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[German version] This item can be found on the following maps: Xenophon (Θάψακος/ T hápsakos; Latin Thapsacus). City in Syria, on the west bank of the Euphrates [2], important river port and Euphrates crossing (Semitic tiphsaḥ, 'crossing, ford'), first mentioned in 1 Kings 5,4 as a (fictional) border town in the northeast of Solomon's kingdom. It was at T. that Cyrus [3] the Younger crossed the Euphrates (Xen. An. 1,4,11 and 17 f.); a little later, as nauarchos, Conon [1] came to T., 20 days travel from the Cilician Gates [1] (Diod. Sic. 14,21,5), from where the river …

(Τρίπολις/ Trípolis; literally, 'triple city'). [German version] [1] Perrhaebic T. The three cities of Azorus, Doliche and Pythium [2] in the small valley south of the Titarus and west of the Olympus [1] were referred to as the 'Perrhaebic T.' The locations of the …

(Θεοδοσιόπολις/ Theodosiópolis, Θεοδοσιούπολις/ Theodosioúpolis). [German version] [1] Modern Ras al-Ain, Syria T. in Osroene (in northern Mesopotamia), according to Procop. BP 2,19,29 (cf. Aed. 2,2,16) on the Ḫabur about 40 miles (= 60 km) from Dara, the village of Resaeina (= Ras al-Ain at the source of the Ḫabur) elevated c. AD 383 by Theodosius [2] I to a city (Malalas 13,40 p. 345 Dindorf). Iustinianus [1] I further increased the fortification of T., which was situated at the end of the Byzantine Limes (VI. C.), with forts (Procop. A…

[German version] I. Term and genre In antiquity the folk-tale as a well-defined literary genre with unequivocally established terminology was not known. However, since oral narratives, partly put do…

[German version] (Σαγχουνιάθω/ Sanchouniáthō; Phoenician sknytn, 'Sakon has given'). Phoenician and source for Herennius Philo of Byblus (= P.), who used him for his Phoenician History (Euseb.: Φοινικικὴ Ἱστορία/ Phoinikikḕ Historía; Iohannes Lydus, Steph. Byz.: τὰ Φοινικικά), of which we know only through references in Eusebius [7] (Euseb. Praep. evang. 1,9,20-21; 10,9,12 ff. Mras = FGrH 790). S. is said to have lived at Beirut (Berytus, according to the Suda), Tyrus or Sidon (Ath. 3,100) even 'before the Trojan War', and h…

[German version] I. Definition Writing is understood to be a set of signs for the visual preservation of human language. Within cultural history, creating and employing writing require (1) its usability, (2) a considerable degree of language analysis and (3) a triggering idea. Since writing can be mastered effortlessly even by six-year-olds and - once in existence - can be used for the most varied cultural purposes, the decisive factor for the moment of its invention is the idea. However, one should not readily as…

[German version] I. General The status of the moon in ancient mythological speculation and cult worship reflected its central position in the calendar cycles, agricultural cycles and monthly cycles with respect to their various aspects. The moon (personified) could be the …

[German version] (Ναβουριανός; Nabourianós). According to Poseidonius (transmitted in Str. 16,1,6), N. was said to have been, with Cidenas and Sudines, one of the Babylonian scholars whose accurate observations of the lunar cycle and positions of the sun were expanded by the Greeks into ‘System A’ and made the basis of mathematical astronomy. He is probably identical with a Nabû-rīmannu who presumably lived around 500 BC and whose name is found e.g. in the colophon of a Babylonian moon table. Röllig, Wolfgang (Tübingen) Bibliography P. Schnabel, Berossos und die babylonisch-hel…

[German version] (Νίτωκρις/ Nítōkris). According to Hdt. 1,185-187, Babylonian queen, wife of one Labynetus and mother of a king of the same name. She is said to have dammed up the Euphrates, built a bridge over the river in Babylon and to have her tomb above one of the city gates. These legends probably combine information about buildings of Nebuchadnezzar II and legends about Semiramis (cf. Jos. Ap. 1,20) with stories about Aadad-ḫappe, the mother of king Nabonidus.…

(Ἰθόβαλος; Ithóbalos, Εἰθώβαλος; Eithṓbalos and similar, Phoenician ʾittōbaʿal, Baʿal is with him). Name of various Phoenician princes. [German version] [1] King of Byblus around 1000 BC King of Byblus c. 1000 BC, known from his inscription on the sarcophagus of his father Aḥīrām (KAI no. 1). Röllig, Wolfgang (Tübingen) [German version] …

[German version] I. Names and concept, sources The name and concept of the Phoínikes (Φοίνικες)/Phoenicians (= P.) were formed in the Greek world [1]. Those designated by it understood themselves primarily as citizens or members of a union of cities, e.g. as Tyrians, Sidonians or - after the shared cultural region - as Canaanites [2]. In this they were referring to a polit…

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[English version] (Νίτωκρις). Nach Hdt. 1,185-187 babylonische Königin, Gattin eines Labynetos und Mutter eines gleichnamigen Königs. Sie soll den Euphrat abgedämmt, in Babylon eine Brücke über den Fluß geschlagen und ihr Grab über einem der Stadttore bekommen haben. Hierbei wurden wohl Nachrichten über Bauten Nebukadnezars II. und Legenden über Semiramis (vgl. Ios. c. Ap. 1,20) mit Erzählungen über Aadad-ḫappe, die Mutter des Königs Nabonadios (Nabonid), verquickt.…

[English version] I. Begriff und Gattung Die Ant. kennt das M. als wohldefinierte und terminologisch eindeutig festgelegte Lit.-Gattung nicht. Da es aber zu allen Zeiten und in allen Kulturen mündliche und…

[English version] I. Allgemeines Die Stellung des Mondes in der ant. myth. Spekulation und kultischen Verehrung reflektiert seine zentrale Position in den kalendarischen, agrarischen und Monatszyklen in ihren unterschiedliche…

(Ἰθόβαλος, Εἰθώβαλος u.ä., phöniz. ittōbaal, “mit ihm ist Baal”). Name verschiedener phöniz. Fürsten. [English version] [1] König von Byblos um 1000 v. Chr. König von Byblos um 1000 v.Chr., bekannt aus seiner Inschr. auf dem Sarkophag seines Vaters Aḥīrām (KAI Nr. 1). …

[English version] (Ναβουριανός). Nach Poseidonios (überl. bei Strab. 16,1,6) soll N. neben Kidenas und Sudines einer der babylon. Gelehrten gewesen sein, deren genaue Beobachtungen von Mondumläufen und Sonnenständen von den Griechen zum sog. “System A” ausgebaut und zur Grundlage der mathematischen Astronomie gemacht wurden. Er ist wohl identisch mit einem Nabû-rīmannu, der um 500 v.Chr. gelebt haben dürfte und dessen Name sich z.B. im Kolophon einer babylon. Mondtafel findet. Röllig, Wolfgang (Tübingen) Bibliography P. Schnabel, Berossos und die babylon.-hell. Lit., …

[English version] I. Namen und Begriff, Quellen Name und Begriff der Phoínikes (Φοίνικες)/Phönizier (=Ph.) sind in der griech. Welt gep…