ANTHE´DON
ANTHE´DON (Ἀνθηδών: Eth. Ἀνθηδονίτης), a city on the coast of Palestine, 20 stadia distant from Gaza (Sozomen. Hist. Eccles. 5.9), to the south-west. Taken and destroyed by Alexander Jannaeus. (J. AJ 13.13.3; comp. 15.4.) Restored by Gabinius (14.5.3). Added to the dominions of Herod the Great by Augustus (15.7.3). Its name was changed to Agrippias by Herod. (J. AJ 13.13.3.) In the time of Julian it was much addicted to Gentile superstition and idolatry (Sozomen. l.c.), particularly to the worship of Astarté or Venus, as appears from a coin of Antoninus and Caracalla, given by Vaillant (Numism. Colon. p. 115).[G.W]