1

Ptolemy and Stephanus Byzantinus, and the province Λητεπολιτης νόμος. It is mentioned as nearly collateral with the elder Heliopolis, and in its * vicinity; though on the other side of the river. The author of the 3 Itinerary places it below Memphis, at the distance of twenty miles. According to 4 Josephus it stood upon the very hill where Babylon was afterwards erected, in the time of Cambyses. He placed a garrison of Babylonish soldiers in it, as it was the key to Upper Egypt; upon this account, the hill had the name of Babylon, and the country about it Babylonia. Hence the author of the same Itinerary, describing the places downward, upon the 5 Arabian side of the Nile, mentions among others ---Aphrodito, Scenas Mandras, Babylonia; Helio, or Heliopolis; by which is meant Heliopolis of the Desert. This Babylonian province, Extra Nilotica, was the same as the

Λητους πολίς, πολις Αιγύπτε, εσι δε μοιρα Μεμφίδος, καθ' ήν έχε Пugades. See Herodotus, 1. 2. p. 106.

2 Pliny, I. 5. p. 254. He calls it Latopolis.

3.Antonini Itin. p. 156.

Letus. Memphi MP. XX.

Λητές πολίς, πολις Αίγυπτο, εςι δε μοιρα Μεμφιδος, καθ' ὧν ἐξε Пugaudes. Steph. Byzant.

Joseph. Ant. 1. 2. c. 15. p. 111. Λητες πολίς,

5 P. 169. Iter per partem Arabicam trans Nilum.

Nomus Letopolites. And the position of Babylon is precisely marked out by Strabo; who, having mentioned the places which were near the top of Delta, and the Regio Letopolitis, adds, αναπλευσαντι δ' εςι Βαβυλων Φρέριον εξυμένον. As you sail upwards (from this point of Lower Egypt), the first object is a strong garrison called Babylon,

Such was the situation of Letopolis, the City of Leto, or Latona, and of it's nome; which nome is by some later writers called Heliopolitanus; for in this respect great liberties were taken, as Pliny justly observes, Quidam ex his aliqua nomina permutant, et substituunt alios nomos. v. 1. 1. 5. p. 254. The nome was so called from Heliopolis of the Desert, which stood twelve miles to the north-east of Babylon, according to Antoninus. Itin. p. 169. This district, bordering upon the ancient and true Heliopolitan nome, from which it was only separated by the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, has caused no small confusion in the geography of Egypt. But I have endeavoured, from the best authorities, to distinguish both; which, I hope, will prevent any uncertainty for the future. The siL. 17. p. 1158.

tuation of this place is of great consequence to be determined; for Josephus tells us, that the children of Israel passed close by this city upon their first setting out for Etham and the Red-sea, when they had just quitted the land of Goshen. It was nearly opposite to the ancient Heliopolis, and to the place of their departure.

Of the Ancient City Saïs, and of a secondary City of the same Name.

There is another city of which I must take notice, and ascertain its history and situation; for as yet I do not remember that it has been properly determined. This is the upper and more ancient city Saïs. Indeed the higher any cities were situated in Lower Egypt, the more ancient for the most part they must have been. For as the soil below was in great measure, dagor T& ToTauv, the gift of the river, the people at different times built, as they got ground. And here I must observe, that there was another city of the name of Saïs, which

ποταμό,

Josephus, Ant. 1. 2. c. 15. p. 111.

2 Herod. 1. 2. p. 105.

ALYUTTOS TOTAMOXases. Diodorus, 1. 3. p. 144.

must be distinguished from that with which we are principally concerned. The history of this 1 will first determine, as writers have been led into great mistakes, from their not properly distinguishing these two places; but speaking of them as one and the same. The Lower Saïs was in the vicinity of the sea-port Naucratis, upon the Canobic and western branch of the Nile; and was esteemed the capital of that part of Egypt. πόλις της κάτω χώρας. of Lower Egypt.

'H Σaïs unggoSais was the metropolis Again Tor 87 TOTALW

Ναυκράτης, από δε το ποταμε δισχοινον διέχετα Zaïç. Naucratis is situated upon the river; and Sais stands about two schon from the same river: 1 Cellarius quotes the Notitia Ecclesiastica--in qua Saïs primæ Ægypti provinciæ, quæ proxima Alexandria est, ascribitur.It lay, we find, in the first province, as people ascended the river from the coast of Alexandria; and consequently was very low in the region of Delta, and to the west. By these evidences

Strabo, 1. 17. p. 1153.

Ibid. 1. 17. p. 1155, -

Naucratis was near the sea-port Schedia.

τιν 8 πολύ της Σχεδίας ύπερθεν. Ibid. P. 1153.

i

Aphroditis, Saïs, Naucratis. Pliny, 1. 5. p. 259.

3P. 18. Ægyptus.

the situation of this city is sufficiently ascertained. For Alexandria was a sea-port upon the Mediterranean; and the province in which Saïs stood was next in order, and collateral with the region to which the former city was ascribed.

Of the more ancient City and Province of Sais.

1

It is mentioned by Josephus from Manetho, that when the royal shepherds came into Egypt, they seized upon the city Avaris in the nome of Saïs, on account of its favourable situation, as it had the command of the river every way. They accordingly, for their security, fortified it, and put into it a garrison of soldiers. It is of great consequence to determine this province precisely, for it was the portion allotted to the Israelites, when they came into the country; and here was the city which was given to them, after that it had been vacated by the former shepherds. Την τοτε των Ποιμένων ερημωθεισαν πολιν Αυαριν συνεχωζησεν ἐν Νομῳ Σαιτη. The king of Egypt

3

1 Contra Ap. 1. 1. P. 445. εν νόμῳ Σαΐτη. * Josephus, ibid. p. 460.

3 Ibid. p. 445.

2