* he built.
1Ki 9:17-19
* Tadmor.
Tadmor, the Palmyra of the Greeks, as we learn from Josephus,
a celebrated city of Syria, situated in an oasis, or fertile
spot of land, surrounded on all sides by a vast sandy desert,
like an island in the midst of the ocean; according to Pliny,
337; miles from Seleucia and Tigrim, 203; from the nearest part
of the Mediterranean, and 176; from Damascus; according to
Josephus, one day's journey west of the Euphrates, and six
from Babylon; and according to Ptolemy, in lat. 34; degrees
north, or that of Tripoli, and about 4; degrees more easterly;
and it is described by Mr. Wood as "situated under a barren
ridge of hills to the west, and open on the other sides to the
desert:" "about six days' journey from Aleppo, and as much
from Damascus, and about twenty leagues west of the
Euphrates." Palmyra attained the height of its splendour when
the royal city of Zenobia was conquered by the emperor
Aurelian; became a Roman colony after the victories of Trajan;
and was probably reduced to its present miserable state in the
wars of the Saracens. Its magnificent ruins, however,
scattered over an extent of several miles, sufficiently attest
its former splendour and riches.
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