BETICA, a province of ancient Spain, so called from the famed river Batis, now Guadalquivir. It was bounded on the W. and N.W. by Lusitania, on the S. by the Mediterranean and Sinus Gaditanus, and on the E. and N.E. by Tarraconensis.
BETYLIA (Βαίτυλια, βαίτυλοι), anointed stones, worshipped by the Phoenicians and other barbarous nations. They were commonly of a black colour, and consecrated to some god, as Saturn, Jupiter, the sun. Some are of opinion that the true original of these idols is to be derived from the pillar of stone which Jacob erected at Bethel, and which was afterwards worshipped by the Jews. These betylia were the objects of much veneration among the ancient heathens. Many of their idols were in fact no other; and no sort was more common in Eastern countries than that of erect oblong stones, hence termed by the Greeks κόρες, pillars. Dædalus separated the mass into two feet, whence he is said to have made walking statues. In some parts of Egypt they were planted on both sides of the highways. In the temple of Elagabalus in Syria, there was one said to have fallen from heaven; and in Phrygia there was a black stone, also considered an acrolite; which the Romans sent for, and received with much ceremony, Scipio Nasica being at the head of the embassy.