in Ancient Geography, the name of a place in Syria, situated between Heliopolis and Byblus, near Lebanon; infamous for a temple of Venus, called Aphacitis, near which was a lake, round which fire usually burst forth, and its waters were so heavy, that bodies floated on them. The temple was destroyed by Constantine, as being a school of incontinence, (Eusebius.) The name is of Syriac origin, signifying embraces.