BOTRYS
BOTRYS (
Βότρυς; Botrys, Botrus, Peut. Tab.:
Βοστρύς, Theophan.
Chronogr. p. 193: Eth.
Βοτρυηνός,
Steph. B. sub voce Hierocles;
Plin. Nat. 5.20; Pomp. Mela 1.12.3:
Bátrún), a town of Phoenicia, upon the coast, 12 M. P. north of Byblus (Tab. Peut.), and a fortress of the robber tribes of Mt. Libanus (
Strab. xvi. p.755), which was, according to the historian Menander, as quoted by Josephus (
J. AJ 8.3.2), founded by Ithobal, king of Tyre.
It was taken with other cities by Antiochus the Great in his Phoenician campaign. (
Plb. 5.68.)
Bátrún is a small town, with a port and 300 or 400 houses, chiefly belonging to Maronites, with a few which are occupied by Greeks and Turks. (Chesney,
Exped. Euphrat. vol. i. p. 454.)
[
E.B.J]
