LYDDA, a t. of Palestine, in the tribe of Ephraim, 9. m. e. of Joppa, on the road between that place and Jerusalem. It is called in the Old Testament and the Apocry pha, Lod, and was built by the Benjamites. In the New Testament it is noticed as the place where Peter healed iEneas. Some years later it was burnt by Cestius Gallus in his march against Jerusalem. Rebuilt, it was at the bead of one of the toparchies of the later Judea. It is described by Josephus as being at that time equal to a city, and the rabbins speak of it as a seat of Jewish learning. It was afterwards destroyea by Vespasian, but rebuilt by Hadrian and called Diospolis, under which name it occurs on the coins of Severus and Caracalla. lt was a well-known and much frequented place iv the time of Eusehius, 320-30. It was early the seat of a bishopric. In 413 a council of 14 bishops was held here, before which Pelagius was accused of heresy, but acquittetl. The last bishop of Lydda was Apollonius. The celebrated St. George is said to have beeu born at Lydda, and suffered martyrdom at Nicomedia under Diocletian and iNfaxi milian at the end of the 3d c.; it was reported that his remains were transferred
to Lydda, and that a church was erected in his honor by the emperor Justinian. This. church having been destroyed by the Moslems, was rebuilt by the crusaders, who estab lished a bishopric of Lydda and Ramleh. The crusaders invested St. George with the dignity of their patron, and he thus became the patron saint of England and other states and kingdoms. The church was destroyed by Saladin in 1191, the ruins of which are in the eastern part of the town. The western part of the church has been built into a large mosque. As the city of St. George it is held in great honor by the Mos lems. From the time of Saladiu but little notice is taken of it by travelers. It is in a fruitful plain, 3 in. e. of Jaffa, under the name of Ludd, or Lidd, and, for a Moham medan town, has sonic activity in business.