Artemita

ARTEMITA


1. （Ἀρτέμιτα,Strab. 11. p. 519, 16. p. 744; Ptol. 6.1.6; Steph.; Isid. Char. p. 5; Artemita, Plin. Nat. 6.26; Tab. Peutinger. ), a city of Assyria, or perhaps more strictly of Babylonia (Strab. 11. p. 519), in the district of Apolloniatis (Isid. Char.); according to Strabo (16. p. 744) 500 stadia ( Tab. Peuting. 71 mill.) E. of Seleucia, and 8,000 stadia N. of the Persian Gulf. (Strab. 11. p. 519.) According to Tacitus (6.41) it was a Parthian town, in which Stephanus (on the authority of Strabo, though that geographer does not say so) coincides with him. Pliny (Plin. Nat. 6.26) places it wrongly in Mesopotamia. It was situated on a river called the Sillas. The modern Sherbánis supposed to occupy its site. [V]


2. （ Ván), a town of Armenia (Ptol. 5.13.21), founded, according to the national traditions, by Semiramis. A canal, which in some maps has been converted into a river, under the name of Shenírám Sú, is attributed to this reputed foundress of Ván. Mr. Brant ( London Geog. Journal, vol. 10. p. 389) speaks of a small village of the name of Artemid, at no great distance from Van. He was told that no inscriptions were to be found, nor were there traces of any buildings of antiquity. D'Anville ( Geog. Anc. vol. 2. p. 324; comp. Kinneir, Trav. p. 385) has identified it with the large and important town of Ván, which St. Martin ( Mém. sur l'Armenie, vol. 1. p. 138) considers to be the same as the Buana (Βουάνα) of Ptolemy (Ptol. 5.13.21). Vánwas considered one of the strongest places in Armenia, and is frequently mentioned by the native chroniclers in connection with their history. (St. Martin, l. c.) [E.B.J]