CAIPHA, or Caïapha, or Hepha1, a Town situated at the foot of Mount Carmel to the North, upon the Gulph of Ptolemaïs. Its ancient name was Sycaminas, or Porphyreon. The name of Sycaminos, or Sycaminon, was derived probably from the Sycomore-trees, which grew there; and that of Porphyreon from catching a particular kind of Fish there, which was made use of in dying purple. We may suppose that of Cepha or Caipha to have been given it, on the score of its rocks, which in Syriac are called Cepha: but the Hebrews write Hepha and not Chepha or Kepha. This City was separated from that of Acco or Ptolemaïs, by its harbour, which is very large and beautiful. From Acco to Cepha by Sea, and in a strait line, is not above fifteen miles or five leagues; but by Land the distance is double this length2.
Read this article in its place on the printed pages