CAPPADOCIA

From Agepedia

CAPPADOCIA, in antiquity; one of the most important provinces of Asia, once a famous kingdom ; bounded W. by Lycaonia, S. by Ciliciaand Syria, E. by Armenia, and N. by.the Pontus Euxinus. In the period of the Persian government, Cappadocia comprehended all the country between the Halys and Euphrates. By the former river, it was separated from Phrygia and Paphlagonia; by the latter, from Armenia: therefore the region afterwards called Pontus was comprehended in this territory. The Persians divided it, according to Strabo, into two satrapies, which bore the name of Cappadocia Magna (afterwards Cappadocia Proper) and Cappadocia Minor (afterwards Pontus). This division, however, was not always strictly observed. The Persian satraps governed, at a later time, under the title of kings, and sometimes made themselves independent. At the time of the famous retreat of the 10,000 Greeks, both the Cappadocias seem to have been under the rule of Mithridates, who had participated in the conspiracy of Cyrus the Younger, but retained his government, and became, after the defeat of Cyrus, again dependent upon the kings of Persia. Cappadocia Magna was a poorlycultivated coun try, little favored by nature, the plains of which were only fit for breeding sheep. The climate was rough, and, wood being scarce, the habitations of the people were low and mean. Even the capital, Mazaca, was more like a camp than a city, The Cappadocians, also called Leuhosyri (the White Syrians), because they had a language resembling the Syrian, were considered stupid and illtempered. CAPREA, or CAPRE2E. (See Capri.) CAPRI ; an island in the beautiful gulf of Naples, which contributes not a little to the charms of this favorite scene of nature. Capri, five miles long and two broad, lies at the entrance of the gull^ and consists of two mountains of limestone, remarkable for their picturesque shape, and a wellcultivated valley. The inhabitants, amounting to 3000, are occupied in the production of oil and wine, in fishing and in catching quails, which come in immense numbers from Africa to the shores of Italy. Every spot on the island, which can be made productive, is cultivated. In fact, agriculture all around Naples is in the highest state of perfection. The town of Capri (Ion. 14° 8' E.; lat. 40° IP N.) is the seat of a bishop, to whom all the quails belong. A high rock separates Capri from Anacapri, 1600 feet high, with 3500 inhabitants, to which a stairway in the rock, of 522 steps, leads from the lower part of the island. With the Romans, Capri was called Caprece. Augustus obtained it by exchange from the Neapolitans, and made it a place of agreeable retreat, but never made use of it. Tiberius spent here the last seven years of his life in degrading voluptuousness and infamous cruelty. The ruins of his palace are still extant, and other ruins are scattered over the island.