Πτολεμαΐς
Ptolemaḯs
G4424 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Ptolemais; a coastal city in the eastern Mediterranean, specifically known as a principal port city of the region corresponding to Western Galilee in the Hellenistic and Roman periods. In context, the term refers specifically to the city so named after the Ptolemaic dynasty, often appearing as a geographic designation.
Semantic Range
the city of Ptolemais in western Galilee, a harbor city renamed during the Ptolemaic dynasty, formerly Accho/Akko, a regional administrative center in the Hellenistic East, port city in the Roman period
Root / Etymology
The term Πτολεμαΐς derives from the Greek personal name Πτολεμαῖος (Ptolemaios), referencing the Ptolemaic rulers, particularly in the context of Alexander’s general Ptolemy or his descendants who controlled Egypt after Alexander’s death. The city received the name Ptolemais during the Hellenistic period, replacing earlier names for the settlement; etymology traces back to Πτολεμαῖος + Greek feminine ending -ΐς. Not directly from a classical Greek verb or noun; ultimately sourced from a proper name.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Πτολεμαΐς was previously known as Accho (or Akko/Acre), located on the northern coast of the land of Israel (Galilee), near modern-day Acre. Renamed Ptolemais by the Ptolemaic dynasty in the 3rd century BCE to reflect Hellenistic control and as a political act of naming. The city was a significant port and cultural center throughout Hellenistic, Hasmonean, and Roman periods. In New Testament usage (Acts 21:7), Πτολεμαΐς refers to this prominent coastal city visited by Paul. The use of the Greek name signaled the Hellenized urban context rather than an exclusively Israelite/Judean settlement. In Septuagint and Second Temple literature, the use of Πτολεμαΐς demarcated the city's changed political status and reflected broader Greco-Roman geographic terminology.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from (Ptolemy, after whom it was named); Ptolemais, a place in Palestine:--Ptolemais.
Root Family
Πτολεμαΐς (Ptolemais) — city named after Ptolemy, Hellenistic city, coastal port city
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4424-01 |
Πτολεμαΐδα | ptolemaida | N ACC F SG |
Ptolemais | Ptolemais | Ptolemais | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4424-01 |
Acts 21:7 | Πτολεμαΐδα | ptolemaida | N ACC F SG |
Ptolemais | Ptolemais | Ptolemais |