or LADIKIYEH (Laodicea ad Mare), a seaport-town of the Levant, in the pashalik of Tripoli, is situated on a short tongue of land opposite the north-eastern promontory of Cyprus, 78 miles N. of Tripoli, in N. Lat. 35° 30', and E. Long. 35° 48'. It was founded in the beginning of the second century B.C. by Seleucus Nicator, and named, in honour of his mother, Laodice. The surrounding country was at that time very fertile, and produced celebrated wine, which was exported to Alexandria in large quantities. Many ancient remains are to be seen in the town and neighbourhood. The most striking of these is a triumphal arch, or town gate, situate at the S.E. corner of Latakia, and supposed to have been erected in honour of Caesar Septimius Severus. It is from 30 to 40 feet high, has four door-ways, and is almost entire. Besides this edifice there are the remains of numerous tombs and mausolea, with defaced inscriptions in Latin and Greek. The modern town is divided into two portions, the landward and seaward. The latter, called La Scala, or Marina, forms the port of the town proper. It is composed of a single range of buildings running parallel with the shore, and is connected with Upper Latakia by a roadway, lined in some parts with houses and villas. Its harbour, formed by a natural basin, and once protected on the N. by a fortress, now in ruins, is sheltered on all directions but the W. It has, however, no depth of water for large vessels. The custom-house, merchants' stores, and British, French, and Austrian consulate offices are situate here. Upper Latakia is 1½ mile distant from the port, the ground intervening being laid out in gardens. It is in a dilapidated state, in consequence of the frequent earthquakes which have visited its neighbourhood, and the streets are, like those of most eastern towns, narrow, tortuous, and dirty. The houses are, for the most part, built of cut stone, with two storeys, flat roofs, and an inner court. The principal buildings of the town are a mosque, adorned with the columns and carvings of some ancient edifice, two Greek churches, and a bazaar. The trade of Latakia is considerable. Its exports include tobacco, cotton, beeswax, scammony gum-resin, and sponges; in return for sugar, coffee, cotton, and woollen goods, imported from Western Europe. Its tobacco has long been famous, and is the principal article of export. Latakia and Alexandretta are Besides these valuable works on natural history, Dr Latham published only a few medical tracts and some contributions to societies of which he was a member.

After a short illness, he died on 4th February 1837, in the ninety-seventh year of his age, and was buried in the abbey church of Romsey.

(Latimer)