A tradition, reaching back to the 14th century, fixes Emmaus at Kubeibeh, a small village about seven miles north-west of Jerusalem ; but for this the only evidence is that its distance from the Holy City agrees with the statement of Luke (Maunde vine in Early Tray. in Palest., p. 175 ; Tobler, Top. ii. 540 ; Robinson, B. R. ii. 255). Mr. Williams considers Kuriet el-Enab to be the true site of Emmaus ; but this opinion is as devoid of all reliable evidence as the former (Yournal of Phi lology, iv. 262). Thomson appears to adopt the same view (The Land and the Book, 534). The real site of Emmaus has not yet been discovered.
2. Emmaus or Nicopolis. The position of this ancient city is defined by Jerome (ad Dan. viii.) ` Emaus glue nunc Nicopolis . . . . ubi inci punt montana Judaex consurgere.' The Jerusa lem Itinerary places it twenty-two miles from Jeru salem, and ten from Lydda (August. Itiner., ed. Hessel., p. 600). Its site is now occupied by the little village of Amwas, which lies on the western declivity of a rocky hill commanding the plain. It contains two copious fountains, one of which is doubtless that referred to by some old writers as possessing remarkable healing properties (Sozom.
H. E., v. 21; Robinson, B. R. iii. 146, and autho rities there given). The only ruins of importance are those of a church a little south of the village.
Though not mentioned in the Bible, Emmaus is frequently referred to in Jewish history. Beside it Judas Maccabmus defeated Georgias the Syriac general (I Maccab. iii. 40; iv. 3, sq.) It was afterwards fortified by Bacchides, under Antiochus Epiphanes, when engaged in war with the Jews (ix. 50). In the beginning of the third century, the city was rebuilt by the exertions of Julius Afri canus, and called Nicopolis (Reland, Pal. p. 759), a name which it retained till after the wars of the Crusades (Gesta Dei per Broncos, p. 743)• 3. A place mentioned by Josephus. Speaking of Tiberias, he says—' There are warm baths at a little distance from it in a village named Emmaus' (Antiq. xvii. 2. 3) ; and he further states that the name Emmaus, if it be interpreted, may be ren dered a warm bath' (Bell. yud. iv. Jr. 3). Dr. Robinson supposes this to be only a Greek form of the Hebrew Hammalk, which has the same signifi cation, and was the name of a town of Naphtali (B. R., ii. 385). [HAmmATH.]—J. L. P.