Dium (Coele-Syria)

Dium or Dion (Ancient Greek: Δῖον)[1][2][3] or Dia (Δία)[4][5] was a city in ancient Coele-Syria mentioned by numerous ancient writers. According to Stephanus of Byzantium, the city was a foundation of Alexander the Great, and named after the city Dium in Macedon.[3] According to the ancient sources, it was very close to Pella, which is now in modern Jordan.[6]

Stephanus notes that the city's water was unhealthy. Little is known about the history of the city. Like most of the Hellenistic cities in that region, it was subjugated to the Jews under Alexander Jannaeus, who conquered the town,[4] which was then conquered by Pompey and its freedom restored in 62 BCE.[7] The coins of Dium are from the Pompeian era. Pliny the Elder and Ptolemy count the city as among the Decapolis.[1][2] The situation of Dium is not proven with certainty. According to Ptolemy, the city was southeast of Pella; but its latitude was quite uncertain.[2] Josephus in his retelling of Pompey's march through the area, says he came from Damascus via Dium to Pella,[7] thus putting Dium to the north of Pella. Others try to associate Dium with the later Capitolias.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 Pliny. Naturalis Historia. 5.74.
  2. 1 2 3 Ptolemy. The Geography. 5.15, 23.
  3. 1 2 Stephanus of Byzantium. Ethnica. s.v.
  4. 1 2 Josephus, Ant. Iud., 13.393
  5. ↑ Hierocles. Synecdemus. 722.
  6. ↑ Immanuel Benzinger: Δῖον 5.(in German) In: Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft (RE). Volume V,1, Stuttgart 1903, col. 833 f.
  7. 1 2 Josephus, Ant. Iud. 14.74 et seq.
  8. ↑ see, e.g.,
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