Bashan
a rich, hilly district, lying E. of the Jordan, and between the mountains of Hermon on the N., and those of try takes its name ("fat," "fruitful") Gilead and Ammon on the S. The country takes its name ("fat," "fruitful") from its soft and sandy soil. It is celebrated in Scripture for its stately oaks, fine breeds of cattle, and rich pasturage.
Modern travelers describe the country as still abounding with verdant and fertile meadows. Bashan was assigned, after the conquest of Og and his people, to the half tribe of Manasseh. From it came the Greek name Batanæa, in modern Arabic El-Bottein. But this latter only included its S. part. The ancient Bashan covered the Roman provinces only included its S. part. The ancient named Gaulonites, Trachonites, Auranites, Batanæa, and Ituræa. BASILICA O. miniinum; wild basil belongs to a different genus, being the calamintha clinopodium. of the East, was of low origin, but obtained employment at the court of the Emperor Michael III., became his cham- BASIL I., The Macedonian, Emperor berlain, murdered his rival, Bardas, then Michael, and succeeded him in 867. He laws called the Basilica, which, augmented by his son and successor, Leo the wisely, and compiled a body of of the empire. Basil I. deprived Photius of the See of Constantinople, and re- of the empire. Basil I. deprived Photius Philosopher, were in force till the fall stored Ignatius, on whose death he recalled Photius. He successfully carried on war with the Saracens. Died recalled Photius. He successfully carin 886. son of Romanus II., and with his brother, BASIL II., Emperor of the East, was Constantine, was first associated in the him in 976. His long reign was a series Constantine, was first associated in the Bulgarians. him in 976. His long reign was a series empire by John Zimisces, and succeeded the complete conquest of Bulgaria. Died nus, and Phocas, with the Saracens and in 1025. ns .
The war ended in 1019, by Bishop of Cæsarea, in Cappadocia, where he was born about 326. He was study-