TIIA'PSACUS, or THA'PSACUM, was a very ancient, populous, and commercial town in Syria, on the right bank of the Euphrates, about 24 miles W. from the junction of the river Chaboras with the Euphrates. Thapsacus, the Thiphsach of the Bible, the Taphan of the Vulgate, and the 77sapse of Josephus Antiq.,' ix. 11), was the most eastern town of the kingdom of Solomon after David had conquered the country as far as the Euphrates. At an equal distance from Tyre by land and from Babylon by water, Thapeacue became an emporium, where the Gerrhaei kept stores of the commodities and apices of Arabia, which they carried there on barke,'and which were afterwards transported by land to Syria and Phcenicis. (Strabo, xvi. p. 766, Cu.) Its military position was also of great importance. At the time of the expedition of the younger Cyrus (e.c. 401), there wee a ford at Thapsacus, but no bridge : subsequently there was • bridge. This
town was the most southern passage by which an army could pene trate, either from Mesopotamia into Syria and Cilicia, or from these countries into Mesopotamia and Persia, without being obliged to traverse the deserts of Arabia. The younger Cyrus enure I the Eaphiates at Thapsacus (Xenophon, 'Cyropmd.,' 1. 4); Darius also crossed the river at Thapsacus when he was advancing against Alexander in Cilicia; and Alexander, when he was pursuing Darius Into Auyria. (Arrian, 2, 13 ; 3, 7.) In the ago of Strabo the bridge at Thapsacus existed no longer. (Strabo, p. 747, Cu.) Eratasthenas chose Thapsacus as the centre of his geographical measurements in Asia Minor and the adjacent countries. (Strabo, ii p. 77.91, Cu.) The site of Thapaacus is now marked by the island and Arab village of Heir, in the Euphrates.