File:The universal geography - the earth and its inhabitants (1876) (14578922347).jpg

Identifier: cu31924095158964 (find matches)
Title: The universal geography : the earth and its inhabitants
Year: 1876 (1870s)
Authors: Reclus, Elisée, 1830-1905 Ravenstein, Ernest George, 1834-1913 Keane, A. H. (Augustus Henry), 1833-1912
Subjects: Geography
Publisher: London : J.S. Virtue & Co., Ltd.
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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g districts. TOPOGEAPHY OF THE EUPHRATES BASIN. 231 Samosata, former capital of Comagena and birthplace of Lucian, is now aruined hamlet, less important than the small town of Suverek, which lies in alateral valley on the route to Diarhekir. In this neighbourhood have recentlybeen discovered the sumptuous sepulchral monuments of the kings of Comagena,ornamented with colossal statues over 50 feet high. The natives regard thisstructure as the tomb of Nimrod, legendary hero of Mesopotamia, whence thename of Nimrud-dagh that they have given to the surrounding hills. Below Samosata follow the Turkish town of Behesni and Rum-Kaleh, or Castle of the Romans, former residence of the Armenian Catholicos. Here theEuphrates was at one time crossed by the great caravan route which has now beendeflected southwards to Bir (^Bir-al-Dirat or Birejik^, where, according to theGreek legend, Bacchus threw the first bridge over the river on his march to the Fig. 88.—AlNTAB AND BlREJIK. Scale 1 : 720,000.
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E, ofCreenivicd 57*50 57 SO aPen Artificial Mounds. 2 Miles. conquest of India. An isolated bluff on the left bank is crowned with thepicturesque ruins of a vast fortress, which formerly guarded the passage of theriver at this point. Bir is inhabited chiefly by Turks, with an Armenian colonyengaged in the transit trade, and near the citadel numerous Kurdish families,burrowing amidst the ruins and in the caves of the limestone rocks. In thedistrict much barley is grown, and towards the west lies the mound of Balkis,where were found some fine Homan mosaics and paintings. The main highway from Bir to Alexandretta traverses the small town of Nizihand its olive groves, where the Turkish defeat in 1839 placed Asia Minor at themercy of the Egyptian army under Ibrahim-Pasha, and led to the Europeanintervention. The chief place in this region is Aintah, which develops anamphitheatre along the northern slopes overlooking the Sajur Valley. Between 232 SOUTH-WESTEEN ASIA. the town and river stand

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