.Ancient Sources

Sinai and Egypt

153. Hermupolis - (Damanhur)

ORIGINAL TEXTS

ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Hierocles, Synecdemos 723:6-726:2 (7th cent. A.D.)
Province of Egypt, 23 cities under an Augustalis: Alexandria, Ermopolis, Menelaites, Metelis, Bouto, Kabasa, Sais, Naukratis, Andron, Nikiu, Xois, Phragonis, Pachnenunis,Diospolis, Sebennutos, Onuphis, Taua, Cleopatris, Kuno, Busiris, Oasis, Elearchia, Paralos.

BIBLICAL BACKGROUND
Matt 2:13-21 The flight into Egypt
Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son." When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more." When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.

MORE ANCIENT SOURCES
Liber de Infantia Salvatoris, 22-24 (5th cent. A.D.)
As they went, Joseph said that as it was hot they might go by the sea coast. But Jesus said he would shorten the way- and even as he spoke they began to see the hills and cities of Egypt. They arrived at Hermopolis and entered a city called Sotinen, and had to lodge in a temple where were 365 gods. When Mary and the Child entered, all the idols fell and Isaiah's word was fulfilled. 'Behold the Lord shall come upon a light cloud and enter into Egypt, and all the gods made by the hand of the Egyptians shall be moved before his face.'
Afrodisius, governor of the city, heard of it and came with all his host. The priests thought he would punish those who had destroyed the gods: but when he saw them fallen he adored the child and said to those present that 'unless this were the God of our gods they would not have fallen. If we do not adore him, as they have done, we are in danger of such destruction as fell upon Pharaoh who was drowned with all his army.' Then all the people of the city believed in the Lord through Jesus Christ.

BYZANTINE ADMINISTRATIVE LISTS

Georgius Cyprius, 708-729 (7th cent. A.D.)
Province of Aegyptus Prima: Alexandria, Ermoupolis, Metelis, Costos, village of Psanis, village of Coprithis, Sais, Leontopolis, Naucratis, Andron, Nikiu, Zenonopolis, Paphna, Onouphis, Taua, Cleopatris, Mareotis, Menelaites, Skedia, Terenoutis, Sondra.

EPISCOPAL CITY

Bishops' list
Ammon
Dracontius (A.D. 354/5, 362)
Isidorus (A.D. 384)
Dioscorus (A.D. 394)
Esaias / Isaias (A.D. 449, 451)
Gennadius (A.D. 474, 480)
Zacharias, coptic (A.D. 681/9)
Anba Zakharia, coptic (A.D. 830/49)
Mennas, coptic (A.D. 981)
Gabriel / Ghabryal, coptic (A.D. 1086)

ICONOGRAPHIC PARALLELS
Tabula Peutingeriana
(4th cent. A.D.)
Ermupolis

Map Section 10 Place Discussion

Created Saturday, December 16, 2000 at 16:57:28
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© copyright - Studium Biblicum Franciscanum - Jerusalem 2000

153. Hermupolis - (Damanhur)

ORIGINAL TEXTS	ENGLISH TRANSLATION *Hierocles, Synecdemos* 723:6-726:2 (7th cent. A.D.)** Province of Egypt, 23 cities under an Augustalis: Alexandria, Ermopolis, Menelaites, Metelis, Bouto, Kabasa, Sais, Naukratis, Andron, Nikiu, Xois, Phragonis, Pachnenunis,Diospolis, Sebennutos, Onuphis, Taua, Cleopatris, Kuno, Busiris, Oasis, Elearchia, Paralos.
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND Matt 2:13-21 The flight into Egypt Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son." When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more." When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.
MORE ANCIENT SOURCES Liber de Infantia Salvatoris, 22-24 (5th cent. A.D.) As they went, Joseph said that as it was hot they might go by the sea coast. But Jesus said he would shorten the way- and even as he spoke they began to see the hills and cities of Egypt. They arrived at Hermopolis and entered a city called Sotinen, and had to lodge in a temple where were 365 gods. When Mary and the Child entered, all the idols fell and Isaiah's word was fulfilled. 'Behold the Lord shall come upon a light cloud and enter into Egypt, and all the gods made by the hand of the Egyptians shall be moved before his face.' Afrodisius, governor of the city, heard of it and came with all his host. The priests thought he would punish those who had destroyed the gods: but when he saw them fallen he adored the child and said to those present that 'unless this were the God of our gods they would not have fallen. If we do not adore him, as they have done, we are in danger of such destruction as fell upon Pharaoh who was drowned with all his army.' Then all the people of the city believed in the Lord through Jesus Christ. BYZANTINE ADMINISTRATIVE LISTS Georgius Cyprius, 708-729 (7th cent. A.D.) Province of Aegyptus Prima: Alexandria, Ermoupolis, Metelis, Costos, village of Psanis, village of Coprithis, Sais, Leontopolis, Naucratis, Andron, Nikiu, Zenonopolis, Paphna, Onouphis, Taua, Cleopatris, Mareotis, Menelaites, Skedia, Terenoutis, Sondra. EPISCOPAL CITY Bishops' list Ammon Dracontius (A.D. 354/5, 362) Isidorus (A.D. 384) Dioscorus (A.D. 394) Esaias / Isaias (A.D. 449, 451) Gennadius (A.D. 474, 480) Zacharias, coptic (A.D. 681/9) Anba Zakharia, coptic (A.D. 830/49) Mennas, coptic (A.D. 981) Gabriel / Ghabryal, coptic (A.D. 1086)