6 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. whole was considered a province of the Roman Empire, and the supreme governor was a Roman officer called a procurator, or president. This office at the time of the ministry and suffering of Our blessed Lord was held by Pontius Pilate, (Luke iii. 1); and in succession by Antonius Felix (Acts xxiii.) and Porcius Festus (Acts xxiv.) during the persecutions of the Apostle Paul. Some of the provinces of the Roman Empire were governed by officers termed proconsuls, or deputies, as they are styled in the Acts of the Apostles, (xiii. 7; xviii. 12;) the difference being that the procurators were the representatives of the emperor, while the proconsuls were appointed by the senate. Many of the countries mentioned in Scripture are now in the hands of the Turks, and are by them divided into pachalics, whose governors are nearly independent princes. EXPLANATION OF MARKS AND CONTRACTIONS. THE following marks and contractions are used in this Work for the purpose of avoiding repetition. SMALL CAPITALS denote the Scriptural names of places. These names are divided into syllables, and the accented syllable is marked thus'. Italic letters denote the modern names. implies that no modern name is known. denotes that the site of the place in question is doubtful. denotes the classical or modern appellation of a place, &c., mentioned by some other name in Scripture; or a place connected with the history of the Bible, though not named there. ? implies that the fact asserted is not fully established, though considered probable. (I.) (II.), &c. signify that the position of the place or people will be found laid down upon the Map bearing the corresponding number. N., S., E., W., denote the cardinal points of the compass,-North, South, East, and West. N.E., S.E., denote the intermediate points,-North-east, SouthN.W., S. W., east, North-west, South-west. EXAMPLES. "A-BA-NA-Nahr Seybarany? (VII.)" implies that the Scriptural Abana is believed to be the stream now called Nahr Seybarany, but that some doubt exists on that point; and that the course of the Seybarany may be traced on Map No. VII. "AB'-A-RIM, (IV.)" shows that no modern appellation of this chain of mountains is known. |