(anc. geog.), a mountain of the Hither India, hanging over the city Nyssa, built by Bacchus, and situated between the rivers Cophen and Indus. The name, denoting the thigh, gave rise to the fable of Bacchus being inserted into Jupiter's thigh, and being born twice; because in this mountain he and his army are said to have been preserved, when disease and pestilence raged in the plains below.

MERA-DE-ASTA, formerly a large town of Andalusia, seated on the river Guadalete, between Arcos and Xeres de la Frontera; but now only a large heap of ruins. Here the Arabs conquered Roderick the last king of the Goths, and by that victory became masters of Spain in 713.