2: Imperial Place Names in Israel That Persisted Without Hebrew Restoration

1. Introduction

While many place names in Israel have undergone restoration or Hebraisation after periods of foreign rule, several historically significant locations have notably retained the names imposed by imperial powers, rather than reverting to their original Hebrew or local designations. These enduring names illustrate the profound cultural and political influence empires such as the Romans, Byzantines, Greeks, and Ottomans had on the region’s toponymy. This article examines some of the most prominent and historically significant cases where imperial names have remained in use from antiquity to the present day.

It should be emphasised that these examples represent only a selection of notable cases; many more places across Israel have similarly retained or adapted imperial names.

2. Historical Context

Following successive conquests of the land, imperial authorities often renamed or founded cities for administrative, symbolic, or political reasons. Unlike smaller or less prominent places where local names were often preserved or restored, some major centres retained their imperial names due to:

  • Administrative continuity under successive regimes.
  • Urban development or founding directly by imperial authorities.
  • Religious or political symbolism embedded in the imperial name.
  • Demographic and linguistic changes are cementing the foreign name within local and international usage.

3. Examples of Notable Imperial Names Persisting Without Hebrew Restoration

3.1 Caesarea Maritima

  • Origin: Founded by Herod the Great (c. 22–10 BCE) and named after Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus.
  • Name Meaning: ‘Caesar’s city by the sea.’
  • Significance: Served as the administrative capital of the Roman province of Judaea.
  • Modern Usage: The name Caesarea remains standard in both Hebrew (Qaysarya) and international contexts. No Hebrew or biblical name existed before its founding, so no restoration occurred (Richardson, 1996).

3.2 Tiberias (Tverya)

  • Origin: Founded by Herod Antipas in the early 1st century CE, named in honour of Emperor Tiberius.
  • Significance: A major urban centre on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, important in rabbinic Judaism.
  • Modern Usage: Tiberias remains the official name in Hebrew and English, with no ancient Hebrew name to restore (Stern, 1993).

3.3 Flavia Neapolis (Modern Nablus)

  • Origin: Founded by Roman Emperor Vespasian in the 1st century CE as Flavia Neapolis (‘new city of the Flavian family’).
  • Significance: Built near the biblical city of Shechem but distinguished by its Roman name.
  • Modern Usage: The city is known as Nablus in Arabic, derived from the Greek name Neapolis. The ancient Hebrew name Shechem is mainly used in biblical or archaeological contexts. Continuous habitation under Roman and Islamic names prevented restoration of the Hebrew name for everyday use (Kennedy, 1990).

3.4 Caesarea Philippi (Banias)

  • Origin: Named by Herod Philip in honour of Caesar Augustus and himself.
  • Significance: Site of biblical and historical importance, including New Testament references (Mark 8:27).
  • Modern Usage: Locally called Banias (Arabic), with Caesarea Philippi used in scholarly contexts. No restoration to Hebrew has occurred, mainly due to continuous Arabic usage and the absence of direct biblical precedent (Richardson, 1996).

3.5 Scythopolis (Beth Shean)

  • Origin: Rebuilt and renamed Scythopolis by the Greeks or Romans during the Hellenistic period.
  • Significance: One of the Decapolis cities and a major urban centre in Roman Palestine.
  • Modern Usage: Today, Beit She’an is the Hebrew name, as it was in the biblical era. However, the Greek and Roman name Scythopolis remained in everyday use throughout antiquity and in later historical references (Freeman, 2001).

4. Factors Influencing Persistence of Imperial Names

  • Founded by the Empire: Cities like Caesarea and Tiberias were established by imperial authorities and had no prior Hebrew names to restore.
  • Urban Continuity: Large urban centres with continuous habitation and economic importance kept their imperial names through cultural shifts.
  • Religious and Cultural Integration: Some imperial names became integral to local identity, for example, Tiberias’ significance in Jewish scholarship, despite its Roman name.
  • Linguistic Adaptation: Arabic and other languages often adapted imperial names, further entrenching their use over centuries.

5. Conclusion

The persistence of imperial place names in Israel illustrates the enduring legacy of empires on the region’s cultural and geographical identity. While many places reverted to Hebrew or biblical names following the revival of Hebrew and the establishment of the State of Israel, prominent cities founded or renamed by imperial powers often retained their given names due to foundational significance, continuous habitation, and linguistic integration.

References

  • Freeman, C. (2001). The Archaeology of the Decapolis Cities. Yale University Press.
  • Kennedy, H. (1990). The Byzantine and Early Islamic Near East. Ashgate.
  • Richardson, P. (1996). Herod: King of the Jews and Friend of the Romans. University of South Carolina Press.
  • Stern, M. (1993). Greek and Latin in the Near East. Brill.
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