holy spot ofthe whole saint nary, it tended to exclude any idol from the centre Of worship. And Jeremiah (iii, 16) look, forward to the time when even the ark
should be "no more remembered" as the climax of spiritualized religion apparently in Messianic times. It was also the support ofthe mercy-seat, materially
symbolizing, perhaps, the "covenant" as that on which "mercj-" rested. It also furnished a legitimate vent to that longing after a material object for reverential feeling which is common to all religions. It was, however, never seen, save by the high-priest, and re- sembled in this respect the Deity whom it symbolized, whose face none might look upon and live. That this reverential feeling may have been impaired dur- ing its absence among the Philistines seems probable from the case of Uzzah. — Smith. See Mercy-seat.
Ar'kite (Heb. Arid', "1p'n? ; Sept. and Joseph. ApovKaioQ, like the Samar. Aruki', "^"i"), a desig- nation ofthe inhabitants of Aria (Plin. v, 16; "Apica, Ptol. v, 15), who are mentioned in Gen. x, 17 ; 1 Chron. i, 15, as descended from the Phoenician or Si- donian branch of the great family of Canaan. This, in fact, as well as the other small northern states of Phoenicia, was a colony from the great parent state of Sidon. Arka, or Arce ("Ante?/), their chief town, lay between Tripolis and Antaradus, at the western base of Lebanon (Joseph. Ant. i, 6, 2 ; Jerome, Qwest, in Gen. x, 15). Josephus {Ant. viii, 2, 3) makes Baa- nah, who in 1 Kings iv, 16, is said to have been su- perintendent of the tribe of Asher, governor of Arka ('Apic/j) by the sea ; and if, as commonly supposed, the capital of the Arkites is intended, their small state must, in the time of Solomon, have been under the Hebrew yoke. In the time of Alexander a splendid temple was erected here in honor of Astarte, the Venus of the Phoenicians (Macrob. Sat. i, 21). Subsequent- ly Arka shared the lot of the other small Phoenician states in that quarter; but in later times it formed part of Herod Agrippa's kingdom. Titus passed through it on his return from the destruction of Jeru- salem (ApKctia, Joseph. War, vii, 5, 1). In the Mid- rash (Midr. Iiabb. 37) it is called "Arlam of Leba- non" Cji33^-I Dp"C)- The name and site seem never to have been unknown (Mannert, p. 391), although for a time it bore the name of Ccesarea Libani (Aufel. Vict. De Cces. xxiv, 1), from having been the birthplace of Alexander Severus (Lamprid. Alex. Sev.). Coins are extant of it (Eckhel, Doctr. Num. iii, 360), but not of its Phoenician period (Gesenius, Mvnam. Phanic. ii, 285 sq.). It was eventually the seat of a Christian bishopric (Le Quien, Oriens Christ, ii, 815, 823). It is repeatedly noticed by the Arabian writers (Mi- chaelis, Spicil. ii, 23 ; also Orient. Bibl. vi, 99 sq. ; Schultens, Vita Saladini ; Edrisi, p. 13; Eosenmuller, Barhebr. Chron. p. 282). It is mentioned in all the itineraries of this region, and is conspicuous in early ecclesiastical records. It also figures largely in the exploits ofthe Crusaders, by whom it was unsuccess- fully besieged in 1099, but at last taken in 1109 by Bertrand (see Eobinson's Researches, new ed. iii, 578 sq.). In 1202 it was totally destroyed by an earth- quake. It lay 32 Roman miles from Antaradus, 18 miles from Tripoli, and, according to Abulfeda, a par- asang from the sea (Tab. Syrid, p. 11). In a position corresponding to these intimations, Shaw (Obsi rvat. p. 270) noticed the site and ruins. Burckhardt (Syria, p. 162), in travelling from the north-east of Lebanon to Tripoli, at the distance of about four miles south of the Nahr-el-kebir (Eleutherus), came to a hill called Te\-Arka, which, from its regularly flattened conical form and smooth sides, appeared to be artificial. He was told that on its top were some ruins of habitations and walls. Upon an elevation on its east and south sides, which commands a beautiful view over the plain, the sea, and the Anzeiry mountains, are large and extensive heaps of rubbish, traces of ancient dwellings, blocks of hewn stone, remains of walls, and fragments of granite columns. These are no doubt the remains of Arka; and the hill was probably the acropolis or citadel, or the site of a temple (Hames- veld, iii, 39 sq.). The present village has 21 Greek and 7 Moslem families — a wretched hamlet amid the
ARLES
405
ARMENIA
columns of this once splendid city (Bibliotheca Sacra, 1848, p. 16).
Arlss (Arelate), an ancient archiepiscopal see in Lower Provence, on the left of the Rhone, seven leagues from its mouth, about one hundred and eighty- six leagues from Paris. It is said to derive its name from Ara elata, a high altar raised here in pagan times. A number of councils and synods were held at Aries, of which the following are the chief: (1.) In 314, a general synod for the West, at which Constan- tine and GOO or G33 bishops were present ; 22 canons were framed on the Donatists, etc. ; (2.) in 428 or 429, at which Germanus and Lupus were deputed to En- gland ; (3.) in 455, under Ravennius, to settle the dis- pute between Faustus, abbot of Lerins, and the bishop of Frejus ; (4.) in 475, against Lucidus, accused of Predestinationism ; (5.) in 524, under Csesarius, four canons on ordination were published ; (6.) in 1234, under John Baussan, twenty-four canons were pub- lished against heretics, chief!)* against the Waldenses ; (7.) in 1275, by Bsrtrand de S. Martin, twenty-two canons were published, and the clergy fordidden mak- ing wills. — Landon, Manual of Councils; Smith, Ta- bles of Church Hist.