or Hamadan, a town of Persia, between Taurus and Isfahan, E. Long. 47° 4'. N. Lat. 35° 15'. It is seated at the foot of a mountain, where there are a great many springs, which water the adjacent country. The extent of the city is very large; but there are a great many waste spots within its walls as well as cultivated land. The houses are built of brick hardened in the sun, and have but a very indifferent aspect. There is but one tolerable street; and that is where stuffs, garments, and the like, are exposed to sale: it is straight, long, and wide; and the shops are very well furnished. The adjacent parts are fruitful in corn and rice, insomuch that the neighbouring provinces are supplied from hence. It is said to enjoy a very salubrious air, but the cold in winter is intense. The Armenians have a church in this town, but it is a very ill-contrived structure. The Jews have a synagogue near a tomb, where they pretend Esther and Mordecai lie interred. To this place they come in pilgrimage from several parts of the Levant. About a league from Amadan, there is a mountain called Walbania, which abounds with all sorts of curious herbs. In the spring, people flock to this mountain from all parts to recover their health, by sucking in the salutary effluvia with their breath.

Amadan is a very ancient city. It is said to have been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, and rebuilt by Darius, who brought hither all his riches. The kings of Persia frequently retired to this place on account of its delightful situation; for which reason it obtained the name of the Royal city. It was conquered by the khalif Othman, and narrowly escaped being destroyed by Jenghiz Khan in 1220. It had then strong walls and a good castle, which are now in ruins. Its present beauty consists in its gardens and springs.