Eusebius of Caesarea, Onomasticon (1971) Translation. pp. 1-75.
CONCERNING THE PLACE NAMES IN SACRED SCRIPTURE.
[Translated by C. Umhau Wolf]
CONCERNING THE PLACE NAMES IN SACRED SCRIPTURE
by Eusebius of Pamphilia, Bishop of Caesaria Palestine
As a kind of preface to the work proposed by you, O Paulinus, holy man of God, I have previously presented the subjects suggested. First I translated into the Greek language the names of the nations throughout the world which have Hebrew names in the sacred Scriptures. Then on the basis of the whole Bible I composed a map of ancient Judea and defined the allotments of the twelve tribes within it. Furthermore, using the "blueprint" as it were, provided by Scripture, I sketched a representation of their ancient and renowned capital, i.e., Jerusalem, and of its temple with appended notes of its areas.
Now, in this work and in accordance with those things previously prepared for the usefulness of the completed project, I continue your proposal and set forth the names of the cities and villages mentioned in the Sacred Scriptures in their native language, of what sort of territory they were, and whether our contemporaries call them by the same name as the ancients or otherwise. I shall gather the materials sought from all of the inspired Scripture, but for easy reference I shall organize in alphabetic order each of the citations scattered among the readings.
Eusebius who received his cognomen from the sainted martyr Pampilius had already written the following:
1) The Ten books of the Church History
2) The Canons of the Times (which we rendered into Latin)
3) Names of the various Nations (in which he explained how these were formally spoken among the Hebrews and are now spoken)
4) Description of the land of Judea and the lots of the separate tribes
5) Also a Plan of Jerusalem and its temple with a most succinct description
Finally he worked on this little book and gathered together for us from the Holy Scriptures almost all the names of cities, mountains, rivers, villages and other places indicating if they still exist, are unchanged or are in part corrupted. And so we have translated the study of this remarkable man according to the order of the alphabet in Greek. We have left unchanged those proper records we have not seen, but have changed a few.
As formerly in the preface to The Canons of the Times, I debated whether I should be only a translator or an author of a new work. Especially because someone hardly instructed in the language dared to translate this same book into the Latin language which is not really Latin. The wise reader will quickly discover the ignorance of him by comparison with what we have translated. Even though I do not claim for myself eminence, nevertheless I believe I can surpass those who are farmers.
Ararat, Armenia. Scripture says that the ark came to rest (after the deluge) in the mountains of Ararat. It is asserted that the remains of the ark are still shown on the mountains of Armenia. Jeremiah also mentions Ararat in his vision against Babylon. In the first book of the Antiquities of the Jews Josephus likewise sets forth the story of the place. Upon the testimony of non-scriptural witnesses he derives this information:
"Noah, thus learning that the earth was delivered from the flood, waited yet seven days, and then let the animals out of the ark, went forth himself with his family, sacrificed to God and feasted with his household. The Armenians call that spot the Landing-Place, for it was there that the ark came safe to land, and they show the relics of it to this day. This flood and the ark are mentioned by all who have written histories of the barbarians. Among these is Berosus the Chaldean who in his description of the events of the flood writes somewhere as follows: 'It is said, moreover, that a portion of the vessel still survives in Armenia on the mountains of the Cordyaeans, and that persons carry off pieces of the bitumen, which they use as talismans.' These matters are also mentioned by Hieronymus the Egyptian, author of the ancient history of Phoenicia, by Mnaseas and by many others. Nicolas of Damascus in his 96 book relates the story as follows: 'There is above the country of Minyas in Armenia a great mountain called Baris, where, as the story goes, many refugees found safety at the time of the flood, and one man, transported upon an ark, grounded upon the summit, and of the timber were for long preserved; this might well be the same man of whom Moses, the Jewish legislator wrote.'"
Achad. City of King Nebrod in Babylon. [According to the Hebrews this is said to be the Mesopotamia city which today is called Nisibis. It was once besieged and captured by Lucullus the Roman consul and within a few years was given over by Emperor Iovianus to the Persians.]
Aggai (Ai). To the west of Bethel. They are not far distant from one another. Bethel is now located on the left side of the road going from Neapolis to Jerusalem at about the 12th milestone from Jerusalem. Bethel even now exists. [A church has also been built there where Jacob slept on the way to Mesopotamia whence this place was given the name Bethel which means "house of God". But for Aggai, a deserted place, there are shown only ruins. This is also called in Scripture Gai. [It should be remarked that there is no letter G in Hebrew but it was called Ai, written with the letter called by them Ain.]
Astarōth Karnaein. Territory of the giants situated above (on the ridge). Sodom which Chodollagomor captured (destroyed). Today there are two towns (forts) of this name in Batabia or Beloloun the cities of Adara and Abila, about nine miles apart.
Arbō. [Arboc. In our codex written corruptly as Arboc, Arbo is the reading in the Hebrew. That means "four" since this is where the three patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob along with the "great Adam" are buried. So in the book of Josue. Perhaps some suppose this tradition that he was buried in the location of Calgary.] "That is, Hebron" now a large town which was formerly a metropolis of the foreigners where giants dwelled. Afterwards the capital of David. It was allotted to the tribe of Juda and was a Levitical city and one of the cities of refuge. It is twenty-two miles south of Jerusalem. The oak of Abraham [which is also Mamrē, was pointed out up to the time of Constantine, emperor of Rome] and his tomb are seen there [a church has been constructed there by us]. The terebinth where angels were entertained by Abraham is openly revered by the people (in the vicinity as a religious place). Formerly it was called Arbo but later Hebron after Hebron one of the sons of Caleb according to Paralipomenon.
Ailam (Ailath). Is situated at the extremity of Palestine between the southern desert and the Red Sea where cargo was transported by ship from both Egypt and India. A detachment of the Tenth Roman Legion is stationed there. Properly called Aila today (it was formerly pronounced Ailath) from whence the ancient people the Ailamites whose king was Chodollagomor [who is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles]. Another Ailam of the foreigners (of Palestine) is noted in Kings.
Adama. One of the five cities of Sodom which was destroyed with the others.
Asasan Thamar (Asasonthamar). Where the Amorrites dwelled whom Chodollagomor destroyed is located near the wilderness of Cades. It is said there is a village Tharmara (a fortThamara) one day journey from Mapsis on the road from Hebron to Ailam. Today there is a garrison (Roman fort) of soldiers there."
Aloua (Allus). Region of the princes of Edom (the Edomite) which is now in the Gebalene near the city of Petra.