Syria (ancient)
Syria is an ancient landscape name . Strabo (16, 1) names the area west of the Euphrates , beyond the residences of the Arabs , between Cilicia , the Phoenicians , the Judeans and the sea opposite the Egyptian sea and the Gulf of Issus as part of “present-day” or actual Syria . Earlier, however, the name Syria was used for the area between Babylonia and the Gulf of Issus, but it also extended from the Gulf of Issus to the Black Sea (16, 2). The two tribes of the Cappadocians , those who live near the Pontus and those who live near the Taurus Mountains , were called "white Syrians" in his time. From the further description it becomes clear that he understands the Syrians as the ancient people known today as the Arameans .