Syria

Sources from old books

1638. The merchants mappe of commerce wherein by Lewes Roberts.

Of SYRIA in generall and the parte thereof. Syria hath on the East Euphrates, on the West the mediterranean Sea; on the South Palestine, on the North Sil•…cia, watered with Euphrates, which antiently passed through the garden of Eden; and having its sourse in the Mountaines of Armenia, running at this day by Euphrates. •…abylon or Bagdate, disgorgeth it selfe into the Persian Sea, and O•…tis which arising on Mount Libanus saluteth the walls of Silu•…, and disi•…bogeth in the mediterranean, and is divided into 3 Provinces, viz. Phenicia, Celosyria and Sirophaenicia, of which in order.

1676. A most exact and accurate map of the whole world by Donald Lupton.

Syria,

W. Mediterranean, S. Palestine and Arabia E. Euphrates, N. Cilicia, and the lesser Armenia; 525 miles long from Taurus to Arabia. 470 miles broad from the Mediterranean to Euphrates, the language Arabick, the religion Christian, Mahumetan, Pagan, or a mixture of all professed by the Drusians:

the prime Rivers,

1. Chorsaeus or Chison.
2. Orontes now Saldino.
3. Eleutherios now called Casmar.
4. Singos.
5. Euphrates:

the Mountains,

1. Carmel.
2. Piena.
3. Casius, four miles high.
4. Libanus, famous for Cedars, Frankincense and Honey falling on the boughs of the trees; 150 miles long from Sidon in Phaenicia, to Smyrna in Caelosyria, inhabited by Maronite Christians, that pay the Grand-Seignior 17 Sultanies a man when above 12 years of age.

In Phaenicia, a maritine part of Syria of great traffique, formerly was

1. the famous port Ptolemais razed to the ground, 1291.
2. And the ancient Mart of Tyre.
3. Sarepta or Sarphath on the Sea-coast, between Tyre and Sidon, and its good wines.
4. Sidon, in a rich valley between Libanus Northward, and Antilibanus Southward; the inhabitants whereof, the first makers of Chrystal Glass, Zech. 9.2. the matter thereof flowing thither from the adjoyning Rivers, with an haven for Gallies, and a Block-house.
5. Bunitus.
6. Biblis.
7. Orthosia lately Tortosa.
8. Tripolis, eminent for Amaza Franki, Kell-franhe, and other fruits, and two miles from the Sea, and half a mile from the haven on the west-side of it; rich in Gardens, Springs, and Silk-worms, whose Silks they sell raw to the Italians, and much increased by the trade of Scanderoon, and well fortified.

In Syria, properly so called, S. Phaenicia; rich in

• Fruits, especially Figs, hanging about the high ways.
• Sheep with great tails, weighing 25 pound and upwards; &
• great store of Cotton-wool:

is

1. Rugia.
2. Hicrapolis.
3. Barbarssus.
4. Chalcis.
5. Telnedissa.
6. Laodicea and its good wines.
7. Apamea.
8. Emesa or Hamse in a spacious and fruitful plain, and well watered.
9. Epiphania.
10. Laris.
11. Gebal, Ps. 83, now Gabella.
12. Aradus.
13. Daphne.
14. Antioch seated on both sides the River Orontis, twelve miles from the Mediterranean, the River Parsar passing on the South-side of it, now ruined.
15. Alburia.

In Comagena E. Euphrates and Mesopotamia, W. Amamus and Cilicia. N. Taurus and Armenia the less, a place famous for Divination, was

1. Samosata.
2. Germanica.
3. Singa.
4. Pinora.
5. Aleppo, the Aleph or first of Syria, on the bank of Singas, kept up, because commodiously scituated for the trade of the whole world between three ports of Tripolis, Berytus, and Alexandretta in Turkey, besides the Persian Territories, where the English Merchants have three houses for stowage, and a coul; the building low, and arched before their doors, and the scite pleasant among Gardens, and secure rather than strong.
6. Aman between Tripoli and Aleppo, pleasantly seated on two Hills, and environed with Orchards of Palme trees, and very good fruits.
7. Byrrah and those places, Esr. 37.13. 2 Kings. 18.34.

In Palmyrene, N. Comagena wholesome for hot Springs, but not well Rivered, is

1. Palmyra, see 1 Chron. 8.4.
2. Sura.
3. Alamath.

In Caelosyria the Syria so much spoken of in the Books of Kings and Chronicles, is,

1. Heliopolis, now Balbec.
2. Chalcis, west of Damascus in the shades of Libanus.
3. Abila.
4. Adida.
5. Capitolias, now Suente.
6. Damascus scituate in a large plain, environed with hills, and watered with the River Chrysorrous, watering the Orchards and Gardens, whence we have excellent wines; the luscious Damascenes, the sweet Damask Roses, and the curious Damask works.

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

Syria, now by the Inhabitants called Souristan, is a vast Country in the Greater Asia, called by the Jews, Aram: When it is largely taken it contains Phoenicia, Palestine or the Holy Land, and Syria properly so called. In the latter Acceptation, it is bounded to the North by Cilicia and the Lesser Armenia; on the East by Mesopotamia, divided from it by the Euphrates, and Arabia Deserta; on the South it hath Palestine and Phoenicia; and on the West the Mediterranean Sea. Its Length from North to South is 400 Miles; and from East to West it is in Breadth 200 Italian Miles. In ancient Times Damascus was the capital City of this Country, afterwards Antioch, and now Aleppo. The Country is by Nature extreamly fruitful, and was once as populous, but is now almost desolate. It contains the Cities Alexandretta, Amain, which is the ancient Apamea, Hierapolis now Tedith, Laodicea now Laudicia, Samosata now Scompsat, and Antioch now Antachin. Syria was at first subject to Kings of their own, the last of whom was conquered by Tiglath Pileser King of Assyria, and beheaded in Damascus. After this they were subject to the Kings of Assyria, Media, and Persia, till after the Death of Alexander the Great. Seleucus Nicanor began another Kingdom here about A. M. 3644, whose Successors reigned to the Number of 21, till Pompey subdued it to the Romans, and made it a Province in A. M. 4650, 62 Years before the Birth of our Saviour, and continued under the Romans till A. C. 636, or as others 64, when it was conquered by Haumer the third Caliph of the Saracens. About A. C. 1075 Melech and Ducat began a Turkish Kingdom here, which in 1262 was destroyed by Haalon the Tartar. Next it fell into the Hands of the Mamaluks of Egypt. * Constantine the Emperor took this Country from the Saracens in 932, and Godfrey of Bouloigne did the like afterwards. Baldwin IV. King of Jerusalem wasted it twice about 1173. Seraph Sultan of Babylon seiz'd the whole about 1292. The Egyptians possest it in 1304. And the Turks enjoy it since 1517. This Country is noted for producing Black Lions. The Language of the Inhabitants is somewhat like the Hebrew, but writ in different Characters. The People are effeminate and unconstant, passionate, cunning, and covetous, much addicted to sensual Pleasures, and delight in Oyntments and Perfumes. Herodian, Propertius, Virgil. Syria is a Country of great Trade, the greatest part of the Inhabitants are Mahometans, besides a considerable number of Jews and Christians of divers Denominations. Selden. in Prolegom. de Dis Syris. Bochart. Phaleg. l. 2. c. 6.