Νικόπολις
Nikópolis
G3533 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper noun denoting a specific city, 'Nikópolis' refers to a city named 'victory city.' In New Testament context, it designates a particular urban location, most likely referring to the city established by Octavian (Augustus) in Epirus (on the western coast of Greece, near Actium), though the name was used for several cities in antiquity. The primary meaning: a city designated as 'city of victory.' No derived or abstract senses.
Semantic Range
city named 'city of victory', proper name of multiple cities, especially the city in Epirus founded by Octavian; no abstract or secondary senses
Root / Etymology
From νῖκος (nîkos, 'victory') + πόλις (pólis, 'city'); constructed Greek place-name. Multiple cities were given this name in commemoration of military victories.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the New Testament, Νικόπολις occurs in Titus 3:12 as the destination where Paul intends to spend the winter. While some manuscripts, patristic sources, and later commentators have debated the precise location, the most prominent Nikopolis in the early Roman imperial era was the one founded by Octavian following his victory at Actium (31 BCE). Other cities with the same name existed in Thrace, Armenia, and elsewhere; however, the Epirus city is generally identified as the one referenced in early Christian sources, given its prominence and Paul’s travels. 'Nicopolis' as an English rendering maintains the traditional form, but does not indicate the meaning ('city of victory') in translation. The term is not a common noun, carries no theological weight, and should be understood as a geographical name commemorating military triumph—reflecting a typical pattern of Hellenistic and Roman city naming. The word’s usage is rare and always as a proper place-name; it does not develop further polysemy or metaphorical meanings.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from νῖκος and πόλις; victorious city; Nicopolis, a place in Macedonia:--Nicopolis.
Root Family
νικ-, πολ- (Nikópolis) — victory, city
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3533-01 |
Νικόπολιν | nikopolin | N ACC F SG |
Nicopolis | Victory City | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3533-01 |
Titus 3:12 | Νικόπολιν | nikopolin | N ACC F SG |
Nicopolis | Victory City |