a very ancient kingdom of Asia, lying between the Mediterranean on the west, the Euphrates on the east, and Arabia Deserta, Phoenicia, and Palestine, on the south.

In ancient times this country was called Aram, from Aram the youngest son of Shem, who settled here; but in process of time the name came to be changed into Syria, from one Syrus, according to some; though others think it is only a contraction of the word Assyria. At first it was undoubtedly parcelled out into several petty states; all of which seem afterwards to have been reduced under subjection to the four principal ones, Zobah, Damascus, Hamath, and Gehenn. Afterwards the whole country was divided into two parts only, viz. Coele-Syria and Phoenicia; though the Phoenicians, Idumeans, Jews, Gazites, and Azorites, or the whole country of the Philistines, was included. After the death of Alexander, Syria, in the great extent of the word, was divided, according to Strabo, into Comagene, Seleucia of Syria, Coele-Syria, Phoenice on the sea-coast, and Judea in the midland. Ptolemy, however, subdivides these; and in the Proper Syria reckons only Comagene, Pieria, Cyrrhitisca or Cyrrheitica, Seleucis, Caphnitis or Caphotis, Chalybonitis, Chalcidece or Chalcidene, Apamea, Laodicean, Phoenicia Mediterranea, Coele-Syria and Palmyrene.

The history of the ancient Syrians, till the time of their being carried away by the kings of Assyria, is totally unknown, excepting a few particulars which may be gathered from Scripture, and which it is needless here to repeat. During the continuance of the Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian monarchies, the history of this country affords nothing remarkable; but after the death of Alexander, it gave name to a very considerable empire, which makes a conspicuous figure in ancient history. At this time, however, it was not confined to Syria properly so called, but comprehended all those vast provinces of the Upper Asia which formed the Persian empire; being, in its full extent, bounded by the Mediterranean upon one side, and the river Indus on the other. The first king was Seleucus, one of the generals of Alexander the Great; who, after the death of that conqueror, being made governor of Babylon, was tempted, by the example of Alexander's other captains, to set up for himself. Eumenes, who had sincerely at heart the interest of Alexander's family, solicited his affiance against Antigonus, who had openly revolted; but Seleucus not only refused this affiance, but attempted to destroy Eumenes himself with his whole army, by cutting the sluices of the Euphrates, and laying under water the whole plain where they were encamped. Eumenes, however, found means to escape the danger without the loss of a man. Up on this Seleucus endeavoured to gain over his troops; but finding that impossible, he made a truce with Eumenes, and granted him a safe passage through his province; but at the same time sent an express to Antigonus, deeming him to fall upon him before he was joined by the governors of Upper Asia. Antigonus did not fail to follow his advice; but having prevailed against Eumenes through treachery, he next thought of bringing Seleucus himself under subjection. On his return to Babylon, therefore, after having been defeated with his whole army by Seleucus, he demanded of him an account of the revenues of his province. Receiving an unfavourable answer to this question, Antigonus was so much exasperated, that Seleucus, not thinking himself a match for him at that time, thought proper to fly into Egypt.

By the flight of Seleucus, Antigonus was left master of all his provinces; but his son Demetrius being afterwards defeated by Ptolemy at Gaza, Seleucus began to think of recovering what he had lost. Being furnished by Ptolemy with 1500 foot and 200 horse, he set out with that slender force to attempt the recovery of Babylon. Nothing could yet Seleucus was not discouraged. On his arrival at Carrhae, in Mesopotamia, partly by force and partly by persuasion, he prevailed on the Macedonians who garrisoned that place to revolt from Antigonus and join him. Being thus reinforced, he entered the territories of Babylon, where new supplies were continually added to his army; his ancient subjects flocking to him from all parts, and declaring themselves ready to stand by him with their lives and fortunes. This happened in consequence of the lenity with which they had been treated by Seleucus; whereas Antigonus was universally detested on account of his severity.—As he approached the city, those who favoured Antigonus retired into the citadel, but were soon obliged to surrender; and in that fortress Seleucus found his children, friends, and domestics, whom Antigonus had kept prisoners ever since his flight into Egypt.

Seleucus having thus made himself master of Babylon, in the year 312 B.C. began to prepare for encountering Antigonus, who he knew would soon attack him with all his force. Nicanor, governor of Media under Antigonus, first advanced against him at the head of 10,000 foot and 7000 horse; but Seleucus, with only 3000 foot and 400 horse, having drawn him into an ambush, cut off almost the whole of his army, and such of the soldiers as had escaped the slaughter willingly enlisted under his banner.

The consequence of this victory was the submission of all Media and Susiana; which alarming Antigonus, he sent his son Demetrius with an army of 5000 Macedonian foot, 10,000 mercenaries, and 4000 horse. Seleucus was then in Media; and Patrocles, whom he had left to take care of Babylon, finding his force inadequate to that purpose, compelled the inhabitants to leave the city and disperse themselves in the adjacent countries, while he himself, with what troops he had, retired into two forts, which he thought could easily be defended. When therefore Demetrius entered Babylon, he was surprised to find it deserted, upon which he instantly attacked the forts. One was quickly reduced; but as the other held out till the expiration of the time which had been allowed him by his father, he left 5000 foot and 1000 horse under the command of Archelaus to carry on the siege. With the rest he marched away, suffering his soldiers to live at discretion as he went along; which so provoked the Babylonians, that they were ever afterwards attached to Seleucus as if he had been their natural prince.

On the return of Seleucus to Babylon, he easily drove out the troops left by Antigonus, recovered the castle which he had garrisoned, and settled his authority on such a firm foundation, that it could never afterwards be moved. Having then marched again into Media, he defeated and killed with his own hand Nicanor or Nicator, whom Antigonus had sent against him; after which, having settled the affairs of Media, he reduced all Persia, Bactria, and Hyrcania, subjecting to his new empire these and all the other provinces on this side the Indus which had been conquered.

Seleucus being now master of all the countries which lie between the Euphrates and the Indus, took the title of king of Babylon and Media. But, not satisfied with these possessions, ample as they were, he crossed the Indus, in order to conquer those regions which had submitted to Alexander beyond that river. But, during the time that the generals of Alexander had been making war upon his family and up- Syria. on one another, one Sandracottus, a native of India, had driven out the Macedonians, and made himself master of the whole country. He opposed Seleucus with an army of 600,000 men, and a prodigious number of elephants; which intimidated the Macedonian so much, that he offered to leave Sandracottus in quiet possession of his dominions, provided he would furnish him with 500 elephants. To this Sandracottus readily assented; upon which Seleucus marched back into the west against Antigonus, and, in conjunction with Lysimachus and Ptolemy, engaged and totally defeated and killed him at Ipsus. After this Seleucus marched into Upper Syria, which he reduced entirely, and built the city of Antioch on the Orontes. In the same country he built several other cities; one of which he called Seleucia, from his own name; another Apamea, from his wife Apama, the daughter of one Artabazus a Persian; and a third Laodicea, from his mother Laodice. He first entered into an alliance with Demetrius, and married Stratonice his daughter; but soon after afflicted Lysimachus and Ptolemy to deprive him of the best part of his dominions. Thus Demetrius being reduced so low that he could give him no farther jealousy, Seleucus betook himself to the building of another city, which he called likewise Seleucia, and which stood on the place where the city of Baghdad now stands. Besides these, he built a great many others; of which he called Antioch, from the name of his brother Antiochus; nine Seleucias, from his own name; three Apameas, from Apama his first wife; one Stratonicea, from his second wife Stratonice; and six Laodicea, from his mother Laodice.

In 284 Seleucus entered into a war with Lysimachus, with whom he had hitherto lived in strict amity. Out of 36 general officers left by Alexander the Great, they two only survived, and both were upwards of 70 years old. Nevertheless they were both filled with the ambition and animosity of young men. The two armies met at a place called Curopedion in Phrygia, where an obstinate engagement took place. Victory was long doubtful; but at last Lysimachus was run through with a spear, and died on the spot; on which his troops betook themselves to flight, and left Seleucus master of their baggage. This victory added to the possessions of Seleucus all those provinces which had formerly been subject to Lysimachus. The former exulted much in his good fortune; being chiefly pleased that he was now the last of Alexander's captains, and by this victory became, as he styled it, the conqueror of conquerors; and on this account he is generally called Nicator, or the conqueror. His triumph, however, on this occasion, was but short-lived; for, even months after, as he was marching towards Macedon to take possession of that kingdom, he was treacherously murdered by Ptolemy Ceraunus, on whom he had conferred innumerable favours. Philtkrus prince of Pergamus purchased his body at a great price from Ptolemy, and sent it to his son Antiochus; who, with extraordinary pomp, burned it in Seleucia on the sea coast, erecting on the place a magnificent chapel, which he called from his surname Nicatorium.

Seleucus was succeeded by his son Antiochus Soter, who held the empire 19 years. He resigned to Antigonus Goniatus all pretensions to the crown of Macedon; and having engaged in a war with Eumenes king of Pergamus, he was defeated by him, and obliged to yield up part of his dominions. He died in 261 B.C. and was succeeded by his son Antiochus Theos; who having engaged in a war with Ptolemy Philadelphus king of Egypt, the Parthians and Bactrians took an opportunity to revolt, and could never afterwards be reduced. In 246 B.C. he was poisoned by his wife Laodice, whom he had divorced for Berenice daughter of Ptolemy, with whom he made peace on the revolt of the Bactrians. On the death of Ptolemy, Antiochus divorced Berenice, and took back Laodice; who, to secure herself against the effects of his fickle disposition, poisoned him, as we have just mentioned, and raised to the throne her own son, named Seleucus Callinicus. Not thinking herself safe, however, as long as Berenice lived, Laodice began immediately to concert measures for putting both her and her son to death. Berenice attempted to save herself by retiring to Daphne, where she shut herself up in an asylum built by Seleucus Nicator. There she was closely besieged by the sons of Seleucus; of which the cities of Asia having intelligence, formed a confederacy in her favour. Her brother the king of Egypt also hastened to her relief with a considerable army; but before either of these could come to her assistance, both she and her son were barbarously murdered, with all the Egyptians who attended them.

Ptolemy, on hearing the melancholy news of his sister's death, determined to take the most severe vengeance on her murderers. Joining his forces to those of the Asiatics, he carried every thing before him. Having in the first place put an end to the life of Laodice, he made himself master of all Syria and Cilicia; then pushing the Euphrates, he subdued all the country as far as Babylon and the Tigris; and had not the progress of his arms been interrupted by a federation which obliged him to return to Egypt, it is more than probable that he would have subdued the whole Syrian empire. As soon as he was returned, Seleucus attempted to revenge himself; but his fleet being destroyed by a violent storm, and his land army defeated by Ptolemy, he concluded a truce for ten years. During all this time the Parthian prince had established himself firmly on the throne, that it was in vain to think of dispossessing him. However, as soon as his other affairs would permit, Seleucus undertook an expedition against Ariaces the Parthian monarch; by Seleucus whom he was utterly defeated, taken prisoner, and carried into Parthia, where he died four years after. He was succeeded by his eldest son Seleucus Ceraunus, a weak prince, who was poisoned by a conspiracy of two of his officers; when he had reigned one year; after which his brother Antiochus, surnamed the Great, ascended the throne in 225 B.C.

In the very beginning of his reign, two of his generals, Alexander and Molo, rebelled against him. The former had been appointed governor of Persia, and the latter of Media; but they, despising the king's youth, refused to obey. The occasion of this revolt is said to have been their dread of the cruelty of Hermias the king's prime minister; and as they hoped to draw into their schemes Achaeus governor of the provinces of Asia Minor, they doubted not of success. In this, however, they failed; but this did not discourage them from proceeding in their rebellion. Epigenes, the commander of the troops about the king's person, advised him to march without delay against the rebels; but as Hermias reproached him with treachery and a design to betray the king into the hands of his enemies, Antiochus sent two of his generals into the east, while he himself undertook an expedition against Ptolemy Philadelphus, with a view of recovering Coele-Syria. In this attempt, however, he was defeated; and the generals whom he had sent into the east were totally defeated, and their troops cut off; upon which he determined to lay aside for the present his Syrian enterprise, and march in person against the rebels. This was again opposed by Hermias; but as he found it impossible to alter the king's mind, the treacherous minister found means to get Epigenes the author of this project executed, under pretence of holding a correspondence with Molo one of the rebel chiefs. Antiochus in the mean time pursued his his march against the rebels, whom he defeated in a pitched battle; upon which his chiefs laid violent hands on themselves. On his return he received the submission of the Atropatene, a barbarous people in Media; and put to death his prime minister Hermaes, whom he found hatching treacherous designs against him. During his lifetime, however, the traitor, by accusing Achaeus of treason, had obliged him to revolt in his own defense; so that the king had still two important wars on his hands, viz., that with Ptolemy king of Egypt, and the other against Achaeus. After some deliberation, he resolved to march first against the king of Egypt; and was at first very successful, reducing many cities in Cilicia and Palestine, and defeating the Egyptians in a pitched battle; but in the year 217 B.C., being worsted in the battle of Raphia, he was obliged to abandon all his conquests; of which Ptolemy immediately took possession, and Antiochus was obliged to cede them to him, that he might be at leisure to pursue the war against Achaeus.

Antiochus having made vast preparations for his expedition, soon reduced Achaeus to such distress, that he was obliged to shut himself up in the city of Sardis, which he defended for some time with great bravery; till at last, being betrayed by two Cretans, he was delivered up to the king, and by his order put to death. Antiochus then undertook an expedition against the Parthians, whom he obliged to conclude a peace on very advantageous terms. He then turned his arms against the king of Bactria, whom he also compelled to agree to his terms; one of which was, that he should give him up all his elephants. For the confirmation of the treaty, the king of Bactria sent his son to Antiochus; who, being taken with his majestic mien and agreeable conversation, gave him one of his daughters in marriage. He then crossed Mount Caucasus, and entered India; where having renewed his alliance with the king of that country, he received also of his elephants, which increased his stock to 150. From India he marched into Arachosia, Drangiana, and Carmania, establishing order and discipline in all those countries; then passing through Persia, Babylonia, and Mepotamia, he returned to Antioch, after an absence of seven years.

In the year 204 B.C., Antiochus entered into a league with Philip of Macedon, on purpose to deprive Ptolemy Epiphanes, the infant king of Egypt, of all his dominions. The Egyptians, however, put the young king under the tuition of the Romans; who immediately required the confederate princes to desist from any enterprise against the king of Egypt, under the penalty of incurring the displeasure of the republic. After delivering this message, M. Emilius Lepidus, one of the ambassadors, repaired to Egypt, where he took upon himself the office of regent and guardian to the young king. Having regulated affairs there in the best manner he could, he returned to Rome, after having appointed one Ariantomenes, an Acanthian, to be chief minister to the king. Ariantomenes being a man of prudence and fidelity, acquitted himself very well in his new station. Having taken care to recruit his army as well as he could, he sent one Scopas, a man of great authority among the Aetolians, into that country, to raise auxiliaries. Scopas soon raised an army of 6000 Aetolians, at that time reputed the best soldiers in the world; and having joined the Egyptian army, reduced all Judea, put a garrison into the castle at Jerusalem, and, on the approach of winter, returned to Alexandria loaded with booty. These exploits, however, were performed when Antiochus was absent in Asia Minor; and no sooner was he returned, than the face of affairs was changed. Scopas was defeated in a pitched battle, where one half of his men were destroyed. He himself escaped to Sidon, where he shut himself up with 10,000 of his followers; but Antiochus having invested the place, Scopas was reduced to the necessity of surrendering at discretion. The king pursued his conquests; recovered all Palestine and Coelestria; after which he invaded Asia Minor, in hopes of reducing it also, and restoring the Syrian empire to the same extent it had in the time of Seleucus Nicator. The free cities in Asia Minor immediately had recourse to the Romans, who sent an embassy to Antiochus on the occasion, checked by both parties put on those haughty and imperious airs to which they thought the greatness of their power gave them a right, no satisfaction was given, but every thing tended to an open rupture. While matters were in this situation, Hannibal the Great being obliged to leave his own flees to his country, fled to Antiochus: from whom he met with a most gracious reception. As Hannibal had, while a child, sworn perpetual enmity against the Romans, he used all his eloquence to persuade Antiochus to make war with them; and as the many victories which he had gained over them left no room to doubt of his capacity, Antiochus doubted nothing of being able, by his assistance, to conquer that haughty people. Several embassies passed between the two nations; but chiefly with a design, on the part of Antiochus, to gain time. Hannibal endeavored to draw his countrymen into the confederacy against Rome, but without effect. Antiochus having strengthened himself by several alliances, at last resolved to begin the war in earnest. To consult on the measures proper to be taken, he called a council of war; but excluded from it the only man whose advice he ought to have followed; namely, Hannibal the Carthaginian. The reason of this was, that he had become jealous of him from the too great intimacy, as he thought, which he had kept with the Roman ambassadors. However, in this council it was agreed that the war should be immediately commenced. The King himself was prevailed upon by the Aetolians to pass over into Greece, and at the same time entirely to reject the advice which Hannibal had formerly given, of sending him with an army into Italy. Here he was made generalissimo of all the Greek forces; but made none of those efforts that had formerly obtained him the title of Great. Indeed it now plainly appeared, not only that he was incapable of carrying on war against such enemies as the Romans, but even of accepting proper advice when it was given him. In another council, into which Hannibal was admitted, that commander advised the king, before he undertook anything else, to use his utmost endeavors to gain over Philip of Macedon; which, he said, was a step so important, that if it could be gained, they might, without much ado, become masters of all Greece. But if Philip could not be prevailed on to make war on the Romans, he was of opinion that the king should send his son Seleucus into Macedon at the head of an army, and thus prevent Philip from giving the Romans any assistance. But he still maintained, that the only way to defeat the Romans was to send an army into Italy. This advice was again rejected; and the king imprudently became the aggressor, by falling on a body of 500 Romans before war had been declared. He also made king Philip his enemy, by entertaining the regent of Athamania, who was a pretender to the crown of Macedon. To complete all, he himself fell in love, though above 50 years of age, with a beautiful young woman of Chalcis, whom he married; and became so great a slave to this passion, that he entirely neglected his affairs; the army gave themselves up entirely to dissipation and debauchery, and every trace of military discipline vanished.

In the year 191 B.C., Antiochus was raised from his lethargy by a declaration of war against him at Rome, and set out for Aetolia. His army at this time amounted to no more than 10,000 foot and 500 horse. He had been made to believe that he would receive a vast reinforcement in Aetolia; but when he came to make the experiment, he soon found his mistake; all the troops he could raise there amounted to no more than 4000 men. With this force, so exceedingly inadequate to the purpose, he was obliged to oppose the Roman army, who were advancing in conjunction with the Macedonians, and had already made surprising progress. Antiochus seized the Straits of Thermopylae; but was driven from them by the Romans, the king himself being the first that fled. Almost his whole army was destroyed in the battle or in the pursuit, and Antiochus returned with disgrace into Asia.

Soon after his return, Antiochus equipped a fleet of 200 sail; on which he immediately embarked for the Thracian Chersonesus, now Crim Tartary, where he fortified the cities of Lyssimachia, Sevus, and Abydos, with others in that neighbourhood, to prevent the Romans from crossing the Hellespont. In the mean time Polyxenidas the Syrian admiral sent intelligence to the king that the Roman fleet had appeared off Delos; upon which he defied him to seek them by sea and engage them at all events. He did so, and was defeated with the loss of 40 ships taken or sunk in the engagement. This was soon after revenged by the destruction of the Rhodian fleet by the artifice of Polyxenidas; but in the end the king's affairs went everywhere to wreck. Having laid siege to the city of Pergamus, he was obliged to raise it with loss; the Phoenician fleet commanded by Hannibal was defeated by the Rhodians; and soon after the Syrian fleet under Polyxenidas was utterly defeated by the Romans. Antiochus was much disheartened by these repeated defeats, that he appeared like one infatuated. Instead of fortifying more strongly those cities which lay on the frontiers of his kingdom, he entirely deserted them; and thus Lyssimachia and Abydos, the two keys to Asia, fell into the hands of the Romans without the least resistance.

The arrival of the Romans in Asia struck Antiochus with such terror, that he instantly sued for peace. The terms he offered were indeed very advantageous, but by no means agreeable to the expectations of the Romans. They therefore gave him this final answer: 1. That since he had drawn upon himself the war, he should defray the whole expense of it; 2. That he should restore liberty in general to all the Greek cities in Asia; and, 3. That to prevent future hostilities, he should relinquish all Asia on this side Mount Taurus. These terms, however, still appeared to him to intolerable, that he resolved to continue the war; and determined also to take the most imprudent method of carrying it on, namely, by hazarding all on the event of a general engagement. The king encamped near Magnesia, and strongly fortified his camp. The Romans insulted him in his trenches, and proposed to attack his fortifications if he continued to decline an engagement. At last the king, thinking it would be shameful for him longer to refuse an engagement, being at the head of an army far more numerous than that of the enemy, in a friend's country, and in the midst of his allies, resolved at all events to accept the challenge, and accordingly prepared for a decisive battle.

The Roman army consisted of four legions, partly Romans and partly Latins, each legion at this time containing 5500 men, and of 7000 auxiliaries sent by the kings of Pergamus and Macedon; but of these 2000 were ordered to guard the camp during the action. The Romans were posted in the centre, and the Latins in the two wings, the left of which extended to the river. On the side of the right wing, to cover and support it, the consul posted the auxiliary troops of Eumenes, a small body of horse, and some Trallians and Cretans lightly armed. Sixteen elephants which the Romans had were placed behind the army by way of corps-de-reserve, the consul not thinking it proper to oppose them to those of the enemy, which were far more numerous, being in all 52, and besides excelled the Roman elephants in strength, height, and courage, the former being brought from India and the latter from Africa. As for the Syrian army, all the nations of the east seemed to be assembled to support the cause of Antiochus. But the main strength of it consisted in 16,000 foot, armed after the Macedonian manner, who composed the phalanx. This body faced every way, was armed with long pikes, and taught to fight in close order, as the soldiers of Alexander the Great had formerly been. Antiochus did not draw up his phalanx as usual, but divided it into 10 companies separated from each other, placing, in the spaces between each of the companies, an elephant loaded with a tower full of armed men. On the right of the phalanx was drawn up in a line part of the cavalry, viz. 1500 Asiatic Gauls, 3000 horse armed cap-a-pie, and 1000 more, the flower of the Median cavalry. At some distance from these followed the cavalry of the king's household richly clothed, and wearing bucklers plated over with silver. In the same line 1200 Scythians on horseback, armed with bows and arrows, made a great figure, being all chosen men, and of an extraordinary size. The light-armed troops, to the number of 3000, partly Trallians and partly Cretans, with 10,000 Myrian archers and 4000 men more, partly Cyreneans armed with flings, partly Persians armed with bows, and partly Arabians mounted on dromedaries, closed the right wing, which was led on by the king in person, surrounded by a body of Syrians and Lydians well mounted, but not heavily armed. The left wing was commanded by Seleucus and Antipater; the former the king's son, and the latter his nephew, and disposed thus: Close to the phalanx were posted 1500 Galatians and 2000 Cappadocians, which king Ariarathes had sent to the affluence of his father-in-law. Next to these were placed 2700 auxiliaries sent from different countries; these were followed by 3000 cuirassiers well mounted; and, lastly, in the flank of this wing marched 2000 horse lightly armed. At some distance were placed several small bodies of light-armed troops both foot and horse; among which were 2500 Galatian horse, some Tarentines, Cretans, Carrians, Cilicians, &c. The phalanx, which was in the centre, was commanded by three officers of distinction, viz. Minio, Zeuxis, and Philip. A vast number of chariots, armed with hooks and scythes, were drawn up before the first line, as were likewise a great many elephants carrying towers with several floors, all filled with dingers and archers; besides many camels, animals then unknown to the Roman troops, mounted by Arabians armed with swords six feet long, that the riders might from their backs reach the enemy. The Romans had never seen a more numerous army, nor one more finely adorned; nevertheless they never showed so great a contempt for an army as for this which they were now going to attack.

On the day of the battle the weather proved very favourable to the Romans; for a thick fog rising in the morning, the day was almost turned into night, so that the Syrian commanders could not have all the corps under their command in view, on account of their great extent, nor send them proper orders in time; whereas the fog was not thick enough to prevent the Roman generals from seeing their several bodies at the greatest distance, as they took up but little ground. Besides, the damp which was occasioned by the fog slackened the strings of the enemy's bows, so that the Ahiatics who used them could shoot their darts and arrows but faintly. The whole dependence of Antiochus in the first attack was on his armed chariots, which were to cut their way into the Roman army. For this purpose they had Romans walking over heaps of dead bodies, especially where the phalanx stood, marched up to the Syrian camp, attacked, and plundered it. The riches they found in it are not to be described; but the taking of it cost the Romans a camp, new battle, which proved more fatal to the Syrians than that in the field; for the Romans having, in spite of a most desperate resistance, forced the intrenchments, gave no quarter, but put all to the sword without distinction. There fell this day in the battle, in the pursuit, and in the plunder of the camp, 50,000 foot and 4000 horse; 1500 were taken prisoners, and 15 elephants. In the consular army there were but 300 foot killed and 25 horse. Eumenes had only 15 of his men killed; so that this victory, as we are told by the ancients, seemed a prodigy to all nations both of the east and west.

Antiochus retired to Sardis with as many of his forces that had escaped the slaughter as he could draw together. From Sardis he soon marched to rejoin his son Seleucus, who had fled to Apamea. As for the consul, he took advantage of the king's defeat and flight, making himself master of all the neighbouring countries. Deputies hastened to him from all parts; the cities of Thyatira, Magnesia, Tralles, Mysagria in Caria, all Lydia, and Ephesus itself, though highly favoured by Antiochus, declared for the Romans. Polyxenidas, upon the news of the king's defeat, left the port of Ephesus, and sailed to Patara, where he landed with a very small guard, and returned by land into Syria. The consul took the road to Sardis, which opened its gates to him. As he stopped there, his brother Africanus, as soon as his health allowed him, came and joined him in that city, and congratulated him on the glory he had so lately acquired.

Antiochus finding his affairs in a bad situation both by sea and land, and not daring to appear before the consular army in the field, sent Antipater his brother's son, and Zeuxis, who had been governor of Lydia and Phrygia, to sue for a peace. They were ordered to treat chiefly with the elder brother, of whose clemency and good nature Antiochus entertained a high opinion. Accordingly, on their arrival at Sardis, where the consul then was with his brother, they addressed the latter, and were by him presented to the consul. Their speech was very submissive, and such as became a vanquished people.

Hereupon a council was summoned, and after long debates the ambassadors were called in; and Scipio Africanus being desired by the consul to acquaint the deputies with the resolutions of the assembly, is said to have expressed himself in the following terms: "We are sensible that the victory which we have lately gained is owing to the gods, and therefore shall treat the vanquished with moderation, demanding little more of them now than we did at our first entering into Asia. Antiochus shall obtain a peace upon the following terms: That he give up his pretensions to Europe, confine his dominions to Asia beyond Mount Taurus; and that he pay 15,000 Euboec talents for the expenses of the war; 500 down, 2500 when the senate and people shall confirm the articles, and 1000 more every year for 12 years together. We also insist upon his satisfying king Eumenes, and his paying him the 400 talents he owes him, and what remains due for the corn which his father sent to the king of Syria. It is likewise the pleasure of the council that you deliver up to us Hannibal the Carthaginian, Thoas the Aetolian, Mnesilochus the Arcarnanian, and Philo and Eubulus two Chalcidians; for these have been the authors of our divisions, the incendiaries who kindled the present war. Lastly, the king of Syria, for a further proof of his sincerity, shall give us 20 such hostages as we shall choose, of whom Antiochus his youngest son shall be one."

The

Vol. XVIII. Part I. The ambassadors of Antiochus had been ordered to refuse no terms; and therefore these were accepted, and the whole affair concluded. So that the Syrian ambassadors now prepared to set out for Rome, to get the conditions of peace proposed by Scipio ratified there. In the mean time, the consul divided his army into three bodies, put it into winter-quarters; one part continued at Magnesia, another was sent to Tralles, and the third to Ephesus, where the Scipios took up their quarters. There they received a new embassy from Antiochus, with the hostages he had promised, the Roman prisoners and deserters, and the strangers which the consul had demanded, except Hannibal, who after the king's defeat had fled out of his dominions; and Thoas the Aetolian, who, as soon as he heard that a treaty was on foot between Antiochus and the Romans, had returned to Aetolia, where a war was likely to break out between that republic and Rome. L. Aurelius Cotta was sent with the ambassadors to Rome, to acquaint the senate with the particulars of the treaty. When they appeared before the conscript fathers, they spoke with great submission, and only desired them to ratify the articles which the Scipios had offered to their master. The senate, after examining them, ordered that a treaty of peace should be concluded with Antiochus, and the articles of it engraved on brass, and fixed up in the Capitol. They only added one clause, which was, That the Syrians should change every year all their hostages, except the son of king Antiochus, who should continue at Rome as long as the republic thought fit. The peace being thus ratified, and all Asia on this side Mount Taurus delivered into the hands of the Romans, the Greek cities were by them restored to their liberty, the provinces of Caria and Lydia given to the Rhodians, and all the rest that had belonged to Antiochus bestowed upon Eumenes.

Antiochus did not long survive his misfortune at Magnesia. Some tell us, that being greatly puzzled how to raise the sum he had engaged to pay to the Romans, he seized on the riches which had for many ages been deposited in a temple of Jupiter Belus in the province of Elymais; upon which the populace rose in arms, and slew him and all his attendants. Others inform us, that he was killed at an entertainment by one of his guests.

Antiochus the Great died in 187, and with him the glory of the Syrian empire. The Romans now gave laws to the kings of Syria, insomuch, that when Antiochus Epiphanes the grandson of Antiochus the Great hesitated at obeying the commands of the senate, one of the ambassadors drew a circle round him with a rod on the floor, and told him that he should not go out of that spot before he had told him what he was to do. The most remarkable transactions of this prince are his wars with the Jews, and persecutions of them; of which a full account is given under the article Jews. After a variety of usurpers and tyrants, the kingdom of Syria fell under Tigranes king of Armenia in the year 83 B.C.; and upon his overthrow by the Romans, it became a province of the dominions of the republic. From them it was taken by the Saracens in the reign of the caliph Omar, and is now a province of Turkey in Asia.

Syria is in some measure only a chain of mountains, varying in their levels, situation, and appearances. The part of the country, however, next the sea is in general low, and besides this there are several extensive valleys. The climate on the sea-coast and in these valleys is very hot, but in the higher parts of the country it bears a good deal of resemblance to that of France. Syria is exceedingly fertile, and the variety of its productions is very great. Besides wheat, rye, barley, beans, and the cotton plant, which is cultivated everywhere, Palestine abounds in sesame, from which oil is procured, and doura as good as that of Egypt. Maize thrives in the light soil of Balbec, and even rice is cultivated with success on the borders of the marshy country of Havula. They have lately begun to plant sugar-canes in the gardens of Saide and of Bairout, and they find them equal to those of the Delta. Indigo grows without cultivating on the banks of the Jordan, in the country of Bilan, and only requires care to make it of an excellent quality. The hill-sides of Latakia produce tobacco. Gaza produces dates like Mecca, and pomegranates like Algiers; Tripoli affords oranges equal to those of Malta; Bairout figs like those of Marseille, and bananas not inferior to those of St Domingo; Aleppo enjoys the exclusive advantage of producing pitachios; and Damascus justly boasts of possessing all the fruits known in our provinces. Its stony soil suits equally the apples of Normandy, the plums of Touraine, and the peaches of Paris. Twenty sorts of apricots are reckoned there, the stone of one of which contains a kernel highly valued through all Turkey. The cochineal plant, which grows on all that coast, contains perhaps that precious insect in as high perfection as it is found in Mexico and St Domingo.

The inhabitants may be divided into three principal classes: the descendants of the Greeks of the Lower Empire; the Arabs, their conquerors; and the Turks, the present ruling power: and these again, the first into three, the second into four, classes; besides three wandering tribes of Turkomen, Kurds, and Bedouin Arabs. The ancient inhabitants before the Greeks under Alexander are entirely lost. The inhabitants are in general of a middling stature, and the eyes of the women almost everywhere beautiful, and their shape correct and well proportioned. The general language is Arabic. Syriac is a dead language.