Ramla

RAMLA a City of Palestine, on the Road from Joppa to Jerusalem. See II. RAMAH. This City was formerly very magnificent, and surrounded by strong Walls. We are assured, that the House there which is the ordinary Residence of Pilgrims, belong’d to Nicodemus a private Disciple of Jesus Christ. There are still to be seen two fine Churches, which at present are reduced to Mosques; one dedicated to St. John, and the other to the Holy Virgin, under the Name of the forty Martyrs, whose Bodies were brought from Sebaste in Armenia. About three Miles from thence are to be seen the Ruines of the ancient Lydda, very well known afterwards by the Name of Diospolis. This 1 Mac. xi. 34. Acts ix. 33, 34.City belong’d to the three Toparchies added to Judea: It is celebrated for the Miracle of St. Peter, who there cured Eneas of his Palsy. At present it is only a small Village. The only Thing there worth Observation, is a Church of St. George, which seems to have been a pretty good one. The Mussulmen pay a great Reverence to the Tomb of Loeman the D’Herbelot. Bibl. Orient. p. 709.Wise, near this Place; and the Sepulchres of the Seventy Prophets, who, they believe, were buried there.

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