PHIALE, a very famous Fountain or Lake, at the Foot of Mount Hermon, from whence Jordan derives its Stream. The Greek Name Phiale was given it, from its Joseph. de Bello, l. 3. c. 18. p. 86.Resemblance to a great Bason. Josephus relates, that at an hundred and twenty Furlongs from Cesarea Philippi, upon the Road leading to Trachonitis, the Lake Phiale may be seen perfectly round like a Wheel, in which the Water is always up to the Brim, without either increasing or diminishing. ‘Twas unknown that this was the Source of Jordan, ‘till Philip Tetrarch of Galilee discover’d it in a manner that left it no longer to be doubted. For he threw Chaff and Straw into the Lake, which found a Passage through subterraneous Channels to Panium, from whence ‘till then it was thought that Jordan had its Source. See what has been said before upon the Articles MAGEDAN or DALMANUTHA. The Name Phiale has been given to several other Lakes, or Reland. Palæst. l. 1. c. 41.Reservatories of Water.
Library / Calmet's Dictionary of the Holy Bible, Complete and Unabridged
Volume II · P
Phiale
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Augustin Calmet, O.S.B., “Phiale,” in Calmet's Dictionary of the Holy Bible, Complete and Unabridged, English translation, Mind of the Church, https://mindofthechurch.com/works/calmet-dictionary/p/phiale/.