Πάταρα
Pátara
G3959 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Patara; a city in Lycia on the southwestern coast of Asia Minor. In biblical and Hellenistic sources, the name functions strictly as a geographic toponym designating this harbor city, which was a significant coastal port in antiquity.
Semantic Range
city of Lycia, Patara (port city), harbor locality
Root / Etymology
The name is of likely Lycian origin, not Greek; etymology uncertain. Although rendered in Greek as Πάταρα (Pátara), it preserves the local Anatolian place name without adaptation to Greek roots or morphology.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Greco-Roman times, Patara was a principal city of Lycia, famed for its extensive harbor and for the temple and oracle of Apollo. It is referenced in Acts 21:1 as a maritime stop during Paul's travels. The name appears in other ancient Greek and Roman geographical works (e.g., Strabo, Ptolemy). English Bible translations typically transliterate the name directly as "Patara" without further interpretation. As a proper noun, the word carries no broader semantic or symbolic meaning within Greek usage apart from its designation as a specific locale.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably of foreign origin; Patara, a place in Asia Minor:--Patara.
Root Family
uncertain (bótrys) — proper name, personal name
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G1009 | βότρυς | clusters |
| G1050 | Γάϊος | to Gaius |
| G1055 | γαλήνη | calm stillness |
| G108 | Ἄζωτος | Ashdod |
| G1148 | Δαλμανουθά | of Dalmanoutha |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3959-01 |
Πάταρα | patara | N ACC N PL |
Patara | Patara | Patara | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3959-01 |
Acts 21:1 | Πάταρα | patara | N ACC N PL |
Patara | Patara | Patara |