ANTI-LIBANUS. Thus the Greeks called that chain of Mountains which lay to the East of Libanus, and which properly speaking formed together with Libanus but one ridge of Mountains, which extended from North to South, and afterwards from South to North, in the shape almost of an horse-shoe1, for the space of about fourscore leagues. The Eastern part of these Mountains was called Antilibanus; and the Western part Libanus: the latter reached along the Mediterranean, from Sidon almost to Arada, or Symira. The Hebrew Text of Scripture never mentions Anti-libanus; but calls it always by the general name of Libanus. And the coins stampt at Laodicæa and Hierapolis have the name of the Cities of Libanus inscribed upon them, tho’ they belong rather Deut. i. 7. iii. 25. xi. 24. Josh. i. 4. ix. 1.to Anti-libanus. The Septuagint, on the contrary, put Anti-libanus often in the room of Libanus. The valley which separatesLibanus from Anti-libanus, is very fruitful. It was formerly, on the side of Syria, inclosed with a wall, whereof there are no footsteps to be seen at this day2. Strabo3 says that the name of Cœle-Syria, or the hollow part of Syria, belongs principally to that valley which lies between Libanus and Antilibanus.
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