Columnæ Hercŭlis, a name given to two mountains on the extremest parts of Spain and Africa, at the entrance into the Mediterranean. They were called Calpe and Abyla, the former on the coast of Spain, and the latter on the side of Africa, at the distance of only 18 miles. They are reckoned the boundaries of the labours of Hercules, and they were supposed to have been joined, till the hero separated them, and opened a communication between the Mediterranean and Atlantic seas.——Protei, the boundaries of Egypt, or the extent of the kingdom of Proteus. Alexandria was supposed to be built near them, though Homer places them in the island Pharos. Odyssey, bk. 4, li. 351.—Virgil, Æneid, bk. 11, li. 262.
Colūthus, a native of Lycopolis in Egypt, who wrote a short poem on the rape of Helen, an imitation of Homer. The composition remained long unknown, till it was discovered at Lycopolis in the 15th century, by the learned cardinal Bessarion. Coluthus was, as some suppose, a contemporary of Tryphiodorus.
Colyttus, a tribe of Athens.
Comagēna, a part of Syria, above Cilicia, extending on the east as far as the Euphrates. Its chief town was called Samosata, the birthplace of Lucian. Strabo, bks. 11 & 17.
Comāna (a and orum), a town of Pontus. Hirtius, Alexandrine War, ch. 34.——Another in Cappadocia, famous for a temple of Bellona, where there were above 6000 ministers of both sexes. The chief priest among them was very powerful, and knew no superior but the king of the country. This high office was generally conferred upon one of the royal family. Hirtius, Alexandrine War, ch. 66.—Flaccus, bk. 7, li. 636.—Strabo, bk. 12.
Comania, a country of Asia.
Comarea, the ancient name of Cape Comorin in India.
Comări, a people of Asia. Mela, bk. 1, ch. 2.
Comărus, a port in the bay of Ambracia, near Nicopolis.
Comastus, a place of Persia.