ORTHO´SIA
ORTHO´SIA (
Ὀρθωσία), a town of Syria mentioned by Strabo and Ptolemy, near the river Eleutherus, contiguous to Simyra, between it and Tripoli. (Strab. xvi. p.. 753;
Ptol. 5.15.4.)
The former makes it the northern extremity of Phoenice, Pelusium being the southern (p. 756), a distance, according to Artemidorus, of 3650 stadia (p. 760).
It was 1130 stadia south of the Orontes. (
lb.) Ptolemy places both Simyta and Orthosia south of the Eleutherus; but Strabo to the north of it: “agreeable whereunto,” writes Shaw, “we still find, upon the north banks of this river (
Nahr-el-Berd), the ruins of a considerable city in a district named
Ortosa. In Peutinger's table, also, Orthosia is placed 30 miles south of Antaradus and 12 miles north of Tripoli.
The situation of it is likewise further illustrated by a medal of Antoninus Pius, struck at Orthosia, upon the reverse of which we have the goddess Astarte treading upon a river; for this city was built upon a rising ground, on the northern banks of the river, within half a furlong of the sea: and as the rugged eminences of Mount Libanus lie at a small distance, in a parallel with the shore, Orthosia must have been a place of the greatest importance, as it would have hereby the entire command of the road (the only one there is) betwixt Phoenice and the maritime parts of Syria.” (
Travels, p. 270, 271.)
The difficulties and discrepancies of ancient authors are well stated by Pococke. (
Observations, vol. ii. pp. 204, 205, notes d. e.)
He assumes the
Nahr Kibeer for the Eleutherus, and places Orthosia on the river
Accar, between
Nahr Kibeer and
El-Berd. (Maundrell,
Journey, March 8.
[
G.W]
