98. Restan, or Arethus, at the equal distance of sixteen
miles between Edesa (Hems) and Epiphania (Hamath), was
founded, or at least named, by Seleucus Nicator. Its
peculiar era dates from the year of Rome 685, according to
the medals of the city. In the decline of the Seleucides,
Emesa and Arethusa were usurped by the Arab Sampsiceramus,
whose posterity, the vassals of Rome, were not extinguished
in the reign of Vespasian. See d'Anville's Maps and
Geographie Ancienne, tom. ii. p. 134; Wesseling, Itineraria,
p. 188; and Noris. Epoch. Syro-Macedon., p. 80, 481, 482.