Ara Panomphæo vetus est sacrata Tonanti. Ovid. Metamorph. l. 11. v. 198.
[758] Pocock's Egypt. p. 108. Plate xlii.
[759] Pocock. Plate xxxix. p. 105.
[760] He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor. Numbers. c. 22. v. 5.
[761] We learn from Numbers. c. 22. v. 36. and c. 31. v. 8. that the residence of Balaam was in Midian, on the other side of the river to the south, beyond the borders of Moab. This seems to have been the situation of Petra; which was either in Midian or upon the borders of it: so that Pethor, and Petra, were probably the same place. Petra is by the English traveller, Sandys, said to be called now Rath Alilat.
Petra by some is called a city of Palestine: Πετρα πολις Παλαιστινης. Suidas. But it was properly in Arabia, not far from Idume, or Edom. See Relandi Palæstina. p. 930. and Strabo. l. 16.
[762] The Ammonites were a mixed race; being both of Egyptian and Ethiopic original: Αιγυπτιων και Αιθιοπων αποικοι. Herod. l. 2. c. 42.
[763] Pocock's Egypt. vol. 1. plate xlii.
[764] Luxorein by Norden, called Lucorein. It was probably erected to the Sun and Ouranus, and one of the first temples upon earth.
[765] Apollonius Rhodius. l. 4. v. 1052.