odaenathi filium senatorem eminentissimum I have already prov'd it not unlikely that this Airanes was the Son of the Emperor Odaenathus before he assum'd the Purple from his name Septimius the name of his Father being also inserted and from the Date of the following Inscription on the same Pillar viz. ann Christi 251. but 13 years before Odaenathus was chosen by Gallienus his Co-partner in the Government of the World 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aurelius Valerius Heliodorus Praefectus Legionis Illyriciorum in honorem Patrum gratulationis ergô anno 363. h. e. Chr. 251. Decii ult I have given the name Valerius to Heliodorus to fill up the Vacancy because it occurs elsewhere L. P. Valerius Heliodorus and because the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that appears before 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seems to be last Letter of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a like Vacancy occurring in the same name in another Inscription This Heliodorus was I doubt not either the Son of if not the same Person with Lucius Aurelius Heliodorus the Son of Antiochus a Citizen of Palmyra who in an Inscription at Rome publisht by Gruter but more accurately by Tristan and Spon erected a Silver Statue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with all its Ornaments to Aglibelus and Malachbelus the Gods of his Country for the safety of himself his Wife and Children in the Year 547. according to the Computation of his Country but in the Year of Christ 235. being the last year of the Reign of Alexander Severus the Inscription lately found at Palmyra bearing date 16 years after ann Chr. 251. which was the last year of the Emperor Decius He is stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Marble at Rome Tristan reads it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not because an Inhabitant of Palmyra which from their Benefactor was called Hadrianople for then it should have been written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but by mistake of the Graver or Transcriber for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he being one of the College of Priests Sodalis Hadrianalis dedicated to the Service of that Emperor after the Senate had deify'd him For that he was acknowledg'd a God at Palmyra is plain from another Inscription in which he is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And in that City I doubt not but Heliodorus was one of his Priests 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Priest of Hadrian as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Temple built to his Memory and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Plays instituted to his Honour I call him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which occurs in another * Reines cl VI. n. 101. Inscription or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Propraetore and have given him the Command of the Illyrian Legion because in after-times and probably in the days of Decius that Legion was deputed to lye in Garrison at Palmyra as says the Notitia of the Oriental Empire Sub Duce Phaenices Praefecturae or as it is much better in the MS. Praefectus Legionis primae Illyriciorum Palmyrae Against my Opinion that both the Inscriptions concern the same Person I have met with but one Objection that in the one Marble he is called a Priest in the other a Soldier as if the Offices were incompatible But the Answer to the Objection is very easy since it was usual in those days for one and the same Person to put on the Sacerdotal Habit and the Military as there have been in all the later Ages of the Church Martial Bishops and Priests to omit the Emperors who were for the most part Generals of their own Armies and at the same time High-Priests and to confine my self to the College of Priests deputed to the Service of Hadrian * Grut. XLV 9. Lucius Ragonius was a Sodalis Hadrianalis Legatus Legionis 13. Geminae †ccccxii 2. Septimius Aper Octavius is stiled Sodalis Hadrianalis and Sevir turmae secundae Equitum Romanorum and ‖ MXC. 13. M. Aelius Aurelius Cleo is called Sodalis Hadrianalis Tribunus militum Laticlavus Legionis 12. Fulminatricis To which I may add that Marc Antony to ingratiate himself with Augustus as Appian affirms became one of the Priests of Julius Caesar and * DLXV. 4. Lucius Julius Bonatus was the High-Priest of all the Temples in Asia and the General of the Forces of the Lydians Other Instances of this kind frequently occur in the old Inscriptions Not is it a just Argument against my Emendation that Heliodorus has many names it not being unusual for the same Person to have 4 or 5 names e. gr Lucius Livius Sulpicius Galba Titus Aelius Adrianus Antoninus P. Licinius Pyaem Priscus Juventianus And among infinite other such Examples that in Gruter comes nearest the Palmyrene DCVIII 7. L. P. Valerio Heliodoro Tr. Leg. 2. Adjutricis L. P. Valerius Chilo Filius ejus I shall only add that there was an Aurelius Heliodorus a Freedman of one of the Caesars whom Gruter mentions but of which of the Caesars or whither the same Heliodore with the Palmyrenian I cannot determine 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
says L. 19. Ammianus Marcellinus being as extravagant as those of a Mother for an only Son The Epistles sent from Alexandria to give notice that Osiris or Adonis was found are mention'd say the Fathers by the Prophet Isaiah 18.2 Wo to the Land that sends their Ambassadors by the Sea in Vessels of Bull-rushes upon the water or as the Septuagint more pertinently 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the mournful Solemnity by the Prophet Ezekiel 8.14 who among the abominable Idolatries of the People of the Jews mentions the Womens weeping for Thammûz Cyril in Is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ità Procop. in loc Theodorit in Ezek. 8. Hieron ib. Stephan 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Procop. ubi supr 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For from Aegypt the Superstition spread it self over all the neighbouring Countries over Phaenicia Syria and Cyprus who challeng'd the mock Deity for their own nor did the peculiar People of God the Israelites escape the Infection but they also fell into the same Madness The old Arabian Zabii says Ben Maimon affirm that in that night in which Thammùz was slain all the Idols that were in the World met at Babylon in the Temple of the Sun who related to them what had befall'n Thammûz whereupon the Images wept and lamented all night and the next Morning every one of them flew back to his old station From whence says he came the Custom of Mourning early in the Morning over Thammûz in the Month called by his name the Month Thammûz says St. Hierome answers to our June and the Jewish Astronomers call the Sun's entrance into Cancer Thekupha Thammuz the Revolution or Period of Thammuz The whole Feast was called by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Death of the mock God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Search after him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the findhim 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Festivals having a place in the old Kalendar Gruter 138 139. in which we find Isid Aavigium not Lavatio as Vrsinus reads it but navigium as it ought to be read and in another Month Heurisis V. Macrob. Saturnal l. 1. c. 21. The whole had its Mythological Moral for by Adonis Osiris and Thammuz was meant the Sun who when the Summer Solstice was past moving backward toward the South seemed to have deprived the Northern Hemisphere of his Presence and Influences L. 2. c. 4. l. 4. c. 14. Julius Pollux says that the Inhabitants of Phaenicia called Adonis Gingras probably from the name of a Pipe made of the Bone of a Goose-leg which they used in his Solemnity which made a very melancholy and sorrowful Musick and they had a Dance called by the same name in remembrance of the first Inventor of Husbandry who died in the Summer-time as he was hunting and who is honour'd yearly with a mournful Song by the Farmers of the Country who at that time used to sow their Wheat and Barley in the Fields near the Cities says the Scholiast on Therocritus accompanied by as doleful Instrumental Musick The Custom still in use at Aleppo of frequenting the River at this Festival I presume had its Original also in Aegypt where the Inhabitants paid a peculiar Veneration to the Waters of Nilus as St. Athanasius who was born there affirms and Lactantius adds that they worshipt the River yearly because there Isis begun her search of Osiris That all this Pomp was older than the Jewish Captivity the holy Writ avers it lasted to the days of Plutarch and the Astronomer Ptolomee who mention it as do almost all the old Apologists for Christianity Julius Pollux enumerates the Ceremonies of the Mourning in the Reign of Commodus and Lucian avers that he saw one of those little Arks that brought the Letter from Alexandria floating into the Harbour while he was at Byblus the practice continued in Aegypt when Cyril was Patriarch there about the year 440 after Christ and in Phaenicia in the times of Procopius of Gaza who lived above a 100 years after Cyril and to this day is in use at Aleppo as my honoured Friend informs me and probably in some other Cities of that Country I thought it necessary to make this Digression which is not disagreeable to my Subject and if the Reader whom I earnestly desire to correct the Errata before he begins the Book find any advantage by the Undertaking I shall not think my time ill employ'd The CONTENTS of the several Chapters in the History Chap. 1. THE Building of Tadmur by Solomon Page 3. Chap. 2. The Situation Product and Inhabitants p. 6. Chap. 3. The Commerce and Riches of the City p. 11. Chap. 4. The Civil Government of the City from Solmon 's time p. 16. Chap. 5. The Religion and Ecclesiastical Government p. 19. Chap. 6. It s several Fortunes from its Foundation to Alexander the Great p. 24. Chap. 7. It s State under the Kings of Syria to Augustus p. 26. Chap. 8. It s Condition from the Reign of Augustus to Hadrian p. 28. Chap. 9. The State of the City under Hadrian p. 33. Chap. 10. It s several Fortunes from Hadrian to Gallienus p. 38. Chap. 11. The Life and Athievements of Odenathus p. 42. Chap. 12. The State of the Roman Empire at that time with a Continuation of the Acts of Odenathus p. 47. Chap. 13. The Folly and Stupidity of Gallienus with the Victory of Odenathus over the Persians p. 53. Chap. 14. The Victory of Odenathus over Quietus and Balista p. 60. Chap. 15. The Murder of Odenathus the short Reign of Maeonius with his Character p. 66. Chap. 16. The Death of the Emperor Valerian p. 70. Chap. 17. The Original and Birth of Zenobia p. 76. Chap. 18. Her Learning Magnificence and Virtues p. 80. Chap. 19. The Religion of Zenobia p. 85. Chap. 20. Her Courage and Bravery p. 89. Chap. 21. Her illustrious Atchivements Victory over Heraclian and Conquest of Aegypt p. 94. Chap. 22. The Reign of Aurelian the Battel of Imma p. 100. Chap. 23. The fatal Battel of Emesa the Siege of Palmyra p. 105. Chap. 24. Palmyra taken Zenobia made a Prisoner p. 111. Chap. 25. Zenobia 's Ministers slain and among them Longinus p. 115. Chap. 26. The Rebellion of the Palmyrenians the City destroy'd by Aurelian p. 117. Chap. 27. The History of Firmius Zenobia 's Confederate p. 121. Chap. 28. The Account of Zenobia till Aurelian 's triumph p. 124. Chap. 29. The triumph of Aurelian over Zenobia and Tetricus p. 127. Chap. 30. The History of Zenobia after the triumph till her Death with an Account of her Family p. 133. Chap. 31. The Murther of Aurelian p. 136. Chap. 32. The State of Palmyra under Dioclesian p. 140. Chap. 33. The History of Palmyra from the Reign of Honorius to Justinian p. 150. Chap. 34. The State of Palmyra from Justinian to the present Age p. 153. In the Appendix THE Inscriptions p. 163. Chap. 1. Of the names Tadmur and Palmyra p. 175.
Palmyra says He undertook to persuade him to leave Sicily and to travel into Phoenicia Others make it a part of Arabia but 't is commonly reputed by Ptolemy and others a part of Syria as Phoenicia is another part of that large Country though Zenobia in her Letter above-mentioned distinguishes the Palmyrenians from the Syrians as * L. 1. p. 40. Zosimus also does That it stood in a Wilderness besides the Holy Writ and Josephus * Nat. Hist tom 1. l. 1. §. 21. p. 583. ad Paris Pliny who was Contemporary with the Jewish Historian agrees who thus describes it Palmyra is a City eminent in its Situation in the riches of its Soil and its pleasant Streams being surrounded on every side with a vast Desart of Sand It seems to have been separated from the rest of the World and did preseve its Liberty in a private Condition between the two Mighty Empires the Roman and Parthian and as soon as any War happens to break out it is equally their care to engage it on their side and in their Interest It is distant from Seleucia on the Tygris 337 Miles from the neighbouring Shore of Syria or the Mediterranean 203 and from Damascus 176. The same Author in other places also mentions the Solitudes of Palmyra beyond which on one hand is Stelendena a Country not so much as nam'd by other Writers on the other side they reacht home to Emesa and to the Westward as far as Petra in Arabia Felix from whence to the Persian Gulf it was all Desart It was distant from the Euphrates a Day 's Journey says * Vbi sup Josephus Not far from that Noble River says †Lib. 5. Bell. Civ p. 676. Appian for as soon as Marc. Antony threaten'd the Sack of the City the Inhabitants immediately transported all their Goods beyond the River the Banks of which they defended with their Archers and so leaving the Town empty baffled the Design and deceiv'd the Expectations of the Roman Troops but situate by a River that run by its Walls whose Name Ptolemy either knew not or omitted But other Geographers call it Palmyra Domin Marius Niger Maginus c. affirming that it had its Rise in the Palmyrene Mountains ran through the Country and at last emptied it self into the Euphrates though now there are no footsteps of its course left Nor is it a wonder that a small River should be swallowed up in a long tract of Time of such vast quantities of Sand. When Solomon built it he gave it all the Advantages of Strength and Security that the Rules of Fortification in that Age allowed of and it continued so as long as it was a Frontier Garrison fenc'd with strong Walls and an advantagious Situation but better guarded by a brave Garrison the Militia of Palmyra being esteem'd very stout Their Archers were excellent Marks-men says * Vbi sup Appian and their Horse-men well armed with heavy Armour and very secure the Army of Zenobia saith the Historian consisting of Anchers Zosim l. 1. p. 44. and Horse-men arm'd Cap-a-pé who notwithstanding the weight of their Arms were much better Horse-men than the Romans and such a ‖ Zonar tom 2. p. 237. Value did they set upon their Horses that no greater Affront or Disgrace could be offer'd to a Palmyrenian than to take his Horse from him Nor did the Romans disdain their Assistance for in their Militia with the Assyrians and Moors the Inhabitants of Palmyrene and Osroene were muster'd CHAP. III. PALMTRA was the Metropolis of the Province and gave it its Name being a Place of great Antiquity and great Trade Rich says Pliny in the Fertility of its Soil but much more so by its Commerce for it had not only the Advantage of its own Commodities but was the Thorough-fare of all the Merchants that liv'd beyond it toward the Mediterranean who traded to Forath and Charax and other Ports on the Persian Gulf if I rightly understand * Nat. Hist l. 6. §. 32. p. 722. Pliny who says that at Petra in Arabia the two Ways met both of those who came through Palmyra probably from Antioch Seleucia in Pisidia Laodicea and other conterminous Places and of those also who came from Gaza travelling towards the Gulf it being impossible but the Caravans who made that their constant Road both to and from Persia must help to enrich the Stages where they Baited But this was not all its Happiness its Inhabitants were great Merchants says * Vbi sup Appian And Marc. Antony thought the Plunder of this City a sufficient Recompence for all the Fatigues and Hardships which his Horse endured in that Countrey during the Persian War tho' he failed of his Attempt They had form'd themselves into a Company under a President and Governor of their own An East-India Trade cannot well be carry'd on by a single Person though he were one of the Merchants of Tyre who were Companions of Princes For I find in one of the Inscriptions Pag. 99. that Septimius Orodes was honourd with an Illustrious Testimonial from (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a word that appears in no Author that I know of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 like 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Etym. M. p. 474. or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Id. ib. Those Governors of the Affairs of Trade were called at Athens 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Etym. M. Harpocrat v. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Their Number says Aristotle was Ten Their Business to Over-see the Ports and to take care of the Corn that was brought thither for which purpose they had their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and it was reckon'd among the most Honourable Benefactions to build such a Granary Philostrat Vit. Polemon Smyrnae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Presidents or Chiefs of the Merchants And I doubt not but they carry'd the Manufactures and other Commodities of Asia down the Euphrates to Balsora or perhaps no farther than Vologesia Vid. Append and brought from Persia the Merchandizes of India and Arabia and so furnisht the Romans with Spices and Silks and other rich Goods For though they are said to lie far from the Sea and without the advantage of the River which must be retracted since it anciently had the assistance of a River though it is since lost in the Sands yet it must be acknowledged they were not far from the Euphrates a Noble and Navigable River and had the conveniency of their Camels and Dromedaries by which sort of Carriage all the Riches of the East were formerly brought into Europe by Caravans before the Cape of Good-Hope was discover'd But Palmyra had its own Product Salt with which the Inhabitants now drive a trade and Dates the Fruits of their Palm-Trees which were not only great Delicacies at Rome and elsewhere Plut. Sympos 8. qu. 4. for Nicolaus Damascenus thought the Dates of Syria a fit Present for Augustus and Phoenicia hath its Name from its
old all of Palmyra who by divers Torments obtain'd the Crown of Martyrdom It is true there is no mention of these Brave Women in the Old Roman Martyrology as Rosweyd accounts it nor in Ado of Vienna but the Acts of St. Febronia who suffer'd under Dioclesian at Sibapolis perhaps Scythopolis V. Mart. Jun. 25. or the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Syria mention them as Persons who suffer'd in the same cruel Persecution It is plain from the Inscriptions found at Tadhmur that Dioclesian had been in that Country and from the Church-Historians that he rais'd a violent Persecution in Syria And that which gave Rise to it was in all likelihood that which Eusebius observes that a little while after the Christians of Nicodemia had felt the Fury of the Emperor several Confederacies were form'd in Melitene and other Parts of Syria to seize the Empire and to dethrone Dioclesian Now in every Insurrection or Tumult the Christians were sure to suffer as the Authors of Sedition though they were the most Peaceable and Loyal Men in the World both by Principle and Practice Thus Christianity subsisted in those days of Persecution when the Number of Martyrs encreas'd the Number of Confessors But then Peace and Plenty were by the Bounty of the Great Constantine and his Successors made the Churches Patrimony I question not but the Followers of our Blessed Saviour at Palmyra had their share of the Prosperity which their Brethren enjoy'd till the Viciousness of the Christian Morals and the execrable Opinions and Heresies that debaucht the Faith of the Orientals subjected those once Famous Churches to the Mahometan Yoke For as soon as Syria submitted to the Power and acknowledg'd the Dominion of the Successors of that False Prophet I presume Palmyra was by degrees reduc'd to the mean Condition in which it now is for perhaps no one City hath run so many risks of different Fortune as Palmyra though it hath hitherto preserv'd its ancient Name and Situation while of Ctesiphon and Persepolis Niniveh and Babylon with many other Cities in that part of Asia it may be averr'd what the Psalmist says of Sodom and the other Cities which God destroyed their Memorial is perisht with them CHAP. VI. IT is a very difficult Task to give a just and clear Account of the several Fates of Ancient Kingdoms and Governments especially when Nature hath seem'd to please it self by placing them in a remote Situation and at a distance both of Place and Communication from other Nations And this is the case of Tadhmur which was repair'd if not built by Solomon a Great a Wise and a Victorious Prince who beautify'd it with whatever might afford it Strength and Ornament lost I take it for granted in a little time after under his Son Rehoboam when through his Folly and God's just Judgment the greatest part of his Territories revolted from him I conjecture that as long as the Kingdom of Damascus kept up its Grandeur so long Palmyra was in Peace either under those Kings or under the Conduct of its own Senate 2 King 23.29 But when Pharoah Necoh went up against the King of Assyria to the River Euphrates and made himself Master of all Syria I doubt not but it was for a while subject to him till Nebuchadnezzar conquer'd all those Countries home to the Gates of Pelusium now Damiata The * Jo. Males par 2. pag. 152. Fabulous Historian of Antioch would have the World believe that when Nebuchadnezzar intended to Besiege Jerusalem it was in the hands of the Jews who had Mann'd it with a very stout Garrison and that Victorious Prince not thinking fit to leave a Place so well fortified behind him sate down before it and when he had taken it burnt it and then besieg'd and took Jerusalem After this it continued tributary to the Princes of the Babylonish and Persian Empires though perhaps govern'd by a Senate of its own Citizens and in the same State it remain'd under the Successors of the Great Alexander the Kings of Syria being united by Seleucus I doubt not to the rest of his Territories whence in like manner as the other Cities under his Government it receiv'd the Use of the Syrian Epocha the Aera Antiochena Dhilcarnain or Seleucidarum and the Names of the Macedonian Months which the Inscriptions undeniably prove CHAP. VII SYRIA says * Bell. Civ l. 5. p. 676. Appian was govern'd by the Posterity of Selencus Nicator to the days of Antiochus Pius and his Son but when Pompey the Great conquer'd it and made it a Province it was govern'd by a Roman President The first who bore that Office was Scaurus and after him though not immediately Gabinius Gabinius was succeeded by Crassus who being slain by the Parthians left his Government to Bibulus But whether in all this space of time while the Roman Eagle hover'd over the East Palmyra was a Sharer in in the Common Calamity and felt the Talons of that Bird of Prey we have no Accounts After the Death of Julius Caesar every City submitted to a Prince of their own the Parthians affording them their Assistance having upon the Invitation of those Tyrants penetrated Syria This incens'd Marc Antony who expell'd the Usurpers exacted heavy Taxes from other Cities and attempted Palmyra For when Cleopatra who waited on him in Cilicia was return'd home Antony who had given himself up to her Embraces and to the loss of his Honour obey'd all her Dictates commanded his Horse to Plunder Palmyra upon the light and trifling pretext that by reason of their Situation in the Confines of the Romans and Parthians the Palmyrenians were firm to neither Interest but minded their own Profit and the Encrease of their Trade and Merchandise but in truth that he might pay his Soldiers with the Spoils of that wealthy City The Inhabitants of Palmyra being aware of the Invasion carry'd all their rich Moveables to the other side of the River the Banks of which they lined with their Archers Upon which Antony's Troops finding the City empty of Inhabitants and of the Riches they so eagerly coveted having lost their labour return'd to their Camp This Invasion occasion'd the next Parthian War many of the petty Princes of Syria flying for Shelter to the Parthians while Marc Antony having been so scandalously foyl'd stay'd no longer in Syria to settle Affairs and quiet Disturbances but hasten'd into Egypt to attend Cleopatra to whom he had entirely devoted himself and his Fortunes CHAP. VIII IN this state of Freedom Ease and Plenty it continued under Augustus and the succeeding Emperors govern'd by their own Officers and Laws as Pliny expresly averrs till the Reign of Trajan when I conjecture it fell into the same Common Calamity with Edessa Nisibis Dio Cass Traj and other Frontier Towns of the East whose fate it is commonly to be harrast on both sides for Trajan having in his Sixth Consulate declar'd War against the Armenians and Parthians upon the
pretext That the King of Armenia had receiv'd his Crown from the King of Persia whereas he ought to have taken it from the hands of the Roman Emperor but in truth stimulated by his desire of Vain-glory made an Expedition into the East reduc'd Armenia and settled the Government of that Countrey took Nisibis and Batnae and was honour'd by the Senate with the Name of Parthicus added to his other Titles After which he winter'd at Antioch where he by an extraordinary Providence and with much difficulty escap't perishing in that great Earthquake which had almost ruind that Noble City After this he return'd into the East past the Euphrates subdued all Adiabene Arbela and Gaugamela and came to Babylon the Parthians being unable to oppose him having been much weaken'd by their Civil Dissentions Then he past the Tigris and went to Ctesiphon and thence pursued his Conquests to the Ocean where he declared That if he had been as young as Alexander he would have follow'd the Example of that Illustrious Prince and have sail'd into India But while he was thus amusing himself with his vain Ambitious Thoughts the Provinces which he had subdued revolted and seiz'd and murther'd the Roman Garrisons Whereupon Trajan commanded Lusius and Maximus to chastise the Rebels and to reduce the Cities to Terms of Duty and Obedience In this Expedition Maximus was slain in Battle but Lusius recover'd Nisibis took Edessa as he did also Seleucia and other Places by his Lieutenant-Generals Whereupon to prevent their future Revolt Trajan gave the Parthians a King and settled the Estate of the East as * In Aurelian Vopiscus calls that Country because in respect of Rome the Sun seem'd to rise in Parthia and this the Coins confirm which mention the reducing of Armenia and Mesopotamia under the Power and Jurisdiction of the Romans in this Emperor's Reign At this time 't is probable Palmyra was much ruin'd for otherwise it would not have wanted the favourable Assistance of Trajan's Successor who may be justly reckon'd their Second Founder Hadrian was a magnificent Prince and a great Builder and for that reason call'd the Wall-Flower a great number of eminent Edifices owing their Being and Beauty to his Liberality He it was who built the Fora at Nicodemia and Nice Chron. Alex p. 598. the Four High-ways and that part of the Wall that looks toward Bithynia At Cyzicum he built the Temple and floar'd it with Marble And in many other Places he either erected New or repair'd the Old Buildings both Sacred and Civil And in almost every City of his vast Empire he left some Marks of his Magnificence * Hadrian Dio Cassius affirming that he generously assisted all the Towns that were subject to his Empire or confederate with it of which he visited more than any of his Predecessors a great part of his Reign being employed in more than one Progress through those spacious Territories some Cities he adorn'd with Aqueducts others with safe Ports upon some he bestow'd a Donative of Corn or Publick Buildings upon others Money or Privileges †Jo. Malel par 1. pag. 363 364. At Antioch he repair'd what had been destroy'd by that terrible and furious Earthquake that in Trajan's time had almost buried that noble City in its own Ruines as he did the Temple at Cyzicum which in his own Reign had been destroyed by another Earthquake and made it one of the World's Wonders for Architecture and Beauty bestowing great Privileges upon the poor undone Inhabitants which was the noblest Charity He also re-erected the Colossus at Rhodes which had been many years before thrown down by an Earthquake Above all he was a great Benefactor to the City of Athens toward which he always exprest a peculiar Regard as in Requital they call'd him while alive Adrianus Olympius in their Coines and Inscriptions as he was in several other Cities after his death Deify'd especially in Syria for to speak the Truth and to be doing Good were in the esteem even of the Heathen World most God-like Qualities CHAP. IX BUT the Liberality of this Munificent Emperor was not confined to Greece or the adjacent Parts of Asia the remoter Cities of Syria who had suffer'd so deeply during the War which Trajan made in the East were not excluded from their share in his Bounty For he had been a * Spart Hadr. Lieutenant-General in that Expedition and had seen the dismal Effects of War and Military Rage and Rapine and upon the Death of Trajan had made a Peace with the Parthians envious of the Glory of his Predecessor says Sextus Rufus very maliciously having remov'd the King whom Trajan had set over them and withdrawn the Roman Armies out of all the Countries beyond the Euphrates and because he was not ambitious to have his Name inscribed on all his Publick Buildings as it was customary he gave it to the Cities which he new built or beautified among whom we must reckon Palmyra †Steph. de Vrb which after he had repair'd its Ruines he call'd Hadrianople and with the leave of Father Harduin perhaps the Coin in the King of France's Treasury and in Monsieur Patin p. 203. with this Incription ΑΔΡΙΑΠΜΗΤΡΟΡΟΛΙϹ may be ascribed not to Hadrianople in Thrace nor that other City in Cyrenaica of the same Name but to Palmyra which was a Mother-City as appears by the * Pag. 99. Inscriptions and by Ptolemy who not only reckons it among the Metropoles of Coelesyria but makes it the Capital of the Province of Palmyrene which had its Denomination from it And it is not unfitly represented by a Woman sitting on a Hill For Tadmor is enclosed on three sides with long ridges of Mountaines the Castle being built on one of them which commands the Entrance into the City And to this City I would ascribe the Coin of Caracalla in Monsieur Patin p. 302. with the Figure of an Archer almost Naked on the reverse his Thin Habit implying the Heats and his Arms the Militia of his Country the Sagittarii of Palmyrene being Famous in History This City I doubt not but Adrian visited when in the Sixth Year of his Empire he made his Progress into the East and receiv'd the Homage of all the Kings and Toparchs whose Territories lay in those Parts And this his Expedition I understand to be meant in the Inscriptions In which Expedition Pag. 105. Malech Agrippa the Son of Jaraius was the second time the Secretary of the City and when that Prince happen'd to draw near his end and the Palmyrenians were in fear of losing their Patron their Neighbours of the City Tieve three Days Journey from Tadmor towards the Euphrates probably the Oriza of Ptolemy as the Learned Mr. Halley conjectures and a City of Paelmyrene as Ptolemy reckons it made their Vows for his Recovery as appears by the Inscription Pag. 109. For in the Last Year the Nineteenth of his Reign not the Seventh as
the Aera of Seleucidae is mistaken in the First Account Agathangelus of Abila Vid. Append the Decapolitan built an Arch or Cupola in the Temple of Jupiter and erected a Bed of State or Pulvinar usually dedicated to the Heathen Deities to Jupiter the Thunderer for the Health of the Emperor Adrian his Lord who languisht a long time before he died Spart Hadr. and suffer'd such Agonies of Pain that he would fain have persuaded his Servant who attended him to have run him through and when that Persuasive would not prevail would either have stabb'd or poyson'd himself So difficult was it for this Great Emperor to breathe his last But when Aurelius Antoninus had prevail'd with the Senate to have him Deify'd and appointed him the Honours properly given to the Gods with a College of Priests and Attendants to do the Service of the Temples erected to him at Puteoli and elsewhere which Societies continued to the Reign of †Gruter CCCCVII 1 2. CIOIX 9. Septimius Severus at Rome but how long in the Cities of the East I know not and had instituted Publick Games in his Name from which Gratitude to his Patron the Historian says Aurelius had the Name of Pius given him The Cities of the East in Imitation of Italy had their Sodales Hadrianales also and Temples questionless erected to his Memory of which Samosata is an undemiable Instance where L. Grut. ubi sup Fabius M. F. Gal. Cilo Praefect of the City was a Fellow of the College of Priests deputed to the Service of the Deisy'd Emperor Adrian particularly Palmyra who gratefully commemorated her Second Founder allowed of his Consecration built him a Temple and devoted some of her Inhabitants to the Service thereof as appears by the Inscription in Gruter Vid. Append and by another among those lately publisht where he is called Adrian the God and I am apt to believe that the little Temple mention'd in the Journal Pag. 104 105. was erected to his Memory as well as to Jupiter Such Societies were erected in most Cities of the Empire to one or other of their deceas'd but deify'd Princes call'd Collegia Sacerdot alia by Lampridius in the Life of Commodus p. 50. and they had according to their Rank and Dignity their several Vexilla or Banners to distinguish them called Vexilla Collegiorum Signa Templorum by Trebellius Pollio in the Life of Gallienus p. 178. For as the Heathen Mock-Deities had their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so their Emperors when advanced to that Honour had their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with all the Pomp and Ceremony that accompanied the Service of their Gods Vid. Gruter CHAP. X. THE City having been repair'd we may justly suppose that by the Advantages of its Situation and Trade and the continuance of a long Peace with the Parthians not often interrupted except in the War which Septimius Severus made against them when he took both Ctesiphon and Babylon Zosim l. 1. p. 4. and reduced all Arabia having maâ—cht through that Arabia where the Scenitae pitcht their Tents in which Country Tadmur lay it arrived to its ancient Glory when the Emperor Antoninus Caracalla honour'd it with the Privileges of a * Vlpian l. 1. de Censib Roman Colony Juris Italici for there was a difference between Colonies all were not Juris Italici as Palmyra was Colonia Palmyra it is stiled in the †Goltz Thes pag. 151. Coins of that Emperor a Metropolis and a Colony in the Inscriptions probably in Honour of his Mother whom he afterward made his Wife Julia Domna who was of this Country but whether of Emisa as several Authors affirm or Palnoyra or some third City I am not certain A Native of Syria we know she was for so says * Spartian Septim p. 65. Spartianus and Oppian her Contemporary calls her the (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oppian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 4. Assvrian Venus and a Moon that was never Eclipst or in her Wain The same Poet in the same place mentioning the Destruction of the Parthians and the Taking of Ctesiphon as the Coins do mention the †Mezob p. 295. Victoria Parthica of that Prince as do also the Historians in which Expedition I doubt not but the Palmyrenians in Gratitude Declared for his Interest This Honour and Privilege of a Roman Colony Palmyra kept in the Reign of Alexander Severus for under him the great Lawyer Vlpian flourisht and assisted him with their Forces in his Expedition into the East in the Fisth Year of his Reign of which Undertaking ‖ Vit. Al. Severi pag. 131 133 134. Lampridius gives so august a Character though Herodian upon this as upon all other occasions lessens and would obscure the Atchievements of that excellent Prince In this Expedition * Journal p. 97. Aurelius Zenobius being as I conjecture the Commander of the Forces of the Republick of Palmyra attended and was an unwearied Assistant to Rutilius Crispinus the Roman General Vid. Append and discharg'd the Offices of a Man of Conduct and Courage against the Persians and deserv'd the most ample Testimonials of his Bravery and Prudence But Palmyra never arrived to such an illustrious pitch of Glory as it did under Odenathus and his Sons who establisht it the Seat of the Eastern Empire and beautified and strengthned it accordingly and for a few Years it afforded as remarkable Transactions of War and State as any other part of the World can boast of in so short a space of Time And therefore I shall give my self the liberty to treat more largely of these Affairs and to deduce the Series of the History of the Imperial Family of Palmyra as far as the Antients afford us light and shall leave the judicious Reader to his choice what Memoirs he will give most credit to ϹΕΠΤ ΖΗÎΟΒΙΑ ϹΕΒ L Ε IMP C HERODIANVS AVG SALVS AVGVSTI ΑΥΤ. Κ. ΔΟΜ. ΑΥΡΗΛΙΑÎΟϹ ϹΕΒ. L Î’ ΟΥΑΒΑΜΑΘΟϹ ΑΘΗÎΟΥ ΑΥΤ. ΕΡΜΙΑϹ L Ε ϹΕΠΤΙΜΙΑ ΖΗÎΟΒΙΑ ϹΕΒ L Ε IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG VABALATHVS VCRIM DR ΑΥΤ. Κ.Λ.Δ. ΑΥΡΗΛΙΑÎΟϹ ϹΕΒ. L Α ΟΥΑΒΑΜΑΘΟϹ ΑΘΗÎΟΥ ΑΥΤ. ΕΡΜΙΑϹ L Δ having taken care in every Paragraph to produce my Vouchers while I bemoan heartily the loss of Vranius his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arabick History in the Second of which Books he treated of Palmyra as also of Domninus of Antioch whom Malela commonly follows and of Philostratus of Athens the Historiographer who liv'd under Aurelian and wrote the Transactions of his own Time but particularly I regret the want of that Oration which Longinus made in Praise of Odenathus and called by his Name of which Libanius makes mention in his Epistles which would questionless have given a more ample History of that Illustrious Prince than all the jejune Narratives of the Roman Historians But since we must follow the Light that is given us I shall first begin with Odenathus then treat of Zenobia and their Children CHAP. XI ODENATHVS
this Appendix such Critical Observations as I had made upon the Names of the Place and of the Inhabitants with the Honorary Offices which the Men of Eminence bore in the City To which I have added an Account of their Idolatry with a short separate History of Vaballathus and Longinus two Great Men of Palmyra intending to conclude the Dissertations with some Remarks upon the Inscriptions found among the Ruines of this once Illustrious City CHAP. I. Of the Names Tadmur and Palmyra THE preceding History having given an Account of the Foundation of Palmyra I shall in this Chapter account for the Names which were given it in the Syriac Language Tadmur but in the Greek Palmyra says Josephus And first of Tadmur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Hebrew 2 Chron. 8.34 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Septuagint Or as the Alexandrian Copy much nearer to the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The F. Harduin therefore very ineptly in his Notes on Pliny calls it Theudemer and Josephus as inartificially 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It must be confest that St. Hierom in Ezek. 47. and he is followed by Monsieur Spon and others affirms that Thamar in the Prophet who is stating the Limits of Judaea to the South is no other than Tadmur Hie verò terminus plagae australis h. e. meridianae incipit à Thamar quae urbs in solitudine est quam Solomon miris operibus instruxit hodiè Palmyra nuncupatur Hebreóque sermone Thamar dicitur quae in linguâ nostrâ Palma sonat And I was once enclinable to have corrected the Translation of the Septuagint from the Hebrew and instead of what we now read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to have read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from Thamar the City of Palm-Trees or Palmyra But I have since altered my Opinion because Thamar is exprefly said to be the Border of Judaea to the South whereas Palmyra lies near directly East from Jerusalem and am apt to believe that St. Hierom was deceived by the like signification of the words Tamar in Hebrew not Tadmur signifying a Palm-Tree while Palmyra is not allowed to be of a Roman but Greek Original and if so cannot be derived from Palma a pure Latin word and that the Septuagint read the Text aright Theman being toward the South of Judaea Theman says the Targum of Jonathan i. e. Jericho a Town says Eusebius de Locis Hebr. 15 Miles distant from Petra in Arabia and is in the Old Testament often put for the whole Countrey South of Judaea the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Septuagint being not far distant from it as Strabo l. 16. p. 259. affirms That Petra is the Metropolis of Arabia Nabataea That the Countrey round it is Desart especially towards Judaea That it is situate three or four Days Journey from Jericho and five from the Palmetum or City of Palm-Trees as I would render it I was also once of the Opinion that Palmyra had its Denomination from the Palm-Trees as St. Jerom says expresly though Tadmur be not a word of that signification but seems to me to be derived rather from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 implying its admirable and stupendous Situation probably because a fertile Spot of Ground in the midst of a vast Desart But because Josephus seems to determine it to be of Greek Original I cannot think it derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Aegyptian Deity for what had the Gods of Aegypt to do near the Banks of Euphrates nor from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a King or Father but from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies a Persian Shield or Parma as the Latins render it Hesych 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Glossar Vet. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For the Palmyrenians were near Neighbours to the Persians while at a great distance from either Rome or Egypt and from them with whom they maintain'd a continual Commerce might receive the Name of their City which very well agrees to a strong Frontier Town built for the defence of the Borders and this exactly quadrates with the Arabick 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Damar Praesidium And we may as well derive Palmyrene from a Persick Original as the neighbouring Province Osrhoene the two Provinces being often confounded for Photius Cod. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 styles Zenobia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Queen of Osrhoene which was without any dispute so denominated from Osroes or Chosroes the King of that Country Procop. l. 1. Pers c. 17. p. 49. and a Confederate of the Persians who gave his Name to Edessa and the Territory round it For I cannot be of the mind of Malela though he seems by his often mentioning it Par. 1. p. 182. Par. 2. p. 153. to be fond of his Etymology that it was called Palmyra 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it was the Place where Goliath received his Fate at the Hands of King David though the Humour of giving Names to Cities or Countreys from such Fabulous Encounters hath not been altogether disus'd for says Damascius apud Phod Cot. 242. some affirmed that his Native City Damascus was so called from Ascus a Giant whom Jupiter there overcame 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And I fear some of our Historians zealous for the Honour of Brute will be found guilty of the same Crime But though I cannot believe the Fiction of David's slaying Goliath at Palmyra yet it is very probable that that stout and victorious Prince might have extended his Empire as far as Palmyra Bechart Spanhem Hist Job Hyde Not. in Abr. Peritzol p. 60. when he invaded Hadad-Ezer King of Soba 2 Sam. 8.3 1 Chron. 18.3 the Euphrates being the Eastern Limit of Syria Sobah from beyond which River Hadad-Ezer brought his Auxiliaries i. e. from Mesopotamia 2 Sam. 10.16 there called Syria beyond the River as Damascus was the Western And Palmyra is said 2 Chron. 8.3 4. to be situated in Hamath Soba or Syria Soba and the two Cities of Arabia the Desart Sabe and Barathena in Ptolomy seem to be Soba and Berothai Cities of the Sabeans mention'd in the Sacred Writings Castaldus and Ortelius affirm that Palmyra is now called Amegara but Sanson says it is called Faid as do Nicolosius in his Hercules Siculus Par. 3. P. 263. and others whereas it still retains its old Denomination Tadhmur as it always did among the Syrians and Arabs L. 2. p. 72. The old Geographer of Ravenna reckons it among the Cities of Caele-Syria for so I will adventure to correct that Author Syria Cilensin Comagenis which Monsieur Porcheron reads Syria Seleucis but it should be read Syria Cele in Comagenis but calls it Malmiora which the Editor says is mistaken for Palmyra and with him I agree Tho' perhaps Tamira in the same Author may be set for Tadmira as Hepolis for Heliopolis for that Geographer lived in the 7th Century Ib. when that City having fallen into the Hands of the Arabs had recover'd its ancient Syriack or Arabick
honoured Friend Dr. Bernard has inform'd me that the Spanish Tademir may be derived as to Name and no otherwise from the Syrian Tadmor or from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tadmera Mescella Populi from a mixture of several Nations inhabiting there as Tidal in Holy Writ is called the King of the Nations and Galilee stiled Galilee of the Gentiles The Arabs of this Age say that in ancient time Solomon Ebn el Doud or the Son of David built a City in that Place which being destroyed was re-edify'd by a strange People and the present Inhabitants pretend to show you the top of a Mountain where one of Solomon's Concubines lies buried as if that Great King had fix'd his Court there having destin'd it to his Retirement and Pleasures as Josephus seems to affirm CHAP. II. Of the Names of the Palmyrenians FRom the Names of the City I shall proceed to consider the Names of the Inhabitants and I question not but as their first Language was Hebrew or Syriack so the People had Syriack or Hebrew Names This wants no further Confirmation the Inscriptions put it past all doubt Odenathus Airanes Vaballathus Mocimus Orodes Zabdas Matthas Jaribolus c. being all pure Syriack and had the Curiosity of our English Travellers directed them to have transcribed the Syriack Inscriptions as well as the Greek at Tadmur I doubt not but as we might from them have retrieved the old Syriack Alphabet so we also might have been enabled to correct more than one Mistake either of the Graver or Transcriber as I shall unquestionably demonstrate there are such in the Names of the People of that famous City This Method I doubt not the Palmyrenians made use of that their publick Monuments as long as they continued might preserve the knowledge of their ancient Native Language and I hope some attempt will be made to recover at least the understanding of their Letters For Monsieur Petit's Specimen in Spon's Miscellanies is all Dream and that Learned Man if he had been in Earnest would doubtless have given us his Alphabet and the Inscriptions accordingly reduc'd into the Hebrew or some other known Character 'T is true he says they are the Phaenician probably the same with the old Syriack Letters for Gruter's Opinion that they are Arabick is not to be defended but I refer the Reader to Antony Gallandius's Confutation of Mr. Petit in the same Miscellanies After the Romans had extended their Empire into the remoter Parts of Syria the Men of Palmyra agreeable to the Practice of the other Nations of the East assumed to themselves a Prae-Nomen the Custom of having Two Names having been taken up by the Greeks and Syrians about the Times of Trajan and this seems to be confirm'd by the Sepulchral Inscriptions at Tadmur N. 3 4. the most ancient of which were erected under Trajan where the Names of Elabelus Mannaeus Soraechus Malchus Vaballathus Gichus Mocimus stand alone without any Prae-nomina but in the Inscriptions of After-times Septimius Rupilius Julius Aurelius frequently occur which being Roman were prefix'd to their Syriack Names as some of them had two Syriack Names the last having probably been givent to those who were adopted into other Families as Phanius Mocimus qui Airanes Julius Aurelius Zenobius qui Zabdilas the Fore-Name Septimius was in very frequent use at Tadmur probably in Honour of Septimius Severus the Emperor their Benefactor The First of their Emperors was Septimius Odenathus their only Empress Septimia Zenobia their Great Men Septimius Orodes and Septimius Airanes Now the Prae-Nomen being either Greek or Roman the second the proper Syriack Name of the Person was post-pon'd to that which was assum'd ex gr Septimius Zenobius Longinus Cassimus Julius Aurelius Zenobius Alexander Capadetus Julius Aurelius Ealmes if it should not rather be read Palmes for he is said to be a Roman and a Gentleman of one of their Troops Now Palma is a known Name among the Romans Palma the Consul and the Lieutenant-General to Trajan in his Parthian Expedition is very famous who being of a contrary Faction to Adrian Spart Hadr. p. 2 4. was slain at Terracina by the Order of the Senate And for this reason I cannot agree with the Learned Mr. Halley correcting the Coins of Vaballathus and reading Airanes for Hermeias for it 's plain that in those Names the first is Greek or Latin the latter Syriack which also confirms me in my Opinion that Vaballathus was the Son of Herodes or Herodianus and that the Father's Name was Athenas Herodes of which more hereafter It is also observable that the Palmyrenians like their Neighbours the Arabs with their own Names gave their Pedigree reckoning up their Ancestors many times to their Great-Grand-Father This the Saracenic History puts out of all dispute as to the Arabs and the Inscriptions as to the Inhabitants of Tadmur Now to shew that the Names are of Syriack or Hebrew Extraction as the prae Nomina of Greek or Latin is an easie Undertaking Jaribolus or Jariboleus is Jerubbaal Gideon's Name Bareiches is Barachias Baruchus Tom. 3. Mon. Graec. p. 346. or Barachus of which Name were Baruch the Prophet Jeremy's Scribe and a Bishop 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Borochus the Judge in Jamblichus Ouorodes is Orodes and Herod Soraechus Saruch Nahar's Father Gen. 11. and in Jamblicus's * Apud Phot. Cod. 94. Babylonicks Soraechus the Son of Soraechus the Publican makes a considerable Figure Simon is purely Hebrew Vaballathus is Balathus with the Arabick Praefix Bal Belus Bolathus and Balathus the same Name in Damascius Ballatha is the Name of a Syrian City in Ptolemy and Sanballat i. e. the Prince Ballathus appears in Holy Writ the Governor of Mesopotamia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nehem. 2.9 and Vaballathus in Vopiscus is called Balbatus for Ballathus Euseb l. 7. c. 30. Bolanus was one of the Bishops who in the Synod of Antioch condemn'd Paulus of Samosata Matthas among the Men and Martha among the Women are also Hebrew Matthas Matthat Matthan Mattathas Airanes Aarones Jaraius Jair Elabelus is Elbelus or the God Bel sometimes Alagbelus Alagabalus corruptly Heliogabalus Mannaeus is the same Name with Manoah Judg. 13.2 or as the LXX 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Manahath 1 Chron. 1.40 Zenobius was a common Name among the Phaenicians and Syrians * L. 8. c. 13. Eusebius mentions two Martyrs of that Name who suffer'd in the Dioclesian Persecution the one an admirable Physician the other a Presbyter of the Church of Sidon Against Zenobius of Emesa Phot. â—od 228. Ephremius the Patriarch of Antioch wrote a Learned Treatise And Zenobius a Bishop of Cilicia was Martyr'd in the same Persecution with his Wife and his Sister Zenobia says Simeon Metaphrastes and the Wife of Basiliscus the Emperor was also call'd Zenobia Malech Malchus and Malchion of which Name was an Eminent * Id. l. 7. c. 29. Presbyter of Antioch who oppos'd Paulus of Samosata the
of those Cities first instituted the Decurio like our Alderman of the Ward had his particular Province appointed and his Number of Persons whom he inspected Nonius Marcel Decuriones à numero cui praeerant dicebantur but the whole Order or aggregate Body govern'd all the Inhabitants and are therefore called in the Laws and ancient Histories Decuriones Civitatum Municipiorum Coloniarum L. 6. Epist ad Sept. Great care says Tully was used in the choice of such Governors the Names of the Candidates being before the Election proposed to the People that they might make their just Exceptions if they had any against the Person When any Publick Business was to be done the Senators were solemnly summon'd to the Court Vid. Not. in Cod. l. 10. T. 31. n. 1. for out of their Body the Duumviri were chosen who were to be nominated three Months before they entred upon their Province as also the Aediles and in some Places the Dictators and Praetors the Court being obliged to give immediate Notice to every Officer if absent whom they had elected The Inspection of the Treasury was committed to them they were entrusted with the Management and Disposal of all Bequests and of the Publick Money they were to take care that the Granaries should always be full that the City might not want Bread They imposed and levied Taxes In short the whole Management of the Commonwealth was in their hands It must be granted that the Discharge of the Office was very expensive and they were accountable for whatever Publick Money should be embezled or misapplied Vid. B. Brisso l. 4. Select Antiquit and were incumbred with a troublesom Province for the Senator was not to leave the City to go to the Court either upon the Publick or his own private Affairs without leave from the President of the Province They were prohibited the applying themselves to a Military Employment and if any Man scrupled to serve his Countrey after he was chosen the Law compell'd him for two Years together to do the Office of a Duumvir unless the Court exempted him or he had the consent of the Citizens to excuse him nor would flying to a Monastery give a Protection a Religious House was not then a Sanctuary to skreen a Man from Civil Employments And therefore in the * Nov. 46. Novels of the Emperor Leo after whose Reign the word doth not occur in the Laws nor is it to be found in the Basilica the Office of the Ducurio is styled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Employment very burthensom and grievous and probably the Person when chosen was obliged to give to the Publick Treasury a Summ of Money it being mention'd †Grut. 475.3 as a great Honour done to Titius Chresimus that for the Merits of his Father the Senate admitted him into their Society gratuitously Ob merita Patris honorem Decurinatûs gratuitum decrevit Ordo Decurionum But as the Office was thus molested inasmuch as it was sometimes inflicted as a Punishment for some Offences so their Privileges were very great and their Station very honourable they were exempt from all extraordinary Employments and from enduring the Torture were not to be condemn'd to the Mines not to be Burnt alive thrown to the Wild Beasts Crucified or Beheaded but if Criminal were Imprison'd and Fetter'd till the Emperor had declar'd his Pleasure and determin'd their Fate and the Honour was derived to the Family to the Fathers and the Children of the Senators who were by this means ennobled the Men of Worth were capable of being chosen Members of the Court at Fifteen and if any of them arrived to the Age of Seventy or prov'd the Father of Twelve Children he was excused from the Fatigue while he enjoyed all the Privileges of a Senator nor could he be compell'd to go out of the Province unless in cases of most urgent necessity Their Body was styled Ordo Decurionum the Roll in which their Edicts were entred Album Decurionum their Habits distinctive and ornamental Decurionalibus Vestimentis Ornatus Grut. p. 372.7 their Houses were supplyed with Water upon the Publick Charge ut Aquae digitus in Domo ejus flueret commodisque Publicis Id. 475.3 ac si decurio frueretur and they were capable of the greatest Bequests above Fifteen hundred Pound having been given by C. Torasius Grut. p. 279.3 to furnish out the Expence of a great Supper annually provided on the Birth-day of his Son for the Ducuriones of the City and for a Largess in Money to the Poor And if any generous Person when dying left Legacies to the People they were entrusted with the Disposal as appears by the Inscriptions D. F. D. I. P. h. e. Decurionum fide dividenda in publicum And if the Emperor resolved to express his Indignation against any People he denied them the Privilege of being ruled by a Senate of their own Inhabitants and left their Lives and Fortunes to the Discretion and Integrity of their Governor who was a Foreigner Dio. l. 51. p. 451. So Augustus punish'd the proud City of Alexandria for when he had conquer'd Egypt he constituted Cornelius Gallus their Governor but would not permit any Citizen a share in Publick Affairs while he allowed other Cities their Privileges 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in this state they continued till Septimius Severus gave them the Jus buleutarum the liberty to be govern'd by their own Citizens Spartian Severus p. 70. and his Son Antoninus put them into the capacity of being chosen Senators at Rome which I conjecture was one of the Privileges of the Decuriones in the Colonies That this Title was very Honourable in the Colony of Palmyra appears from Sextus Rufus who calls Odenathus before he assum'd the Purple by the Name of Decurio Palmyrenus which Trebellius Pollio explains by Princeps Civitatis for the Senators were the principal Men of the Cities where they resided 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In Imitation of the Roman Methods of Government the Palmyrenians had also their Procuratores Ducenarii of which Order was Septimius Orodes under Odenathus and Paulus of Samosata the Patriarch of Antioch under Zenobia The Original of the Office is to be deduced from the Times of Augustus who Sneton August n. 32. for the better and more regular government of his Subjects to the three Courts of Judicature which had been formerly erected added a fourth styled Decuria Ducenariorum of an inferior Order the Judges whereof at their first Institution were appointed to determine Causes of less moment but were in process of time advanced to a nobler Jurisdiction they were commonly Men of Quality of the Equestrian Dignity though sometimes Liberti but in those days the Emperors Freed-Men made no contemptible Figure in the Commonwealth the Custom before the Reign of Augustus was Dio. l. 53. p. 506. that every Officer furnisht the Expence of his Employment without any Charge to the Publick but
honourable for the Secretary was very little inferior to the Chief Magistrate either in Dignity or Authority being often of the First Rank of the Nobility Orat. 8. in Verr. so says Tully Scribarum Ordo est honestus quod eorum hominum fidei tabulae publicae periculaque Magistratuum commitantur He was Elected into the Office says Julius Pollux Vbi infr And Aristotle in his Account of the Commonwealth of Athens affirms that he was the Keeper of the Publick Records and Tully says the same enroll'd all the Decrees of the Senate and was an Assessor in the Courts of Judicature And therefore Suidas is mistaken when he avers that they had no other Employment than to Write Jul. Pol. l. 8. c. 8 9 11. and Read or Publish the Orders of the Senate There were Three 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at Athens of whom the First kept all the Publick Writings the Letters and Decrees of the City and he was chosen out of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the Council To the Second the keeping of all the Laws was entrusted and he also was nominated by the Council But the Third was the Secratary of the People chosen by the Commons and he it was who read all the Writings of the People says the Scholiast of Thucydides or rather read all the Publick Orders both to the Senate and People His Method of Proceeding is thus stated by Ammonius In 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Grammateus having several Orders of Council in his Hand which he was to publish to the People he began with the first and read the Name of the Person who proposed the Decree his Father's Name and the Name of the Tribe or People to which he belong'd and then publisht the Decree it self after which he proceeded to the second and third till he had publisht them all The Name of the Secretary was always inserted into every Decree together with the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or President of of the Senate for the time being or the Praetor Thus the Inscription at Agrigentum Gergento in Sicily Grut. 401. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And very often his Name had the precedence in the Decree as appears by several Instances * Andocyd de Myster 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †Thucyd. l. 3. v. V. Cl. Not. in Marm. Ox. 46. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And in the Coins the Name of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as of a publick eminent Officer from whose Year of Government the People made their Computation is frequently inserted particularly in those of the Cities of Caria where I suppose the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was the Chief Magistrate One of the Coins of Mylasa is said to be stampt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Hybreas the Orator govern'd the City says ‖ Lib. 14. p. 659. Strabo So the Coin of the Magnesians upon the Maeander in the Reign of Maximinus was stampt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And another of the Ephestans 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when Ariston was their Secretary And so Honourable was the Office Act. 19. and so Great the Authority at Ephesus that when the whole City was in an Uproar and all the People of Asia fermented into a violent Tumult for it is highly probable that the Insult was made upon St. Paul when the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Community of Asia were met to celebrate their Publick Games he by his single Authority and Command dismist and disperst the riotous Assembly And I conjecture that it was one reason why the same Person was not long continued in this Office to prevent any mischievous Innovations which might be made in the Republick by an Officer who nad so great a Trust and had it in his Power to make himself very Popular For it was a Law at Athens V. Petit. de legib Attic. That no Man should be twice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 under the same Magistracy Though 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Person might be chosen a second time under new Magistrates as appears by the Palmyrene Inscription for though some Places of Trust were by special Favour and upon great Merit given for Life some of their High Priests being constituted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet though Sigonius affirms the contrary even the High Priesthood it self was limited and probably Annual in many Places So * Grut. 448.1 Papirius Alexander is said to be High Priest the second time though in the same Inscription he is called the Priest of Bacchus for his Life And in a Coin of the Magnesians near Sipylus Apphianus is said to be Praetor and High Priest the second time So several Cities were constituted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the second and third time And T. Fl. Taeanus Gruter calls him Aelianus is said to have been the thirteenth time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And Cleogenes in the Decree of the Senate and People of Athens Petit. ubi sup p. 232. is said to have been the first time Secretary 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Malech Agrippa manag'd that Province a second time at Palmyra Nor was the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 always a Civil Officer or Minister of State but sometimes an Ecclesiastick and Minister of Religion for the High Priest had always ways his Secretary to which Office no Man was at first admitted but he who was of the Patrician Dignity Thus Cl. Paulinus V. Gronov. Memor Cosson p. 146. Marm. 22. in a curious Inscription lately brought from the Levant is styled the General of the Horse the Prutanis Aedilis Quaestor President of the Senate President of the Gymnasium or Gymnasiarch Master of the Ordnance or Armory the Custos Rotulorum and Secretary of the Olympick Games Where we may observe that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were distinct Offices the one a Civil the other a Sacred Employment But that the first also was very Honourable for in another Inscription brought from the same Place T. Fl. Marm. Ox. 116. Onesimus Paternianus is styled the Master of the Ordnance the Guardian of the Temple of the Nemeses the General of their Horse the Keeper of their Records the First 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Aedile the Quaestor of the City and honour'd with many other great Offices as also Grut. p. 219. that he was chosen by Vote that he was to take into his Custody the Tables wherein the Laws were written that he was obliged to preserve the Originals of all the Leagues and to keep in a strong Box all the Books belonging to his Office and the Publick Affairs and when he shall be required by the Community he shall bring them into the Senate-House and whenever the Society shall chuse another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Custos Rotulorum he shall deliver up his Trust But in process of time no Lay-man was permitted to be Secretary to the High Priest he was
in that Countrey says that they swore by Mithras the Sun And the ancient Inscription in ‖ XXXIII 9. Gruter is dedicated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And whereas Damascius says that at Heliopolis the Image of Gennaeus in the Temple of Jupiter was worshipt in the Figure of a Lion erect what does it represent but the Mithrae Leones of which Tertullian treats so was Bel. Serv. in Aen. 1. Linguâ Punica Bal dicitur apud Assyrios autem Bel Saturnus Sol. And Zosimus says L. 1. p. 56. that when Aurelian had built a noble Temple at Rome to the Honour of the Sun he placed in it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 read it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Images of the Sun who was Belus which he had brought with him from Palmyra This Bel was the same with the Deus Belenus of the Germans and the Abellio of the ancient Gauls and accordingly they offer'd Humane Sacrifices to him Hominem optimam gratissimam Diis victimam says * L. 3. c. 2. Mela of the old Gauls Thus was Moloch worshipt among the Jews Edomites and others who sacrificed their Children to the Idol The same Oblation did the Africans make to Saturn and Elagabalus the Emperor to his Country God Alagbaal his Namesake says †In Pseud Anton. l. 5. Herodian That Osiris Omphis and Nilus were different Names of the same glorious Luminary our learned Mr. Selden hath undeniably proved And so was Orus says Horapollo L. 1. Hierogl 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In short Julian says that all the several Names of the Heathen Gods were expressive in a different manner of the Glory of the Sun 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nor did the Arabs in the time of Alexander the Great worship any other Gods but the Heaven i. e. the Sun and Bacchus says * L. 7. de Expedit Alex. Arrian or rather Bacchus and Vrania as Herodotus and Celsus in Origen affirm i. e. the Sun and the Moon for Bacchus was no other than * Auson Epigr. 29. Osiris and Adonis the Island of Nosala and some other whole Countries being dedicated to his Service In Palestine they devoted Horses and Chariots to his Honour to denote the Swiftness of his Motion 1 King 23. and they worshipt him toward the East the Rising-Sun Ezek. 8. turning their Backs upon the Sanctum Sanctorum which was toward the West His Festival was celebrated with great Pomp says Julian his Birth-Day was celerated on the 25th of December says the old Calendar and his Day of the Week at Antioch was dedicated in their highest Solemnities to the noblest Exercises the Horse-races says Malela And when the Heathens swore with the greatest gravity Marm. Oxon. 1. they call'd him to witness the Truth of what they said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it is publish'd I swear by Jupiter the Earth the Sun and the other Gods And this I mention that I may take leave to mention another such Correction in †Edit Ox. p. 7. Aristeas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for if so it should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. The Moon was reputed the Sister and Wife of the Sun as Juno was of Jupiter and the same with Venus says Philochorus in Macrobius Now Venus was a very comprehensive Name among the Antients says * Tetrabib l. 1. Ptolemy The Syrians worship Venus as the Mother of the Gods 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 calling her by several Names in several Countries And Plutarch affirms In Crass that the Goddess of Hierapolis was by some called Venus by others Juno by a third sort Nature that gave Beginning and Seeds to all Things By the Assyrians Arabs and Persians she was ador'd under the Name of Vrania says †Lib. 3. Herodotus And in Africa says ‖ Apologet. Tertullian And ⸫ Lib. 6. Met. Apuleius calls her Dea Caelestis magna Jovis germana conjux And so says Plotinus Vrania was Venus and Juno the Wife and Sister of Jupiter And she is called by ⸫ Lib. 5. Herodotus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Governess of the Stars i. e. the Queen of Heaven And for this reason the Egyptians accounted it absurd to call Heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by a word of the Masculine Gender they styling it Vrania because the Moon governs all Things And therefore Elagabalus the Emperor being himself called by the Name of the Sun called his Wife Vrania as if they had been the Sun and Moon * de Deâ Syr. Lucian says that the Syrians at Byblos the next Town to Hierapolis for this reason in the Coins called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Sacred Byblus worshipt Venus and Adonis with great Solemnity and that the Phaenician Astarte was the Moon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 says Procopius in 2 King 17. she being ador'd in Syria under that Name in the days of †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l. 1. c. 9. p. 14. Artemidorus i.e. under the Antonines 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And the above-mention'd Lucian says that the Juno at Hierapolis the Goddess of Syria was of all Shapes but still the same Goddess she was in some Features like Minerva in others like Venus the Moon Rhea Diana Nemesis and the Destinies Vbi sup Macrobius says that the Syrians worshipt Adonis i. e. the Sun and Venus Architis i. e. the Moon Some Criticks read the word Adargidis others Dercitidis but Mr. Selden Aphaciditis And it must be acknowledg'd that Venus was solemnly worshipt at Aphaca a Place not far from Hierapolis and so probably was she at Arca a City in Syria not far from Aphaca and near both Hierapolis and Byblus the Place where Alexander Severus was born says * P. 114 118. Lampridius who in one place calls it Vrbs Arcena in another Arca Caesarea one of the In-land †Ptol. l. 5. c. 15. Cities of Phaenicia So that I think the words in Macrobius need not correction for as from Aphaca is derived Aphacitis so from Arca Arcitis Venus being the known Deity of all that Country ‖ De C. D. l. 4. c. 10. St. Austin wonders why the Heathens should account Vesta and Venus the same while the one was the Goddess of Chastity the other the Patroness of Lewdness But his Admiration would have ceas'd had he consider'd that the same Mock-Divinity was represented under those different Names That Isis Lucina Diana Hecate c. were the Moon is prov'd by Mr. Selden And though Athens were Minerva's own City and she the Patroness of Modesty yet Theseus their Founder commanded the Citizens to worship 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 says * Attic. p. 20. Pausanias the same I suppose with Pallas The Pythagoreans sacrificed to Venus i. e. the Moon on the Sixth Day of their Week i. e. Friday says * Vit. Pythag l. 1. c. 28. Jamblichus a Day sacred also among the Arabs
of the Country laid the Foundation of the Parthian Empire which whither it commenc'd under Seleucus Callinicus or his Father Antiochus who call'd himself the God I will not undertake to determine This Empire lasted 270 Years L. 2. Herodian l. 6. says Agathias out of the Records of that Country from Arsaces their first King to Artaban the last under whom Artaxeres Zosimus calls more properly Artaxerxes an obscure Persian but of an aspiring Mind of great Courage and Industry having fermented several of the Natives into a Rebellion after three Battles fought with success seiz'd Artaban and having muther'd him put the Crown on his own Head and so translated the Empire a second time to the Persians This happen'd Agath l. 4. says the above-mentioned Historian in the five hundredth and thirty eight Year of Alexander the Great i. e. of the aera Seleucidarum and in the fourth Year of Alexander the Son of Mammaea Artaxerxes having thus conquer'd the Parthians and settled himself in the Throne the next Year after viz. the fifth of Alexander he made his Incursions into the Roman Territories Alexander at first attempted to divert him from his Inroads by his Letters but finding the Method unsuccessful he marcht with a powerful Army into the East fought that potent Prince forc't him to fly and got a glorious Victory having taken 300 Elephants Lamprid. pag. 133. destroy'd 200 more slain an Hundred and twenty thousand of their Horse besides 10000 of their Cataphractae Troops that were arm'd cap à pe he also recover'd Mesopotamia out of their hands and first taught the Persians how to serve the Romans after which he return'd to Antioch and from thence to Rome where the Senate decreed him a Triumph as the Reward of his Services on the 25th of September Anno Christi 22 6 7. This Victory says Cassiodore in his Fasti was obtain'd in the first Year of Alexander Julianus and Crispinus being Consuls his Coss Alexander Xerxem Regem Persarum vicit but he is mistaken for not to mention that Julian and Crispinus were not Consuls till the ⅔ Year of Alexander who came to the Empire Anno aer vulg 222. the 10th of March after Heliogabalus was slain being fixt by all the other Fasti both those of Idatius and those which the most Learned Mr. Dodwell hath publisht out of the MSS. of Sir H. Savil and Isaac Vossius to the Year of Christ 224. Agathias positively avers that Artaxerxes did not assume the Crown of Persia till the fourth Year of Alexander Mammaeae which is exactly coincident with the 538th year of the aera Seleucidarum and the vulgar Year of Christ 22 6 7 and this account the Historian declares he had from the Archives of the Persian Kings In this Expedition the Palmyrenians declar'd for the Interests of the Romans against the Persian Usurper and sent their Troops to their assistance under their General Zenobius This Zenobius is said to be the Son 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 like 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Names of the Heathen Gods being usually given to the Men of illustrious Descent this Diosmalchus was the Son of Nassumus Transact pag. 98. In another Inscription a like name occurs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Expedition of Alexander is stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that great Prince having been dead some years when this Inscription was erected and by the Senate deified who appointed him a Colledge of Priests call'd Alexandriani and order'd a Festival to be kept on his Birch-day Lamprid. pag. 136. which the Romans continued to celebrate near a hundred years after in the days of Constantine the Great and to this Deification probably the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Inscription hath a remote relation for the Heathens seldom speak of their Princes but as of sacred Persons their Persons were numina and all their Laws and Actions divine Thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is often used when Eunapius treats of the Title of Philostratus's Book of the Life of Apollonius he saith it rather ought to be stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Pagans setting up that Impostor in opposition to our blessed Saviour who being God made his appearance among Men. So St. Gregory of Nazianzum Orat. 38. calls our blessed Lord's Incarnation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It was the common Opinion of those Ages that their Gods did upon some solemn days descend from Heaven put on humane Shape and appear in those Cities for which they had a particular Regard as many of the Ancients thought the Martyrs did frequently show themselves in those places either where they had been born or put to death Vid. Dion Chrysost Tars 1. pag. 408. or buried and this Descent they called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and being prone to Deify their Princes and to treat them with all sort of divine Honours whenever the Emperor vouchsaft to visit any City they entertained him with the highest Testimonies of Joy and Exultation and reputed the Day a solemn Festival and therefore in the Coins 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 V. Harduin num p. 397. And Adventus Augusti faelicissimus frequently occurs and in another of the Inscriptions at Palmyra 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Imperial General in this Expedition was Rutillius Crispinus the Praenomen of that great Man being restor'd to him from this Inscription no ancient Monument else calling him other than Crispinus Lamprid. p. 61 63. Tullius Crispinus was the Praefectus Praetorio under Didius Julianus but he cannot be the Man but there was another Crispinus a Man of the Consular Dignity who with Menophilus Capitolin Maximini 2. p. 146. after the barbarous Murther of Alexander Severus maintained Aquileia against Maximinus who in vain besieg'd it They were both sent by the Senate to preserve that important Place Id. p. to 169. and they maintain'd their Province with so much Courage that the Soldiers dispairing to take the City fell upon their Generals and slew both Maximin and his Son in their Tents The same Crispinus had been long before Collegue with Julianus in the Consulship ann ⅔ of Alexander Severus of Christ 224. from the Death of Alexander the Great 547. and from the Year of Augustus or the Epocha of the Battel at Actium 253. say the ancient Fasti publisht by the most Learned Dodwell Upon this General Crispinus Zenobius of Palmyra was a constant Attendant assisting the Auxiliary Troops with whatever Necessaries they stood in need of in those barren Desarts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Vexillationibus Vexillariis or auxiliariis the words being of an equivalent inport for those very Troops V. Salmasin H. A. Script p. 125.455 which Tacitus calls in one place auxiliorum cohortes he presently after stiles vexillares cohortes the whole Roman Army being divided into their own Legions and Auxiliaries says Monsieur Saumaise auxilia in cohortes divisa cohortes in vexilla itaque cohors
in the next Inscription the Governours of the Fons Lollianus are but ten In this Inscription Jupiter is not only stiled Optimus Maximus but Propitius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as an Acknowledgment of his Favours so Isis and Diana are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in other * 40. 10. 73. 1. Inscriptions 18. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jovi maximo fulminanti pro salute Trajani Hadriani Domini sui Agathangelus Abilenus Decapolites camaram aedificavit lectisternium propriis sumptibus posuit Anno 445. mense Augusto h. e. Christi 133. Hadrian 17. This Marble was found at Tieve near three days Journey from Palmyra in the Wall of a Mosque which probably was the old Temple of Jupiter the Thunderer who in other Inscriptions is sometimes stiled bronton fulgurans tonans fulgerator c. in which Agathangelus erected a Cupola and a Bed of State to the Honour of the God and for the Safety or Recovery of his Prince The name Agathangelus occurs elsewhere Cn. Cossutius Agathangelus in * 644. 1. Gruter ours is said to have been an Inhabitant of Abila but at the same time a Decapolitan which will no longer seem a Difficulty if we remember that not only Pliny avers L. 5. c. 18. that the Geographers were not agreed what particular Cities constituted the Decapolitan Region of Syria though all confest the name to have been impos'd from the number of the Cities and that the Tetrarches of Trachonitis and Paneas that Abila and Arca c. do intermix with and encircle that Region but that Ptolome in express words if we may credit the Palatine MSS. treating of the Cities of Syriae Caele among which he principally names Heliopolis Abila Lysaniae c. calls them Cities of Decapolis so that Agathangelus as to his City was an Inhabitant of Abila but of the Province or Region of Decapolis Agathangelus was a very Loyal Subject though he lived at a great distance from the Court and for the Safety of his Prince built a Cupola and set up a Bed of State under it to Jupiter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 formix testudo in the old Glossaries 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Hesychius The antient Baths were so adorn'd says Pliny Lib. 2. Ep. 2. fenestras è regione conditor binas confinio camerae pendentis admovit ut suscipientium usui fabrefactum lacunar aperiret and the Stadia or Palaestrae for in one of them P. Licinius Priscus built a Piazza with several Cupolàs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sometimes the Tombs * Oxon. Marm. n. 79. So the Tomb of Nilus the Oeconomus of Asia was adorn'd but particularly Temples and Churches So when Justinian the Emperor new built the Trullus of the Church of Sancta Sophia and enlarg'd it thirty feet in Circumference he added two Cupola's to it one toward the North the other to the South 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which continue to this day Thus Augustus says of himself in the Ancyran Marble Philip. 2. Pulvinar ad circum maximum aedes in Capitolio fici and Tully of M. Antony who was one of the Priests of Julius Nec majorem honorem Caesar consecutus est ab Antonio quam ut haberet pulvinar simulachrum fastigium Some Authors say that the Tholus Cupola was a place in the middle of the Camera of the Temple V. Guther jur Pontif. l. 3. c. 9. in which those who made Vows hung up their Offerings others that the Camera was above the Cupola like our Lanterns so says Philander others that the Camera was no other than the Cupola it self which being lessen'd by degrees ended in a point The Lectisternia are describ'd by †L. 7. Arnobius habent enim Dij Lectos atque ut stratis possint mollioribus incubare pulvinorum tollitur atque excitatur impressio The Pagan Devotion inclining them to think that their Gods ought not to want any thing conducive to their Ease and Satisfaction Hesyc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Glossar vet pulvinar 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Agathangelus built his Camera and furnisht it with a Bed to fulfil a Vow he had made for the Welfare of his Prince V. Gruter such Vows commonly occur in the old Inscriptions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pro salute gloriâ pro salute itûs ac reditûs Imperatoris pro salute Imp. totiúsque domûs divinae pro salute incolumitate domûs divinae pro salute gloriâ pro aeternitare Imperii salute Imperatoris Sometimes they vow'd the Building a new Temple or the Repairing an old one sometimes the Adorning a Temple with Pillars and Chapiters with Porches or Cupola's at other times the Offering of solemn and pompous Sacrifices so C. Betonius the first Priest of the Emperors offer'd the Tauropolium of the whole Province of Narbonne XXIX 12. for the Safety of Septimius Severus and M. Aurelius Antoninus Caracallus his Son for so the Inscription must be read M. Aurel. Ant. not M. Aureliani for what hath the Emperor Aurelian to do with Septimius Severus and some Romans were so over officious that when their Prince was sick in expectancy of a great Reward Dio. l. 59. p. 645. they devoted themselves to Death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the Emperor might recover So when Caius Caligula fell into a dangerous Distemper P. Afranius Potitus a Plebeian bound himself by an Oath that himself would die if Caligula might be cured and Atanius Secundus a Man of the Equestrian Dignity promis'd to fight among the Gladiators for the same reason And the Emperor was so sensible of the Flattery that he compell'd them both to be as good as their Promises We may adjust the Time of this Inscription by the Date since the Coins inform us that ann 132. the 16th of Hadrian the Senate and People of Rome made Vows for his Health Senatus populúsque vota suscepta Vota publica Vota publica S. c. the same Persons in the year following paying their Thanks to Jupiter for his Recovery Jupiter custos Jovi custodi S. c. to this Jupiter on the same occasion Agathangelus in Syria made his Vows some months after the Romans had made theirs the distance from Italy to that part of Asia upon the Euphrates being to be allowed for 19. The next Inscription is singular as to its Language and I shall endeavour to fill up the void spaces thus Conservatores orbis Propagatores generis humani D. D. N. N. Dioclesianus Maximianus Invictissimi Imperatores Constantius Maximianus Nobiles Caesares Castra faeliciter condiderunt .. ntes Cassiano Hieroclete Viro probo Praeside provinciae Devoti Numini Majestatique eorum I have inserted the name of Maximinus Herculius because he was at that time the sole Co-partner of the Empire with Dioclesian I call them Conservatores orbis and invictissimi from their Coins and I have chang'd the Praenomen of Hierocles into Cassianus which is well known to be Roman while Ossianus no where
occurs the time when the Marble was erected has been already adjusted P. 148 149 for then Dioclesian built several Castles upon the Euphrates or rather then he built the Castr Caircesia for tho' it was a Frontier Castle before that time Gordian when slain by Philip having been buried there L. 23. c. 5. as Capitolinus avers though Am. Marcellinus who had been at the place says his Tomb was not at Circesium but at Zaitha seven miles from it Zosimus says it was at Dura Eutropius and Rufus twenty miles from Circesium yet it was so poor and weak a place says Ammianus till Dioclesian fortified it with strong Walls and Towers that for that reason he may be with justice said to have built the Castle as those who have beautified decay'd Cities are commonly stiled by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Founders of those Places 20. In the ruines of Briadeen the following Inscription was found 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It seems to have been inscrib'd on an Altar or some Pillar of a Temple dedicated to Minerva Lindia for so I would correct and read it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Consecratum fuit Minervae Lindiae à Materno Pappo Marco in honorem Deae Anno 541. h. e. 229. Christi Alexandri Severi 8. That Alexander Severus was the Darling of the East no Man will doubt who considers that he was not only born in Syria but had made a victorious Expedition into Persia to secure the Quiet of his Native Country and that for his illustrious Qualities he was deify'd in Libanesia and Palmyrene as well as at Rome In his Reign was the Inscription set up at Briadeen possibly to fulfil a Vow for his Preservation in honour of Minerva Lindia Lindus is Rhodes says Suidas * V. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the name both of the Island and City where Minerva was worshipt with an extraordinary Devotion the Inhabitants sacrificing to her every day and every day making a Feast in her Temple Narrat 47. Conon tells us that the Phaenicians having possest themselves of Rhodes were driven out by the Carians and that the Dorians under the Conduct of Althaemenes disposest the Carians and built three Cities in the Island Lindus Jalysus and Camirus which at last became one great City called Rhodes after the name of the Island And * L. 2. c. 1. Apollodorus affirms that Danaus having by the help of his Daughters murther'd the Sons of his Brother Aegyptus being his own Sons in Law built a Ship by the advice of Minerva in which himself and Daughters fled out of Aegypt to Rhodes where he dedicated the Image of Minerva Lindia Minerva says †Fab. 277. Hyginus built the Ship for Danaus the first of the kind that ever was seen in Greece says ‖ 7.46 Pliny This Voyage of Danaus commenc't when Erichthon was King at Athens says the noble Collection of Epocha's in the * n. 9. Oxford-Marble that his Daughters Amymone Helice and Archedice being chosen by lot by the other Sisters built the Temple upon the Shoar in the Maritime City of Rhodes call'd Lindus which says †L. 14. p. 655. Strabo was situate toward the South especially toward Alexandria For in that City as ‖ L. 5. p. 227. Diodorus Siculus affirms he was hospitably received and therefore built the Temple and consecrated the Statue there he lost three of his Daughters who died of the Pestilence which then raged at Lindus the rest sailed with their Father to Argos The same Historian adds that Cadmus not long after offer'd several Gifts in that Temple among which was a Brass Vessel made à l'antique with an Inscription in Phaenician Characters But if we may believe the noble Marble Cadmus sailed to Thebes eight years before Danaus left Aegypt so that that part of the Story is a Parachronism in Diodorus A long time after Danaus's Death Amasis the King of Aegypt presented the same Minerva of Lindus with two Statues of Stone Herod l. 2. c. 102. and with a Linen Breast-plate of admirable Work Thoraces linei being very usual among the ancient Captains as * Part. 2. l. 4. c. 11. Ferrarius unquestionably proves and Minerva was a warlike Goddess it was somewhat like our Silkarmors because his Country-women built that Temple Which Strabo says was in his time very illustrious and much frequented Nor was she honour'd only in that Country but in Syria if we may credit the Inscription In which I have put 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though perhaps it should be Malchus Hesyc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 98.7 in Gruter 21. At Andreen which lies between Briadeen and Aleppo among the Ruines of an ancient Church were found some broken Inscriptions the Remains of the Devotions of the Christians of former Ages 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 .... Ego Johannes precatus Deum assecutus sum quod petii gratias agens Deo votum solvi ut peccatis meis sit propitius Over the Southern Door was written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Porta haec Domini justificat intrantes per illam Over the Western Door which I would read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christo Deo optimo Maximo These Inscriptions do not need a Commentary since nothing difficult occurs in them but they cannot but raise a deep Commiseration in all Christians to see so many venerable Remains of the ancient Piety either converted into Mosques or buried in their own Ruines No Churches having in past times been more illustrious for Religion and good Letters than the Oriental in which at this time there are but some few footsteps of either the rest being over-run with Barbarism and Infidelity The next broken Inscription is also undoubtedly Christian as those wherein Θ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 appear and I suppose contain'd the names of the eminent Angels Vriel Raphael Gabriel Michael and perhaps the former Inscription may be thus rendred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the form of a similar Epigraphe in Gruter 1048.2 for it was not unusual to affix the names of those holy Angels upon the Christian Tombs out of opinion to engage them to be Guardians of the Sepulchre as the modern Pretenders to converse with Spirits inscribe their names usually on their Utensils so in the Tomb of Mary the Wife of the Emperor Honorius on a Plate were written these names Michael Gabriel Raphael Vriel Id. 287.4 I have now done with the Monuments of this once famous Country and because there is in every Man an innate Desire of living after he hath left this World though all Men do not believe there is another and that they desire when they are dead to be remembred and well spoken of that their Actions may not be confin'd to the same Grave with their Carcasses I shall conclude with the
wise Saying of the Roman Orator That whenever we see such Remains of venerable Antiquity such lasting Records of the names and Atchievements of great Persons we are admonisht to take care so to regulate our Actions that we may convince the World we have settled our prospect upon the Rewards of Future Ages and not on the Flatteries of the Present and to remember that Monuments being erected to the Memory of those who have lived well in this World before they left it put us in mind that there is nothing here permanent and immutable and that 't is the Duty of considering Men to aspire towards Immortality A short Chronicle of Palmyra PAlmyra Anno Per. Jul. 3720 Mund. 3010. built by Solomon after he had finisht the Temple and his own House which were 20 years in building Palmyra destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar P. J. 4125. M. 3415. before he laid Siege to Jerusalem Marc. Antony P. J. 4673. M. 3963. V. C. Varr. 713. ante Christ 41. after the Battel of Philippi went into Asia and sent his Troops to pillage Palmyra Hadrian An. Christi 122. an Imp. 6. went into the East rebuilt probably Palmyra and call'd it Hadrianople when Malech Agrippa was the second time Secretary of that City circ 216 Palmyra made a Roman Colony by the Emperor Caracallus in his Expedition into Parthia The Republick of Palmyra assisted Alexander Severus against Artaxerxes King of Persia Zenobius being their General The Republick assisted Gordian against the Persians Zenobius being their General Valerian was taken Prisoner by Sapores King of Persia Odenathus routed the Persians and was declared Emperor by Gallienus Odenathus with his Son Herodian slain by Maeonius Maeonius the Ephemerous Emperor of Palmyra slain a few days after then Zenobia assumes the Empire in her own name and her Sons Zenobia routed Heraclianus Gallienus 's General Vaballathus took the Empire Gallienus slain Claudius chosen Emperor Zenobia conquer'd Aegypt by her General Zabdas Claudius died Quintillus reigned 16 days Aurelian in the later end of the year was chosen Emperor Palmyra taken and ruin'd by Aurelian and Longinus slain an â…š of Vaballathus Zenobia carried in triumph at Rome Hierocles Governor of Palmyrene under Dioclesian Justinian in the first year of his Reign repaired and fortified Palmyra Palmyra was subjected by the Mahometans Jabala the Son of Al Iham being then Lord of Tadhmur and King of Gassan The Battel of Tadhmur between Dahacus and Adis Saleiman the Pseudo-Caliph beaten by Merwan fled to Tadhmur Benjamin in Tudelensis was at Tadhmur Melhom the Emîr or Prince of Tadhmur when the English Merchants made their first Journey thither Hassine the Emîr when the English Merchants went thither the second time Dôr the Emîr of Tadhmur Additions and Emendations Page 193. add after Sociam Nasorus is the same name with Nasir Abunasir Abdolnasir Nasireddin which frequently occur in the Saraccnick History As does Amrus in the same History and in the Catalogue of the Kings of Gessan in our Learned Pocock Sochaeis the same with Sychaeus the Husband of Dido Sampsus c. p. 240. l. 6. after Harpocration add tho' the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was probably the chief Magistrate or Decurio at Ancyra P. 301. l. 3. after Grammar add perhaps for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we should read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tho' Mr. H. positively avers that it was written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Monument and then Elabelus Mannaeus Sochaeis and Malchus being all the Sons of Vaballathus Grand Sons of Mannaeus Great-grand Sons of Elabelus set up that Monument for themselves and their Children or rather to assert the true reading erected that Tomb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to their Father Vaballathus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and to themselves and others if there were any his Children This is one of the oldest Inscriptions at Palmyra erected anno Christi 102. the 5th of the Reign of the Emperor Trajan Palma his Governor of Syria having some few years before reduc'd that part of Arabia under the Roman Power says Dio. l. 68 â—hich Age no other Monument exceeds Besides Misaccentings wrong Pointings misplacing of Letters and other little Faults the Reader is desired before he enters upon the Book to correct the following ERRATA PAge 8. l. 17. preserve P. 17. dele 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 20. l. 14. del M. l. 26. r. Nice p. 22. l. 21. when p. 28. l. 6. a State p. 35. l. 12. r. happen'd to fall sick l. 21. 22. r. for in the seventeenth year of his Reign p. 36. l. 3. r. who living some years after languisht p. 48. Marg. Petri. p. 55. l. 15. f. for r. but. p. 58. l. 3. del he p. 59. r. an 264. p. 62. l. 9. enraged p. 72. l. 2. r. after which an 268. p. 73. for probably r. doubtless p. 86. del the Marg. Note and insert it p. 87. p. 118 l. 6. r. Marcellinus l. 8. in the first year p. 121. ch XXVII p. 131. l. 11. r. declar'd his Partner in the Empire p. 139. Caenophrurium p. 140. del in all probability p. 149. l. 5. r. washt p. 166. l. 17. del A. p. 193. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 196. Heraclas 201. Julius 219. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ib. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 221. l. 26. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 238. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l. 12. brought p. 239. l. 14. r. five 248. l. 16. del Jaribolus and. p. 249. l. 26. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 251. l. 12. r. Xiphiline and del the Marg. Note p. 254. l. 2. the Emp. married Urania to his Country God Elagabalus the Moon being the fittest Wise for the Sun 263. l. 29. Grandmother p. 270. Marg. de Deá Syr. ed. ult 293. l. 6. transcribe 299. l. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 302. l. 13. fifth ib. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Pani l. 17. Chr. 138. p. 304. Marg. l. 2. chil 310. l. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 311. calls him 312. r. the same year viz. the 4th of Alex. 313. l. 22. r. 226. p. 317. l. 3. commanding and assisting 325. Emesa 332. l. 2. Person 345. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 348. Sonat ib lotus 350. l. 27. and then 353. l. 7. Anton tertio 360. l. pen. in Gr. 364. l. 15. del and. 365. Tetrarchies ib. Syria ib. fornix p. 366. feci FINIS
argentum ad ludos commodare l. 28. D. de auro argento c. aediles plebis ludorum maximè gratiâ creatos Vid. Gronov. Observ l. 4. c. 21. that the same Persons who furnish'd the Expence was the President and Judge of the Games both the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who if the whole Province met the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was from the Name of the Country call'd the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as there were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. And therefore Ruffinus in his Version of the Martyrdom of St. Polycarp renders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Eusebius's Greek by Munerarius the Person who managed the Expence of the Spectacula very properly This Generosity made so deep and lasting an Impression upon the Populace who are generally led by Appearances Reinesii-Inscript class 6. n. cxxi and satisfy'd with Show that they often erected Monuments to the Memory of their Benefactors for thiS very reason So the City of Taenarium in the Gulf of Sparta celebrated the Glory of Tiberius Claudius Charito in this noble Inscription 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * f. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hoc est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Subaudi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The City of the Taenarians have honoured Tiberius Claudius Charito their most excellent Citizen for his great Prudence and his unspeakable Magnificence when he was the Aedile or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of their City This Monument was erected by the Order and Decree of the Senate â—â—d Groâ—vii memor Cosson â— 146. In like manner Claudius Paulinus was rewarded by the Senate and People of Smyrna for I conjecture that the Marble found in that City belongs to it with a noble Monument erected to the Memory of his Daughter because he he had been the General of their Horse one of the chief of their Council their Aedilis and Questor and President of their Senate (a) Hesychius gives another sence of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Id. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Id. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 V. Not. in par 1. marm Oxon. p. 106. which last was the highest Civil Honour he could attain to Plin. Panegyric for even at Rome the Consul presided in the Senate when the Emperor was present if the Emperor himself was not Consul Thus the City of Antioch erected a Marble Statue in Daphne to Artabanus one of their Citizens Malel par 1. lib. 12. p. 381. who was the first syriarcha who presided over the Olympick Games celebrated in that City in the Reign of the Emperor Commodus with this Inscription To the eternal memory of Artaban And thus the Senate and People of Palmyra among the other Atchievements of Jullus Aurelius Zenobius and of Septimius Orodes celebrated them that they had magnificently and splendidly discharged this Office particularly Zenobius that he managed that Province when he undertook it with an extraordinary Liberality For they distinguisht between what was done at the expence of the Publick and came out of the Treasury and what was expended by the Officer out of his own Coffers and themselves took care if the Commonwealth did not to record this Circumstance Transact p. 99 103 109. so Bolanus is said to have built an Altar 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at his own charge and Agathangelus to have erected a Canopy and a Bed of State 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vid. pag. 105. And so Septimius is said to have supplied the Company or Caravans of Travellers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And Mareades Malel par 1. p. 390. who had been one of the Magistrates of Antioch was in the Reign of Gallienus by the Vote of the whole Senate and People ejected out of the Government because whatever Party he was obliged to provide for in the Publick Horse-Races he not only refused to lay out any Money of his own but cheated the Publick of what was destin'd by the City to those Diversions the Emperors afterwards Enacting That whosoever was appointed to inspect the Ludi Circenses L. 10. tit 31. §. 20. which was the Office of the Duumviri and alienated or diverted to another use any part of the Revenue destin'd to that Service should be obliged to refund This Disgrace occasion'd his flying to Sapores the King of Persia in those dissolute Times to whom he gave an Account of the unhappy State of his Native Countrey and the Carelesness of the Inhabitants which occasion'd the ruine of that noble City as is already mention'd the Traytor himself being sacrificed by that very Prince whom he had invited into Syria to the angry Manes of his abused Country Beheaded says Malela Burnt alive says * Vbi sup Ammianus Marcellinus And †Oeconomic c. 4. Xenophon introducing Socrates instructing Critobulus as to what would be expected from a Man of his Figure and Fortune at Athens after he had inform'd him that he must very frequently be at the charge of noble Sacrifices and magnificent Entertainments and Feasts he adds That it would be expected from him that he would be obliged to keep Horses for the Publick Races 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and if he should ever refuse so to treat the Citizens they would punish him as severely as if he had robb'd their Houses So passionately were the People of those Ages and Countries addicted to the Spectacula and so much did they think them their due 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Senators of Palmyra were Men of Eminence and Condition and the most Honourable Members of the Republick and therefore are stiled in the Inscriptions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Most Illustrious But of those Senators some I conjecture were a standing Council of State as the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were at Athens and in most Common-wealths some similar Court for Rupilius Orodes is said to be both a Senator and a Counsellor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So that as the * V. Marm. Oxon. n. 46. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were distinguisht at Athens so at Palmyra the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had their Distinctions For as the Romans had their Senate so other Cities had theirs their Court of Aldermen who govern'd the People their Duumviri representing the Consuls of which Senators some were Eminent and Principal for Authority and Influence and such probably were the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at Palmyra Men who had borne the Office of the Duumvirate and for that reason were not only of the Senatorian Memor Cosson Marm. 2. p. 140. but Consular Dignity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it is worded in another Inscription The Name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it must be confest is commonly given to every Member of that Court so the old Glossary 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Decurio Curialis called Decuriones because whenever the Colonies or Municipia were establisht and the Government