Syracusa

1694. The great historical, geographical and poetical dictionary by Louis Moreri.

Syracusa, once the noblest and most potent City in the Island of Sicily, seated on the East side thereof, which was formerly a Metropolis, but is now only a Bishops See under the Archbishop of Montreal. It was built by Archias a Corinthian A. M. 1190, above 700 Years before the Birth of our Saviour, in the Days of Ʋzziah King of Judah. In after-times it became the greatest and most celebrated City the Greeks possessed in any part of the World; and as Strabo saith, was 180 Greek Stadia's in Circuit, which is 22 English Miles and an half. It was divided into four Parts, which were, Acradina, Tyche, Neapolis, and Insula; the first of these, which was the greatest, contained the famous Temple of Jupiter, a sumptuous Palace, and a great Square surrounded with arched Walks and Piazza's, besides abundance of fair Streets: In that of Naples was a great Amphitheatre, and a wonderful Statue of Apollo in the midst of a large Place: The third, Tyche, contained a College and divers Temples: And the last, called the Isle of Ortygia, was considerable for Hiero's Palace, two Temples of Diana, now the Cathedral of St. Luke and Minerva, and the famous Fountain of Arethusa. It fell under the Power of the Romans in the Year of the World 3738, of Rome 541, and 210 Years before the Birth of our Saviour, when it was entirely ruined by Marcellus the Roman General, who found more Booty here than the Romans found at Carthage; yet it recovered again, and in Tully's Time had three Walls, three Castles, and a Marble Gate, and could raise 12000 Horse and 400 Ships. Archimedes the Mathematician, who was slain in the Storm, having retarded the Taking of it by his Art more than the Citizens and Garison did by their Arms, in 884 the Saracens took and razed it to the ground, since which it has never recover'd its ancient Splendor. At present Syracuse, now Syragosa, stands in the Island called Ortygia, surrounded with Rocks, which make it very strong; having also a strong Castle, and is it self strongly walled, and hath two fair Havens. It hath a Garison of 200 Spaniards and 300 Townsmen, a neighbouring Marsh renders it unhealthful. Long. 39. 24. Lat. 36. 24. Cluver. desript. Sicil. Vincenzo Mirabels la Antiq. Syracusa. Giacomo Bonanni l' Antica Siracus. illustr. Fazel. Hist. Sicil. Roch. Pirrhii not. Eccl. Siciliae. Bochart. Chan. l. 1. c. 28.