low water, or from the quantity of white coral, spread every where over its bottom. We derive the name "Red Sea" from the Greeks. Most probably this sea was antiently called the sea of Edom, from its neighbouring coast and as Edom signifies Red in Hebrew, the Greeks, not understanding the meaning of the appellation, translated it, as we have done after them, the Red Sea.

RHEGIUM, a sea port town in Italy, opposite to Sicily. (Acts xxviii. 13.)

RHODES, the capital of an island of the same name, lying off the coast of Caria. (Acts xxi. 1.)

ROME, the celebrated Metropolis of the Roman Empire.

SALT SEA. See pp. 232, 233. supra.

SAMARIA, Region of. 218. supra.

See p.

SAMARIA, City of, the antient capital of the kingdom of Israel, was situated on a hill which derived its name from Semer or Shemer, of whom it was purchased by Omri king of Israel, B. C. 921, who made it the seat of his government, and called it Samaria (Heb. Shomeron) from its former owner. By his successors it was greatly improved and fortified. After having been destroyed by Shalmaneser king of Assyria, and rebuilt during the reign of Alexander, B. c. 449, it was again destroyed by John Hyrcanus. It was afterwards wholly rebuilt, and considerably enlarged by Herod surnamed the Great, who gave it the name of Sebaste, and erected a temple there in honour of the emperor

SAMOS, an island of the Archipelago, on the coast of Asia Minor. (Acts xx. 15.) ·

SAMOTHRACIA, an island of the

gean Sea. Saint Paul, departing from Troas for Macedonia, arrived first at Samothracia, and then landed in Macedonia. (Acts xvi. 11.)

SARDIS, the capital of Lydia, was situated at the foot of mount Tmolus, on the banks of the river Pactolus: it was celebrated for the wealth, and for the voluptuous and debauched manners of its inhabitants. (Rev. i. 11. iii. 1. 4.) Sardis is at present reduced to a miserable village called Sart.

SAREPTA, or Zarephath (Luke iv. 26.), was a city in the territory of Sidon, between that city and Tyre. (1 Kings xvii. 9. Luke iv. 26-)

SARON, a spacious and fertile vale between Lydda and the sea, which contained several villages. (Acts ix. 35.)

SHUSHAN, the capital of Susiana, a province of Elam or Persia, which Daniel terms the palace (viii. 2.), because the Chaldæan monarchs had a royal palace here. This once splendid metropolis is now a mere wilder

ness.

SICHEM, Sychar, or Shechem, a city of Samaria, about forty miles distant from Jerusalem, which became the metropolis of the Samaritans after the destruction of Samaria by Hyrcanus. In the vicinity of this place is Jacob's well (John. iv. 6.), memorable for our Saviour's conversation with the Samaritan

woman.

SIDDIM, Vale of. See p. 237. supra.

SIDON, or ZIDON, a very antient and celebrated port and

of Phoenicia, is situated on the Mediterranean Sea. Sidon has always been famous for its great trade and navigation: at present it is called Said. SIHOR, River. See p. 231. supra.

SILOAM, Fountain. 238. supra.

See p.

SINAI, a mountain in Arabia Petræa, where the law was given. It had two tops; the one lower, called Horeb, or the mount of God (Exod. iii. 1.), where he appeared to Moses in a flame of fire in a bush: this Horeb is therefore called Sinai by Saint Stephen. (Acts vii. 30.) See HOREB, p. 34. of this Appendix.

SMYRNA, a city of Asia Minor, was situated between forty and forty-five miles to the north of Ephesus, of which city it was originally a colony. It was one of the most opulent and powerful cities of that region; but is now celebrated chiefly for the number, wealth, and commerce of the inhabitants.

SODOM, the chief of the Pentapolitan cities, or five cities of the plain, gave the name to the whole land. It was burnt with three other cities, by fire from heaven, for the unnatural lusts of their inhabitants.

SODOM, Sea of. See pp. 232, 233. supra.

SYRIA, the name of a large district of Asia, lying in the widest acceptation of the name between Palestine, Mount Taurus, and the Tigris, and thus including Mesopotamia, or Syria of the two rivers (in Hebrew, Aram Naharaim.) In the New Testament Syria may be considered as bounded on the west and north-west by the Mediterranean Sea and by Mount

Taurus; on the east by the

Euphrates; and on the south by Arabia Deserta and Palestine, or rather Judæa, for the name Syria includes the northern part of Palestine. The valley between the ridges of Libanus and Anti-Libanus, was called Cœlo-Syria or Cœle-Syria; which appellation was also sometimes extended to the neigh bouring country. At the time of the Jewish exile, Syria and Phoenicia were subject to the king of Babylon, and they afterwards were tributary to the Persian monarchs. After the country fell into the hands of the Romans, Syria was made the province of a proconsul. (Robinson's Gr. and Eng. Lexicon to the New Testament. p. 731.)

SYRO-PHOENICIA is Phoenicia properly so called, of which Sidon was the capital; which having by right of conquest been united to the kingdom of Syria, added its old name Phoenicia to that of Syria. The Canaanitish woman is called a Syrophoenician (Mark vii. 26., because she was of Phoenicia, which was then considered as making part of Syria. St. Matthew calls her a Canaanitish woman (Matt. xv. 22. 24.), because this country was really peopled by the Canaanites, Sidon being the eldest son of Canaan. (Gen. x. 15.)

TABOR OF THABOR, Mount. See p. 235. supra.

TARSUS, a rich and populous city, the capital of Cilicia. It was celebrated in the Scriptures as being the place whither Jonah designed to flee and where St. Paul was born.

THESSALONICA, a large and populous city and sea-port of Macedonia, the capital of one of

the four districts into which the Romans divided that country after its conquest by Paulus Emilius. It was situated on the Thermian Bay, and was antiently called Therma; but, being rebuilt by Philip the father of Alexander, after his victory over the Thessalians, it then received the name of Thessalonica. It was inhabited by Greeks, Romans, and Jews; from among whom St. Paul collected a numerous church. (Acts xvii. 1. 11. 13.)

THYATIRA, a city of Asia Minor, was a considerable city on the road from Pergamos to Sardis, and about 48 miles eastward of the former. It is called by the Turks Ak-hisar.

:

TIBERIAS (John vi. 1—23. xxi. 1.), still called by the natives Tabaria or Tabbareeah, was antiently one of the principal cities of Galilee it was built by Herod the Great, and so called in honour of the emperor Tiberius. The privileges conferred upon its inhabitants by Herod, caused it in a short time to become a place of considerable note: it was situated in a plain near the Lake of Gennesareth, which is thence termed the Lake or Sea of Tiberias; for a notice of which see p. 232. supra.

TRACHONITIS. See p. 220.

Mycale, opposite to, and about five miles from Samos.

TYRE, a celebrated city and sea-port of Phoenicia, that boasted of a very early antiquity. Even in the time of Joshua it was strongly fortified; for it is called the strong city Tyre. (Josh. xix. 29.) After the time of David, Tyre is frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, where its inhabitants are represented as filled with pride and luxury, and all the vices attendant on prosperity and immense wealth. Judgments are denounced against them by the prophets, in consequence of their idolatry and wickedness; and the destruction of their city is foretold. After this destruction the great body of the inhabitants fixed themselves on an island opposite the former city, about 30 stadia from the main land, where they erected another city. This also soon became opulent and powerful it was taken by Alexander the Great, after an obstinate siege of seven months, in the year 332 B. C. After many subsequent reverses of fortune, and various changes of masters, Tyre at length fell under the dominion of the Romans, and continued to enjoy its commercial prosperity. (Robinson's Lexicon, p. 772.) Tyre is now a miserable place, called Sur, whose inhabitants support themselves by fishing.