DIOSPOLIS. We do not meet with this name in the sacred Writings; but we have observed in our Comment upon Nahum, that in all probability the Prophet intended this City under the name of No- Ammon, which St. Jerom commonly Nahum iii. 8.translates Alexandria. Nahum describes No-Ammon to be a populous City, situated among rivers, with waters round about it, which were its walls and ramparts. Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, and it was infinite. Put and Lubim were thy helpers: yet was she carried away captive into a strange land. It appears to us, that these Characters agreed so well with no other City as Diospolis, situated in the Delta, upon one of the arms of the Nile, between Busiris to the south, and Mendes to the north: it lies at the extremity of two arms of the Nile; each whereof discharges itself into the Mediterranean, which is at a small distance from Diospolis. There were Strabo l. 17. Laert. l. 5. Suid. in Demetrio Phaler.great Lakes about it, which the Scripture frequently calls Seas. The name of it, Diospolis, the City of Jupiter, comes from that of No-Ammon, the dwelling of Jupiter-Ammon. It was within reach to receive the assistance mentioned by Nahum; the waters were its strength and its ramparts, &c.
Notwithstanding, as there are very learned men of opinion, that No-Ammon was the City of Thebes, the capital of the Thebais, we shall under that title propose the reasons which may be brought in favour of it.