Greek Texts & Translations

and a great many of the chiefs of the neighbouring tribes were his allies, who possessed strongholds, among which was Lysias, situated above the lake, near Apameia, Arethusa, ^note belonging to Sampsiceramus and Iamblichus his son, chiefs of the tribe of the Emeseni. ^note At no great distance were Heliopolis and Chalcis, ^note which were subject to Ptolemy, son of Mennaeus, ^note who possessed the Massyas ^note and the mountainous country of the Ituraeans. Among the auxiliaries of Bassus was Alchaedamnus, ^note king of the Rhambaei, a tribe of the Nomades on this side of the Euphrates. He was a friend of the Romans, but, considering himself as having been unjustly treated by their governors, he retired to Mesopotamia, and then became a tributary of Bassus. Poseidonius the Stoic was a native of this place, a man of the most extensive learning among the philosophers of our times. 11

The tract called Parapotamia, belonging to the Arab chiefs, and Chalcidica, extending from the Massyas, border upon the district of Apameia on the east; and nearly all the country further to the south of Apameia belongs to the Scenitae, who resemble the Nomades of Mesopotamia. In proportion as the nations approach the Syrians they become more civilized, while the Arabians and Scenitae are less so. Their