in Ancient Geography, a country frequently mentioned in Scripture, and lying to the fourth east of Shinar. In the time of Daniel (viii. 2.) Sufiana seems to have been part of it; and before the captivity, it does not appear that the Jews called Persia by any other name. Elymae and Elymais are often mentioned by the ancients. Ptolemy, though he makes Elymais a province of Media, yet he places the Elymae in Susiana, near the sea coast. Stephanus takes it to be a part of Assyria; but Pliny and Josephus more properly of Persia, whose inhabitants this latter tells us sprang from the Elamites. The best commentators agree, that the Elamites, who were the ancestors of the Persians, were descended from Elam the son of Shem. It is likewise allowed that the most ancient among the inspired writers constantly intend Persia, when they speak of Elam and the kingdom of Elam. Thus, not to detain the reader with unnecessary quotations, when the prophet Jeremiah (xlix. 39.), after denouncing many judgments against this country, adds these words, "But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the Lord," he is always understood to mean the restoration of the kingdom of the Persians by Cyrus, who subdued the Babylonians, as they before had subdued the Persians.