volume one

128 niSTOEY OF THE CErsAD£S.
subui'bs to pray at the tomb of St. Babvlas, who, during
the reign of Julian, had silenced the oracles of Apollo. For
a long time Antioch was considered in Christendom as the
eldest daughter of Sion ; it bore the name of Theopolis (the
city of God), and pilgrims visited it with no less respect
than Jerusalem.
Antioch was as much celebrated in the annals of Rome as
in those of the Church. The magnificence of its edifices and
the residence of several emperors had obtained it the name
of the Queen of the East. Its situation, amidst a smiling
and fertile country, attracted strangers to it at all times.
At two leagues eastward was a lake abounding in fish,
which communicated with the Orontes ;
whilst on the south,
were the submbs and the fountain of Daphne, so renowned
in paganism. Kot far from this arose the mountain of
Orontes, covered with gardens and country houses ; on the
north was another mountain, sometimes called the Black
Mountain, on account of its forests, and sometimes the
Water Mountain, on accoimt of its numerous springs. The
river Orontes* flowed at the foot of the ramparts of Antioch
towards the west, and fell into the sea at a distance of tlu'ee
or four leagues from the city.
Within the walls were four hills separated by a torrent,
which cast itself into the river. Upon the western hill was
built a very strong citadel, which dominated over the city.
The ramparts of Antioch, whose sohdity equalled that of a
rock, were three leagues in extent. " This place," says an
old author, " was an object of terror to those who looked
upon it, for the number of its strong and vast towers, which
amounted to three hundred and sixtv." Wide ditches, the
river Orontes and marshes, still further protected the inha-
bitants of Antioch, and cut off an approach to the city.
In spite of all these fortifications of nature and art,t
Antioch had been several times taken. It fell at once into
* At the present day named Aassy (the Rebel), or el Macloub, the
Reversed, because it flows from south to north, an opposite direction to
that of the other rivers of the same country.
t Ancient Antioch is not to be recognised in the straggling village
that the Turks call Antakie; it is even suflBciently difficult to ascertain its
ancient extent. We may consult the description of it given by Pococke
and Drummond, and compare it with that which is said by Raymond
d' Agiles, Albert d'Aix, William of Tyre, and the ancient historians.