SERA
SERA (
Σῆρα,
Ptol. 1.11.1,
17.5,
6.13.1,
16.8,
8.24.8), the capital of the country of Serica, and one of the chief commercial towns of the Seres.
It was the remotest point of Eastern Asia with which the ancients had any commerce, or of which they possessed any knowledge.
It was situated on the mountain Ottorocorras at the eastern source of the Bautisus. Manner (iv. p. 501) identifies it either with
Singan in the province of
Schensi, or with
Honan on the
Hoang-ho; but according to Heeren (
Ideen, 1.2. p. 668) it is
Pekin itself.
[
T.H.D]