Ἀττάλεια
Attalia
Definition
Attalia was a major seaport city on the southern coast of Asia Minor, in the region of Pamphylia. It served as the primary harbor for the inland city of Perga and was a significant hub for maritime trade and travel in the Roman Empire. In the New Testament, it is mentioned only in Acts 14:25 as the port from which Paul and Barnabas sailed back to Antioch in Syria after completing their first missionary journey. The city's strategic location made it a crucial point of departure for spreading the gospel from Asia Minor back to the church's sending base.
Biblical Usage
The word Ἀττάλεια is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 14:25. In this context, it functions strictly as a geographical proper noun, identifying the specific port city where Paul and Barnabas concluded their ministry in Pamphylia and embarked on their return voyage. There are no other usages or metaphorical applications of the term in the biblical text.
Etymology
The name Ἀττάλεια is derived from Attalus, the name of several kings from the Attalid dynasty of Pergamum. Specifically, it is believed the city was founded and named by Attalus II Philadelphus (reigned 159–138 BC). Therefore, its etymology is not from the Greek prefix ἀ- (meaning 'not') combined with an unknown root, but is a straightforward toponym (place-name) honoring its royal founder. It means 'city of Attalus.'
Semantic Range
In the 1st century, Attalia was a thriving Roman port city, reflecting the interconnectedness of the empire. For Paul and Barnabas, using this port was a practical decision based on travel logistics, demonstrating how early Christian missionaries utilized the existing Roman infrastructure—roads, sea lanes, and commercial hubs—for the strategic spread of the gospel. Its mention anchors the biblical narrative in real historical geography.
Πέργη (Pergē, G4010) — The inland city of Perga, for which Attalia served as the port. Λιμήν (Limēn, G3040) — The general Greek word for 'harbor' or 'port,' whereas Attalia is a specific harbor's name.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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