SYENE, a City to the southern Frontiers of Egypt or Ethiopia, between Thebes and the great Cataracts of the Nile. Ezekiel places it at the Extremity of Egypt, opposite to the Eze. xxix. 10. xxx. 6.Land of Cush; A turre Syenes, usque ad terminos Chus. But the Land of Cush is in Arabia petrea, towards the Bay of the Red-sea. But the Hebrew might also be translated in this Manner1; From Migdol to Syene, and to the Frontiers of Cush. The Land of Cush was also Ethiopia properly so call’d, which is above, and to the South of Syene, which is the utmost City of Egypt. Migdol signifies a Tower, and we find in Moses a City by this Name. Ex. xiv. 2. Ezek. xxx. 6.Ezekiel also puts Migdol and Syene as the two Extremities of Egypt; A turre Sienes, gladio cadetis in ea. Or, according to the Hebrew, from Migdol to Syene. Josephus assigns the ממגדול סינהJoseph. de Bello, l. 5. c. 11.Length of Egypt to be two thousand Stadia or Furlongs, from Pelusium to Syene.
As to the City of Syene it self, it was very well known to the Antients,2 who speak of it as the farthest City of Egypt, towards Ethiopia. Pliny says, it is in a Peninsula, upon the Eastern Shore of the Nile; that it is a Mile round, and that it Strab. l. 17. Plin. l. 2. c. 73.had a Roman Garison. Strabo says, that there were three Roman Cohorts, to hinder the Irruptions of the Ethiopians. He adds, that in this City there was a Well, wherein the Sun shone directly to the Bottom; and that here the Sun made no Shadow at Noon, when he is in the Beginning of the Sign Cancer. Pliny also speaks of it; Solstitii die medio nullam umbram jaci. And Lucan;
Lucan. l. 2. v. 587.—— Umbras nusquam flectente Syene.
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