DORA(τὰ Δῶρα), a maritime town of Palestine, locally situated in the half tribe of Manasseh, on this side Jordan, but left in possession of the old Canaanitish inhabitants. ( Judges, i. 27.) Scylax (p. 42), who calls it DORUS says that it was a city of the Sidonians. It is frequently, mentioned by Josephus, whose notices enable us to identify it with the modern village of Tantura. It was a city of Phoenicia, near Mount Carmel. (Joseph. Vit. § 8; c. Apion. 2.9.) It was a strong fortress when Tryphon held it against Antiochus Pius ( Ant. 13.7.2). Caesarea is placed by him between Dora and Joppa, both which maritime towns are described as having bad harbours, owing to their exposure to the south-west wind, which rolled in heavy breakers upon the sandy coast, and forced the merchants to anchor in the open sea (15.9. 6). St. Jerome describes it as anciently a most powerful city, but a ruin in his time ( Epitaph Paulae), situated 9 miles from Caesarea, on the road to Ptolemais. ( Onomast. s. v.;Reland, Palaest. pp. 738—741.) There are extensive ruins here, but they possess nothing of interest.(Irby and Mangles, Travels, p. 190.)
[G.W]