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DAMASCIUS, a celebrated heathen philosopher, born at Da-mascus, A. D. 540, when the Goths reigned in Italy . He wrotethe life o r his master Isidorus ; and dedicated it to Theodora, avery learned and philosophical lady, who had also been a pupil toIsidorus. In this life, which w as copiously written, he frequentlymade oblique attacks on the Christian religion. We have nothingremaining of it but some extracts preserved by Photius . Damas-cius succeeded Theon in the rhetorical school, and Isidorus inthat of philosophy, at Athens.
DAMASCUS, [petal, lieb. ] a very ancient city of Syria inAsia . Some of the ancients suppose this city to have been builtby one Damascus , from whom it took its name; but the most ge-nerally received opinion is, that it was founded by Uz the eldestson of Aram. It is certain, from Gen. xiv. 15, that it was in beingin Abraham ’s time, and consequently may be looked upon as oneof the most ancient cities in the world. In the time of king Da-vid it seems to have been a very considerable place ; as the sacredhistorian tells us, that the Syrians of Damascus sent 20,000 men tothe relief of Iladadezer king of Zobah. We are not informedwhether at that time it was governed by kings, or was a republic.Afterwards, however, it became a monarchy which proved verytroublesome to the kingdom of Israel , and would even have de-stroyed it entirely, had not the Deity miraculously interposed inits behalf. This monarchy was destroyed by Tiglath-Pilefer, kingof Assyria, and Damascus was never afterwards governed by itsown kings. Notwithstanding the tyranny of the Turkish govern-ment, Damascus is still a considerable place. It is situated in aplain of so great extent, that one can but just discern the moun-tains which compass it on the other side. The fruit-tree calledthe damascene, and the (lower called the damask rose, were trans-planted from the gardens belonging to this city ; and the silks andlinens known by the name of damasks, were probably inventedby the inhabitants. Damascus is 1 12 miles S. of Antioch , 130
N. N. E. of Jerusalem , and 270 S. S. W. of Diarbeck. Lon. 37.
O. E. Lat. 33. 45. N.
DAMASIA, in ancient geography, a town of Vindelicia, onthe Licus; afterwards called Augusta; now Augsburg inSuabia .
DAMASK, a silk-stuff , with a raised pattern, so as that theright side of the damask, is that which has the flowers raised orsatined. Damasks should be of dressed silk, both in warp andwoof; and in Fiance, half an ell in breadth : they are made atChalons in Champagne , and in some places in Flanders, as atTournav, &c. entirely of wool, three-eighths of an ell wide, and 20ells long.
Damask is also applied to a very fine steel, in some parts ofthe Levant, chiefly at Damascus in Syria ; whence its name.It is used for sword and cutlass-blades, and is finely tem-pered.
DAMASKEENING, or DAMASKING , the art or opera-tion of beautifying iron, steel, &c. by making incisions therein,and filling them up with gold and silver wire; chiefly usedfor adorning swoul-blades, guards, and gripes, locks of pis-tols, &c.
DAMBEA, or DEMBEA, a province of Abyssinia. It is aflat country, and subject to inundations. It is situated N. ofDambea, an extensive lake of Abyssinia, containing many fertileislands, with plenty of fish and river-horses. It is 100 miles fromthe source of the Nile .
Dambea, the capital of Abyssinia, is seated in the above pro-vince, at the head of the lake, 320 miles W. of the Red Sea .Lon. 34. 20. E. Lat. 14. 40. N.
DAMEL, or KAYO, a country of Africa , on the coast of theAtlantic, between the rivers Senegal and Gambia .
DAM ELEN, a town of Germany , in the circle of UpperSaxony, and Middle Mark of Brandenburg, 6 miles W. of Belitz.
DAMIANISTS, in church history, a branch of the ancientAcephali Severita?. They agreed with the Catholics in admittingthe eixth council, but disowned any distinction of persons in theGodhead ; and professed one single nature, incapable of any dif-ference : yet they called God “ the Father, Son, and HolyGhost.”
DAMIANO, St. a town of Italy in Montserrat, 18 miles W.oy N. of Vercelli .
DAMICOTTA, a town of Hindostan, jn the Coimbetore
country, 30 miles N, of Coimbetore, and 60 miles S. of Seringa-patam.
DAMIETTA, a port town of Egypt , situated on the E. mouthof the Nile , four miles from the sea-coast. The present townstands upon a different site from the ancient Damietta so repeat-edly attacked by the European princes. The latter, according toAbuH'eda, was a “town surrounded by walls, and situated at themouth of the eastern branch of the Nile.” The present Damietta is rounded in a semicircle on the E. hank of the Nile , 7-1 milesfrom the mouth of it. Lon. 31.50. E. Lat. 31. 15. N.
DAMM, a town of Germany , in Upper Saxony, and duchyof Pomerania, 5 miles E. of Stettin .
DAMME, a town of Holland, in Groningen , on the riverDamster.
DAMN11, an ancient people, of Britain , who inhabited the dis-trict, situated between tiie territories-of the Selgevx on the S. andthe Caledonii on the N. now called Clydesdale.
DAMOCLES, one of the flatterers of Dionysius the Elder ofSicily . lie admired the tyrant’s wealth, and pronounced himthe happiest man on earth. Dionysius prevailed upon him toundertake for a while the charge of royalty, and he convinced ofthe happiness which a sovereign enjoyed. Damocles ascendedthe throne, and while he gazed upon the wealth and splendor that'surrounded him, he perceived a sword hanging over his head bv asingle horse-hair. I his so terrified him that all his imaginary tidi-city vanished at once, and he begged Dionysius to removehim from a situation which exposed his life to such fears anddangers.
DAMON and PYTHIAS , two illustrious friends of antiquitv,who lia-ve immortalized their names, by the strength and since-rity of their friendship. Damon was a Pythagorean philosopher,who, having incurred the displeasure of Dionysius, tyrant of Sv-racuce, was condemned to death. Whereupon he required ashort respite till he should settle some domestic business of theutmost importance to his family, hut which required his personalpresence at some distance from Syracuse. Dionysius agreed togrant his request, but upon a condition, which he supposed im-possible to he complied with; viz. that Damon should find someperson who was willing to sutler death in his stead, provided he didnot return at the time appointed. Pythias, to the surprise of thetyrant, cheerfully surrendered himself as a pledge for his friendDamon ; who, after his settling business, astonished the tyrant stillmore by returning punctually at the hour fixed for his execution.Dionysius was so struck with the fidelity of those two friends, thathe remitted the punishment, and intreated them to permit him toshare their friendship, and enjoy their confidence. See an elegantembellishment of this piece of ancient history, in Brookes’s “ Foolof Quality.”
DAMOT, a province of Abyssinia, situated in the S. W. partof that empire, about 40 miles long from N. to S. and 20 broadfrom E. to W.
DAMPS, in natural history, are certain noxious exhalationsissuing from some parts of the earth, and which prove almost in-stantly fatal to those who breathe them. These damps are chieflyobserved in mines aud coal-pits, though vapours of the same kindoften issue from old lavas of burning mountains; and in thosecountries where volcanoes are common, will frequently enterhouses, and kill people suddenly without the least warning of theirapproach. See Gas.
DAMPIER, William, a famous navigator, descended from arespectable family in Somersetshire , and born in 1652. Losinghis father when very voting, he was sent to the sea, where he soondistinguished himself, particularly in the South Sea. His voyageround the world is well known, and has gone through many edi-tions. He appears afterward to have engaged in an expeditionconcerted bv the merchants of Bristol to the South Sea, command-ed by Captain Woods Rogers; who sailed in August 17u8, andreturned in Sept. 1711 : hut no farther particulars of his life ordeath are recorded.
DAMSONG, a town of Asia , in the country of Boc/an, 54miles S. W. of Tassasudon.
DAMVILLIERS, a town of France , in the department ofMeuse, 11 miles N. of Verdun .
DAN, [p, lieb. i. e, judgement,] one of tiie twelve pa-9 ' triarclis*'