Solymi

SOLYMI. Homer, and the Poet Chœrilus,¹ have mention’d the Solymi, an antient and venerable People, who spoke Phenician, who wore their Hair cut round, and who dwelt in the Solymean Mountains, near a great Lake. These are Marks which Josephus and Tacitus thought to agree with the Jews, here call’d Solymi, because of their capital City Jerusalem; a Nation remarkable for the Singularity of their Laws, and of their Actions, speaking Phenician or Hebrew, dwelling in a mountainous Country at Jerusalem, situate in the Mountains, and near the Lake Asphaltites, one of the greatest Lakes known.

Yet notwithstanding all these Tokens, many learned Men maintain, that the Solymi, spoke of by Homer and Chœrilus, are not the Jews. A Circumstance which very much favours their Opinion is this, that according to Chœrilus the Solymi wore their Hair cut round, which was expressly forbid to the Jews by Moses. See Leviticus xix. 7. and SISOE. And besides the Lake Asphaltites was seven or eight Leagues from Jerusalem. The Arms which the Poet assigns to them can hardly agree with the Jews. He says they wore Helmets made of the Leather of a Horse’s Head dry’d in the Smoke. The Jews had never much to do with Horses in their Country, being much incommoded with Mountains.

But who then are these Solymi? Some think them to be the Moabites, or the Midianites, bordering upon the Lake Asphaltites, and reckon’d among the Arabians, who, as Historians inform us, us’d to cut their Hair round in a Circle. ‘Tis true, we do not any where find them call’d Solymi; but Josephus² speaks of a Town or Village of this Name, lying beyond the Jordan in the Gaulonitis. Others think,³ that the Solymean Mountains were in Pisidia, near to Lycia; and that it is there that we must seek for the Solymi mention’d by Homer and Chœrilus.

Read this article in its place on the printed pages