CHAP. 18.—SYRIA ANTIOCHIA.
Here Phœnicia ends, and Syria recommences. The towns are, Carne3726, Balanea3727, Paltos3728, and Gabale3729; then the promontory upon which is situate the free town of Laodicea3730; and then Diospolis3731, Heraclea3732, Charadrus3733, and Posidium3734.
(21.) We then come to the Promontory of Syria Antiochia. In the interior is the free city of Antiochia3735 itself, surnamed Epidaphnes3736, and divided by the river Orontes3737. On the promontory is Seleucia3738, called Pieria, a free city.
(22.) Beyond it lies Mount Casius3739, a different one from the mountain of the same name3740 which we have already mentioned. The height of this mountain is so vast, that, at the fourth watch3741 of the night, you can see from it, in the midst of the darkness, the sun rising on the east; and thus, by merely turning round, we may at one and the same time behold both day and night. The winding road which leads to its summit is nineteen miles in length, its perpendicular height four. Upon this coast there is the river Orontes, which takes its rise near Heliopolis3742, between the range of Libanus and Antilibanus. The towns are, Rhosos3743, and, behind it, the Gates of Syria3744, lying in the space between the chain of the Rhosian mountains and that of Taurus. On the coast there is the town of Myriandros3745, and Mount Amanus3746, upon which is the town of Bomitæ3747. This mountain separates Cilicia from Syria.