PTOLEMAIS, (Strabo); the largest and most considerable town of the Thebais, or Higher Egypt, and in nothing short of Memphis; governed in the manner of a Greek republic: situated on the west side of the Nile, almost opposite to Coptos.—Another, of Cyrenaica, anciently called Barce.—A third of the Troglodytica, furnished Epitheras, from the chace of wild beasts, as elephants: lying in the same parallel with Meroë, (Strabo); on the Arabian gulf, (Pliny); 4820 stadia to the south of Berenice.—A fourth, of Galilee, anciently called Aca, or Acon; made a Roman colony under the emperor Claudius, (Pliny).—A fifth, of Pamphylia; situate near the river Melas, on the borders of Cilicia Aspera.