Rome
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(1 Macc. 1:10; Acts 28:16)—the capital of the Roman Empire, situated on the Tiber about fifteen English miles from its mouth. According to tradition, Romulus founded it around 750 BC. At first the city occupied one hill, but in its glory it spread over seven hills—and, according to some ancient descriptions, as many as fifteen. The source reports a circuit of twenty English miles, a population of approximately 1,250,000, perhaps half of them enslaved, 150,000 houses, and 420 pagan temples.