a celebrated heathen philosopher, born at Damascus in the year 540, when the Goths reigned in Italy. He wrote the life of his master Icidorus; and dedicated it to Theodora, a very learned and philosophical lady, who had also been a pupil to Icidorus. In this life, which was copiously written, he frequently made oblique attacks on the Christian religion. We have nothing remaining of it but some extracts preserved by Photius. Damascus succeeded Theon in the rhetorical school, and Icidorus in that of philosophy, at Athens.

a very ancient city of Syria, in Asia, seated in E. Long. 47° 18'. N. Lat. 35° 0'. Some of the ancients suppose this city to have been built by one Damascus, from whom it took its name; but the most generally received opinion is, that it was founded by Uz the eldest son of Aram. It is certain, from Gen. xiv. 5, that it was in being in Abraham's time, and consequently may be looked upon as one of the most ancient cities in the world. In the time of King David it seems to have been a very considerable place; as the sacred historian tells us, that the Syrians of Damascus sent 20,000 men to the relief of Hadadezer king of Zobah. We are not informed whether at that time it was governed by kings, or was a republic. Afterwards, however, it became a monarchy which proved very troublesome to the kingdom of Israel, and would even have destroyed it entirely, had not the Deity miraculously interposed in its behalf. At last this monarchy was destroyed by Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria, and Damascus was never afterwards governed by its own kings. From the Assyrians and Babylonians it passed to the Persians, and from them to the Greeks under Alexander the Great. After his death it belonged, with the rest of Syria, to the Seleucidæ; till their empire was subdued by the Romans, about 70 years before Christ. From them it was taken by the Saracens in 633; and it is now in the hands of the Turks.—Notwithstanding the tyranny of the Turkish government, Damascus is still a considerable place. It is situated in a plain of so great extent, that one can but just discern the mountains which compass it on the other side. It stands on the west side of the plain, about two miles from the head of the river Barrady, which waters it. It is of a long, straight figure, extending about two miles in length, adorned with mosques and treetops, and encompassed with gardens computed to be full 30 miles round. The river Barrady, as soon as it issues from the clefts of the Antilibanus into the plain, is divided into three streams, whereof the middlemost and biggest runs directly to Damascus, and is distributed to all the cisterns and fountains of the city. The other two seem to be artificial; and are drawn round, one to the right and the other to the left, on the borders of the gardens, into which they are let by little currents, and dispersed everywhere. The houses of the city, whose streets are very narrow, are all built on the outside either with sun-burnt brick or Flemish wall: and yet it is no uncommon thing to see the gates and doors adorned with marble portals, carved and inlaid with great beauty and variety; and within these portals to find large square courts beautified with fragrant trees and marble fountains, and compassed round with splendid apartments. In these apartments the ceilings are usually richly painted and gilded; and their duans, which are a sort of low stages seated in the pleasantest part of the room, and elevated about 16 or 18 inches above the floor, whereon the Turks eat, sleep, lay their prayers, &c., are floored, and adorned on the sides with variety of marble mixed in mosaic knots and mazes, spread with carpets, and furnished all round with bolster and cushions, to the very height of luxury. In this city are shown the church of John the Baptist, now converted into a famous mosque; the house of Ananias, which is only a small grotto or cellar, wherein is nothing remarkable; and the house of Judas with whom Paul lodged. In this last is an old tomb, supposed to be that of Ananias; which the Turks hold in such veneration, that they keep a lamp continually burning over it. There is a castle belonging to Damascus, which is like a little town, having its own streets and houses; and in this castle a magazine of the famous Damascus steel was formerly kept. The fruit-tree called the damascene, and the flower called the damask rose, were transplanted from the gardens belonging to this city; and the silks and linens known by the name of damask, were probably invented by the inhabitants.

Damascus Steel. See Damask.