in A. D. 547, when he broke up the siege of Rome and withdrew to Tibur. (Procop. B. G. iii. 24; Nibby, Dintorni, vol. ii. p. 594.) [E. H. B.]

PONS SARAVI, a bridge over the Saravus (Sarre) in Gallia on the road from Divodurum (Metz) to Argentoratum (Strassburg). The Table marks 10 from Decem-pagi (Dieuze) to Tabernae (Saverne). Though the distances are not quite correct, it is clear that Saarburg on the Sarre must be the Pons Saravi; and it cannot be Saarbrück on the Saar, for Saarbrück is more than 30 miles north of Saarburg, and quite out of the way. This is an instance in which a hasty conclusion has been derived solely from the sameness of name. [G. L.]

PONS SCALDIS, or bridge over the Schelde in North Gallia, is placed both by the Table and the Antonine Itin. on the road from Turnacum (Tournai) to Bagacum (Bavai). There is a place on the Schelde named Escaut-pont between Valenciennes and Condé which may represent the Pons. [G.L.] PONS SERVI'LIÍ. [ILLYRICUM, Vol. II. p. 36, b.]

mention of the name in history occurs in the Second Punic War, when Livy tells us that the Roman people poured out in a continuous stream as far as the Milvian Bridge to meet the messengers who brought the tidings of the defeat of Hasdrubal. B. C. 207. (Liv. xxvii. 51). Hence, when Aurelius Victor reckons it among the works constructed by Aemilius Scaurus in his censorship (B. c. 110), it is evident that this can refer only to its rebuilding or restoration. (Vict. de Vir. Illustr. 72.) It is very possible that there was no stone bridge before that time. At the time of the conspiracy of Catiline, the Milvian Bridge was selected as the place where the ambassadors of the Allobroges were arrested by the orders of Cicero. (Sall. Cat. 45; Cic. in Cat. iii. 5.) It is probable that under the Empire, if not earlier, a suburb extended along the Via Flaminia as far as the Milvian Bridge. Hence we are told that it was the point from which Caesar (among his other gigantic schemes) proposed to divert the course of the Tiber, so as to carry it further from the city (Cic. ad Att. xiii. 33): and again, the emperor Gallienus is said to have proposed to extend the Flaminian portico as far as the Milvian Bridge. (Treb. Poll. Gallien. 18.) In the reign of Nero the neighbourhood of the bridge was occupied by low taverns, which were much resorted to for purposes of debauchery. (Tac. Ann. xiii. 47.) Its proximity to Rome, to which it was the principal approach from the N., rendered the Milvian Bridge a point of importance during civil wars. Hence it is repeatedly mentioned by Tacitus during those which followed the death of Nero (Tac. Hist. i. 87, ii. 89, iii. 82): and again, in A. D. 193, it was there that Didius Julianus was defeated by Severus (Eutrop. viii. 17; Vict. Caes. 19). At a later period, also, it witnessed the defeat of Maxentius by Constantine (A. D. 312), when the usurper himself perished in the Tiber. (Vict. Caes. 40; Eutrop. x. 4; Zosim. ii. 16.) Its military importance was recognised also in the Gothic Wars, when it was occupied by Vitiges during the siege of Rome, in A. D. 537; and again, in 547, when Totila destroyed all the other bridges in the neighbourhood of Rome, he spared the Mil-(Wanderungen, p. 263) has fixed its site at the vian alone. (Procop. B. G. i. 19, iii. 24.) The present bridge is in great part of modern construction, but the foundations and principal piers are ancient. [E. H. B.]

PONS MOSAE, in northern Gallia, is mentioned by Tacitus (Hist. iv. 66), but there is nothing said to show where this bridge was. A Roman road ran from Aduatuca (Tongern) across the Mosa (Maas) past Juliacum (Juliers) to Colonia (Cologne). It is very probable that the Pons Mosae was on this route, and that it was at Maastricht. The termination tricht is a corruption of the Roman word Trajectum. [TRAJECTUM.] [G. L.] PONS NA RTIAE. [GALLAECIA, p. 934, b.] PONS NE'RVIAE. [GALLAECIA, p. 934, b.] PONS NOMENTA'NUS. [NOMENTUM.] PONS SALA'RIUS (Ponte Salara), a bridge on the Via Salaria where that highroad crossed the Anio (Teverone) about 2 miles from Rome. From its position this is certainly the bridge meant by Livy under the name of Pons Anienis, on which the single combat of Manlius Torquatus with the Gaul is described as taking place. (Liv. vii. 9.) The name is not again mentioned in history, but we learn | from an inscription still remaining that the present bridge was constructed by Narses, in the room of the more ancient one which had been destroyed by Totila

VOL. II.

|

PONS TILURI, a station on the road from Sirmium to Salona, in the interior of Dalmatia. (Itin Anton.; Tilurium, Peut. Tab.; Geogr. Rav. iv. 16.) It may be identified with the passage of the river Cettina or Tsettina (Tilurus), at Trigl, with the opposite height of Gardun, where there are vestiges of a Roman town, which was probably the colony of AEQUUM (Aikovov kóλ., Ptol. ii. 16 (17). § 11; Itin. Anton.; Peut. Tab.; Orelli, Inscr. 502), where an inscription has been found coinmemorating the restoration of the bridge under the name of PONS HIPPI,-a Graecised form of the Latin name of the town, which was sometimes speit as Equum. (Wilkinson, Dalmatia, vol. i. p. 238; Neigebaur, Die Sud-Slaven, p. 178.) [E. B. J.] PONS UCASI, a town of Thrace, near the Dacian border. (Itin. Ant. p. 567.) [T. H. D.] PONS ZITHA, a station on the Roman road running along the coast-line of Syrtica, and a municipium. (Itin. Anton.; Geogr. Rav.) In the Peutinger Table it is wrongly called Liha. Barth

promontory opposite to Meninx, where he found remains of a stone bridge or mole connecting the mainland with the island of the Lotophagi. [E.B.J.]

PONTEM, AD, a town of Britain, on the road from Londinium to Lindum (tin. Ant. p. 477), identified by Camden (p. 560) with Paunton on the Witham, in Lincolnshire, where a great many Roman coins and antiquities have been discovered. Others take it to have been Farndon, near Southwell, in Nottinghamshire. [T. H. D.]

PONTES, in North Gallia, is placed in the Ant. Itin. on a road from Samarobriva (Amiens) to Gesoriacum (Boulogne): it is 36 M. P. from Samarobriva to Pontes, and 39 M. P. from Pontes to Gesoriacum. The Table, which marks a road between Samarobriva and Gesoriacum, does not place Pontes on it, but it has another place, named Duroicoregum, supposed to be Douriers on the Authie. D'Anville concludes that Pontes is Ponches on the Authie, at which place we arrive by following the traces of the old road which still exists under the name of Chaussée de Brunéhaut. [G. L.]

PONTES, a Roman station in the territory of the Atrebates, seated on the Thames, on the road from Calleva (Silchester) to Londinium (Thin. Ant. p. 478). It was at or near Old Windsor. [T. H. D.] PONTES TESSE'NII (Diessen), a place in

UU

Vindelicia, on the road from Amber to Parthanum. | ancient author who uses Pontus as the name of the (It. Ant. p. 275; comp. Muchar, Noricum, i. p. 284.) [L. S.]

country. Pontus formed a long and narrow tract of
coast country from the river Phasis to the Halys,
but in the western part it extended somewhat fur-
ther south or inland. When its limits were finally
fixed, bordered in the west on Paphlagonia, where
the Halys formed the boundary; in the South on
Galatia, Cappadocia, and Armenia Minor, the Anti-
taurus and Mount Paryadres being the boundaries;
and in the east on Colchis and Armenia, from which
it was separated by the river Phasis. Pontus thus
embraced the modern pashaliks of Trebizond and
Siwas. Although the country was surrounded by
lofty mountains, which also sent their ramifications
into Pontus itself, the plains on the coast, and espe-
cially the western parts, were extremely fertile
(Strab. xii. p. 548), and produced excellent fruit,
such as cherries, apples, pears, various kinds of
grain, olives, timber, aconite, &c. (Strab. xii. p. 545,
&c.; Theophrast. Hist. Plant. iv. 5, viii. 4, &c., ix.
16, xix. 17; Plin. xiv. 19.) The country abounded
in game (Strab. xii. p. 548), and among the animals
bees are especially mentioned, and honey and wax
formed important articles of commerce. (Xenoph.
Anab. iv. 8. §§ 16, 20; Dioscor. ii. 103; Plin. xxi.
45; Strab. iii. p. 163.) The mineral wealth of the
country consisted chiefly in iron (Xenoph. Anab. v.
4. § 1; Strab. xii. p. 549; Steph. B. s. v. Xáλv¤es;
Pliny vii. 57) and salt. The chief mountains of
Pontus are the PARYADRES, and on the east of it
the SCOEDISES, two ranges of Antitaurus, which they
connect with Mount Caucasus. The Paryadres sends
two branches, LITHRUS and OPHLIMUS, to the north,
which form the eastern boundary of the plain of
Phanaroca. Another mountain which terminates in
a promontory 100 stadia to the west of Trapezus was
called the Oros Hieron (Anonym. Peripl. p. 13;
Apollon. Rhod. ii. 1015, with Schol.), and Teches
is a mountain mentioned in the south-east of
Trapezus. The promontories formed by these moun-
tains, if we proceed from west to east, are: the He-
racleium, Iasonium, and Zephyrium.
These pro-

ΡΟ ΝΤΙΑ or ΡΟΝΤΙΑΣ (Ποντία : Ponza), an island in the Tyrrhenian sea, situated off the coast of Italy, nearly opposite to the Circeian promontory. It is the most considerable of a group of three small islands, now collectively known as the Isole di Ponza; the ancient names of which were, PALMARIA, now Palmaruola, the most westerly of the three, Pontia in the centre, and SINONIA (Zannone) to the NE. (Plin. iii. 6. s. 12; Mel. ii. 7. § 18.) They are all of volcanic origin, like the Pithecusae (Aenaria and Proclyta), nearer the coast of Campania, and the island of Pandataria (now called Vandotena), about midway between the two groups. Strabo places Pontia about 250 stadia from the mainland (v. p. 233), which is nearly about the truth, if reckoned (as he does) from the coast near Caieta; but the distance from the Circeian promontory does not exceed 16 geog. miles or 160 stadia. We have no account of Pontia previous to the settlement of a Roman colony there in B. c. 313, except that it had been already inhabited by the Volscians. (Liv. ix. 28; Diodor. xix. 101.) The colonisation of an island at this distance from the mainland offers a complete anomaly in the Roman system of settlements, of which we have no explanation; and this is the more remarkable, because it was not, like most of the maritime colonies, a "colonia maritima civium," but was a Colonia Latina. (Liv. xxvii. 10.) Its insular situation preserved it from the ravages of war, and hence it was one of the eighteen which during the most trying period of the Second Punic War displayed its zeal and fidelity. to the Roman senate, when twelve of the Latin colonies had set a contrary example. (Ibid.) Strabo speaks of it as in his time a well peopled island (v. p. 233). Under the Roman Empire it became, as well as the neighbouring Pandataria, a common place of confinement for state prisoners. Among others, it was here that Nero, the eldest son of Germanicus, was put to death by order of Tiberius.jecting headlands form the bays of Amisus and (Suet. Tib. 54, Cal. 15.) Cotyora. The mountains in the south contain the sources of numerous streams and rivers, such as the Halys, Lycastus, Chadisius, Iris, Scylax, Lycus, Thermodon, Beris, Thoaris, Oenius, Phigamus, Sidenus, Genethes, Melanthius, Pharmathenus, Hyssus, Ophis, Ascurus, Adienus, Zagatis, Prytanis, Pyxites, Archabis, Apsarus, Acampis, Bathys, Acinasis, Isis, Mogrus, and the Phasis. The only lake in Pontus noticed by the ancients is the Stiphane Palus, in the west, north of the river Scylax.

The island of Ponza is about 5 miles long, but very narrow, and indented by irregular bays, so that in some places it is only a few hundred yards across. The two minor islands of the group, Palmaruola and Zannone, are at the present day uninhabited. Varro notices Palmaria and Pontia, as well as Pandataria, as frequented by great flocks of turtle doves and quails, which halted there on their annual migrations to and from the coast of Italy. (Varr. R. R. iii. 5. § 7.) [E. H. B.]

PONTIAE (Пóvтiaι vñσoi, Scyl. p. 46), three islands off the coast of the Greater Syrtis. Ptolemy (iv. 3. § 36; comp. Stadiasm. §§ 72–75) calls these Misynus, Pontia, and Gaea. They may be identified with the reefs of Ghára. (Beechey, Expedition to the N. Coast of Africa, p. 238, App. p. x.; Smyth, Mediterranean, p. 455.) [E. B. J.] PONTI'NUS. [ARGOS, p. 201, a.] PONTUS (ПóvTos), a large country in the northeast of Asia Minor, which derived its name from its being on the coast of the Pontus Euxinus, extending from the frontiers of Colchis in the east, to the river Halys in the west. In the earlier times the country does not appear to have borne any general appellation, but the various parts were designated by names derived from the different tribes by which they were inhabited. Xenophon (Anab. v. 6. § 15) is the first

Pontus was inhabited by a considerable number of different tribes, whose ethnological relations are either entirely unknown or extremely obscure. The most important among them, if we proceed from west to east, are: the LEUCOSYRI, TIBARENI, CHALYBES, MOSYNOECI, HEPTACOMETAE, Drilae, BeCHIRES, BYZERES, COLCHI, MACRONES, MARES, TAOCHI, and PHASIANI. Some of these tribes were wild and savage to the last degree, especially those of the interior; but on the coast Greek colonies continued to be established ever since the middle of the 7th century B. C., and rose to great power and prosperity, spreading Greek culture and civilisation around them.

As to the history of the country, tradition stated that it had been conquered by Ninus, the founder of the Assyrian empire (Diod. ii. 2); after the time of Cyrus the Great it certainly was, at least nominally,

frequented, and a town had grown up around it at the foot of the hill. (Strab. v. p. 233.) Its name is still mentioned as an existing town by all the other geographers, and Ptolemy especially notices the city as well as promontory of Populonium (Mel. ii. 4. § 9; Plin. iii. 5. s. 8; Ptol. iii. 1. § 4); but this is the last evidence of its existence; and before the close of the Western Empire it had fallen into complete decay. It is described by Rutilius at the beginning of the fifth century as entirely desolate, nothing remaining but fragments of its massive walls and the fallen ruins of other edifices. Gregory the Great also describes it towards the close of the sixth century as in a state of complete decay, though retaining an episcopal see; but at a later period of the middle ages a feudal castle was erected on the site, which, with the few adjacent houses, still bears the name of Populonia, and is a conspicuous object from a distance. (Rutil. Itin. i. 401-414; Gregor. Ep. ap. Cluver. Ital. p. 514.)

The only Etruscan remains now existing at Populonium (with the exception of a few tombs of no interest) are those of the ancient walls, which may be traced in fragments all round the brow of the hill, throughout the entire circuit of the city. This did not exceed a mile and a half in circumference; it was of an irregular form, adapted to the requirements of the ground. The walls are constructed of rude masses of stone, arranged, like those of Volterra, in horizontal layers, but with little regularity; they are not, however, nearly so gigantic in character as those of Volterra, Fiesole, or Cor

tona. Within the circuit of the walls are to be seen

some vaulted chambers, six in a row (which have been erroneously called an amphitheatre), a mosaic pavement, and some reservoirs of water, all unquestionably of Roman date. (Dennis's Etruria, vol. ii. p. 236-238.)

On the highest point of the hill, in the days of Rutilius, stood a lonely watch-tower, serving at the same time as a beacon for ships. (Rutil. Itin. i. 407.) It was from this point that, according to Strabo, the view comprised not only Corsica (which is visible from many points of the mainland), but Sardinia also. (Strab. 1. c.) But this last assertion, though it has been repeated by many writers, is certainly erroneous, as, even if the distance were not too great, the nearer mountains of Elba would effectually conceal those of Sardinia from the view. (Dennis, vol. ii. p. 239.)

We learn from the Tabula that there were hot springs in the territory of Populonium, which had given rise to a bathing-place called the AQUAE POPULONIAE (Tab. Peut.). These were evidently the same now known as Le Caldane, at the foot of Campiglia, about 6 miles from Populonium, which have been identified by some writers with the " aquae calidae ad Vetulonios" mentioned by Pliny (ii. 10. s. 106); but there is no authority for placing Vetulonia in this neighbourhood. (Dennis, vol. ii. p. 225.) [VETULONIA.]

coinage from the Phocaeans of Corsica; but there is
certainly no ground for admitting the existence of a
Phocaean colony at Populonium itself. (Millingen,
Numism. de l'Anc. Italie, p. 163; Eckhel, Num,
Vet. Anecd. pp. 10-18.)
[E. H. B.]

R

COIN OF POPULONIUM.

PORCIFERA (Polcevera), a river of Liguria, flowing into the sea about 2 miles W. of Genua. The name is written Porcifera by Pliny (iii. 5. s. 7), the only one of the geographers who mentions it; variously written PORCOBERA and PROCOBERA. but in a curious inscription found near Genoa, it is [GENUA.] [E. H. B.]

PORDOSELE'NE (Πορδοσελήνη: Eth. Πορδοenvirns), the chief of the Hecatonnesi, a group of small islands lying between Lesbos and the coast of Asia. It contained a town of the same name (Scylax, p. 36, Hudson; Strab. xiii. p. 618; Steph. B. 8. v.). Strabo says (l. c.) that some, in order to avoid the dirty allusion presented by this name, called it Poroselene (Пopoσeλ), which is the form employed by Ptolemy (v. 2. § 5), Pliny (v. 31. s. 38), and Aelian (N. An. ii. 6). At a still

later time the name was changed into Proselene, under which form the town appears as a bishop's see. (Hierocl. p. 686; Concil. Chalced. p. 530.)

R

COIN OF PORDOSELENE.

PORINAS. [PHENEUS.]
POROSELE'NE. [PORDOSELENE.]

PORPHYREOΝ (Πορφυρέων: Εth. Πορφυρεúvios, Порovрewviτns), a city of Phoenicia, mentioned by Scylax (p. 42, Hudson) between Berytus and Sidon, and marked in the Jerusalem Itinerary (where it is written Parphirion, p. 583, Wesseling) as 8 Roman miles N. of Berytus. Procopius calls it a village upon the coast. (Hist. Arc. c. 30, p. 164, Bonn.) It is mentioned by Polybius (v. 68), from whose narrative we learn that it was in the neighbourhood of Platanus. [PLATANUS.] Hence it seems to be correctly placed at the Khan Neby Yunas, where Pococke relates (vol. ii. p. 432) that he saw some broken pillars, a Corinthian capital, and ruins on each side of a mountain torrent. the side of the mountain, at the back of the Khán, there are extensive excavated tombs, evidently once Populonium was the only city of Etruria which belonging to an ancient city. The Crusaders rehad a silver coinage of its own, of a very peculiar garded Haifa as the ancient Porphyreon; but style, the reverse being generally quite plain, with- there is no authority that a city of this name ever out type or legend, and not incuse or indented, as on stood in the bay of 'Akka. Justinian built a church the earliest Greek coins. The ordinary type is a of the Virgin at Porphyreon (Procop. de Aedif. Gorgon's head or mask, similar to that on many v. 9, p. 328); and it was a place of sufficient imEtruscan monuments. The copper coins give the portance to be made a bishopric under the metroEtruscan name of the city "Pupluna at full-politan of Tyre. (Robinson, Biblical Researches, ПTПATNA. It is not improbable (as suggested by Millingen) that the Populonians derived the art of PORPHYRIS.

vol. iii. p. 432.)

[NISYRUS.]

In