Arethusa (Syria)

Arethusa ( ancient Greek Ἀρέθουσα ) was an ancient city near today's ar-Rastan near Homs in Syria .

Quintus Caecilius Bassus found here 46 BC. Support in his revolt against the Syrian governor Sextus Iulius Caesar . Emperor Aurelian stayed in the city during his campaign against Zenobia .

Arethusa was a bishopric from the 4th to 7th centuries. There is a list of bishops for the years 325–680 . Today Arethusa is a titular bishopric of the Roman Catholic Church , see titular bishopric Arethusa .

Saint Mark of Arethusa (~ 300–362) was bishop in Arethusa, where he also suffered martyrdom after having had a temple destroyed.

swell

• Pliny the Elder Naturalis historia 5.23
• Strabo Geographika 753
• Appian Syriaka 57
• Zosimos Historia nea 1.52

literature

• Immanuel Benzinger : Arethusa 10 . In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume II, 1, Stuttgart 1895, Col. 680.