suffocating a thousand of the .Shechemites in the hold of liaal-berith by the smoke of green wool, he went off' with his band to Thobez, wliither, no doubt, the rumor of his inhumanity had ])receded him. I'he town was soon taken, all but one tower, into which the people of the place crowded, and vviiich was strong enongli to hold out. To this he forced his way, and was about to repeat tiie barbarous stratagem which had succeeded so well at Shcchen), when a fragment <if millstone de- scended and put an end to his turbulent career. The story was well known in Israel, and gave the point to a familiar maxim in the camp (2 Sam. xi, 21). 'J'he geo- graphical position of Thebez is not stated; but the nar- rative leaves the impression that it was not far distant from Shechem. Eusebius detines its position with his usual minuteness. He says, " It is in the borders of Neapolis ... at the thirteenth mile on the road to Scythopolis" {Onomus/. s. v. " Thebes"). .Just about the distance indicated, on the line of the old Koman high- way, is the modern village of Tubas, in which it is not difficult to recognise the Thebez of Scripture. It was known to Hap-Parchi in the loth century (Zunz, Ben- jamin, ii, 42(5), and is mentioned occasionally by later travellers (Schwarz, Palet<i. p. 152). It stands on a hill- side at the northern end of a plain snrroimded by rocky mountains. The hill is skirted by tine olive groves, and the whole environs bear the marks of industry and prosperity. It is defective, however, in water; so that the inhabitants are de)iendent on tlie rain-water they keep in cisterns, and when this supply fails, they must bring it from a stream, Fari'a. an hour distant (Kt)bin- son. Bill. Res. iii, 305). Some large hewn stmies in tiie walls of the modern houses, and a number of deep wells and cisterns in and around the village, are the only traces of anti(piity now remaining (Van de Velde, Trav- els, ii,:335; Porter, lluudhnnk, p. o48).
Thebute.s, or Thebuthis. All that is known of this person is the statement that Eusebius {IJist.EccU.--. iv, 22) quotes from Hegesippus to the effect that Th(- butes made a begimiing secretly to corrupt the Church of Jerusalem, because Simon the son of Cleophas was apjiointed to be bishop of the Christians of tliat citj- in- stead of himself.
Theca (j//o;, a case), or Burse {bursa, a "purse"), a case-cover containing the corporals, and presented to the priest at mass. It was of square form, made usually of rich stuff, and lined like a bag with fine linen or silk; on the upper siile was a s.acred image or cross. One of the 15th century, of canvas, remains at Hessett, painted with the Veronica (q. v.) and the Holy Lamb. — Wal- cott. Sacred A rchmil. s. v.
Thecla, the name of several saints of the Itomish Church.
1. The daughter of people living at Iconinm, who is occasionally mentioned by E|)iphanius, Ambrose, Augus- tine, and other Church fathers, and of whom tradition relates that she was converted through the preaching of Paul in the house of Onesii>horus, and that she there- upon renoimccd all worhlly possessions and separated from her betrothed, a wealthy man named Thamyris. No arguments or appeals could change her course. Both siie and Paul were imprisoned; and she was con- denmed to death by fire, while the apostle was banished. A cloud, however, extinguished the fire, and Thecla, uninjured, accompanied Paul to Antioch. To escape the persistemy of a second wooer of noble rank named Alexander, she took refuge with a noble widow whose name was Trypha^na. Again she was condemned to die, this time by the teeth of wild beasts, and again she escaped uninjured, the animals crouching at her feet or being killed by thunder-bolts. She now assumed male clothing and followed Paul to Myra, where she received
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direction from him to teach the hcatiien the truths of Cliristiaiiitv. Slie thereuiKm retiinicil to hor native citv. anil afterwards went to Seleucia, where she suc- ceeded in convert inj; many people and in healinj^ large mnnhers of the sick. A shining cloud accomitanied her as she went about. When she died, many miracles were wrought at her grave and by her relics. Her day is variously given — ;May 18 or 19, or Sept. 23 or 24. A treatise entitled ntpioOot PauU ct Thcchi', probably the work of an Asiatic presbyter, was in circulation as early as the oil century. It mentioned her missionary tours in the company of Paul, and her miracles; recommended the celibate state, and asserted its holiness; inculcated theduty of praying for the dead, and belief in purgatory; and was branded as Apocryphal by Tertullian, .Jerome, and pope (ielasius I. Sec Acta SS. '23. Sep/. (Antw. 1757), vi, .')4t)-5(;8 ; Raronius, Annal. Eccl. (Col. Agrip. 1()09), i, 308-402: Uii.frlnihl. Xaclir. v. alien u. neiien theolo;/. Sachen (Leips. 1702), p. 136 sq. See Thecla AND Paul (Acts of).
2. A reputed native of Sicily of noble rank. She was instructed in Christianity by her mother, Isidora, aid- ed many persecuted Christians, and gave burial to the bodies of many martyrs which slie had purchased. For this she was brought to trial, but escaped the threaten- ing danger. Afterwards she instructetl many heathen people, built a number of churches, and endowed with a rich income a bishopric which she founded. Jan. 10 is consecrated to her memory.