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Coordinates: 30°41′N 31°21′E / 30.683°N 31.350°E / 30.683; 31.350
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{{Short description|Archaeological site in Egypt}}
{{about|the large ancient city in Lower Egypt|the city near the Egyptian Heliopolis|Leontopolis (Heliopolis)|other uses|Leontopolis (disambiguation)}}
{{about|the large ancient city in Lower Egypt|the city near the Egyptian Heliopolis|Leontopolis (Heliopolis)|other uses|Leontopolis (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox ancient site
⚫
'''Leontopolis''' was an [[Ancient Egypt]]ian city located in the [[Nile Delta]], [[Lower Egypt]]. It served as a provincial capital and Metropolitan Archbishopric, which remains a Latin Catholic [[titular see]]. The archaeological site and settlement are known today as '''Kafr Al Muqdam'''.
| name = Leontopolis
| native_name =
| alternate_name =
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = Egypt
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| coordinates = {{Coord|30|41|N|31|21|E|type:city|display=inline,title}}
| location = [[Damietta Governorate]], [[Egypt]]
| region =
| type =
| epochs =
}}
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'''Leontopolis''' was an [[ancient Egypt]]ian city located in the [[Nile Delta]], [[Lower Egypt]]. It served as a provincial capital and Metropolitan Archbishopric. The archaeological site and settlement are known today as '''Kafr Al Muqdam'''.


== Name ==
==Name==
Known most popularly in the modern era and to scholarship by its traditional [[Greek language|Greek]] name '''"Leontopolis"''' {{lang|grc|Λεόντων πόλις}}<ref>[[Ptolemy|Ptol.]] iv. 5. § 51, [[Strabo]] xvii. pp. 802, 812</ref> (literally, "city of lions"), or '''Leonto''' {{lang|grc|Λεοντώ}}, ("lion"),<ref>Hieronym. ''ad Jovian.'' ii. 6</ref> the demographic makeup of the city varied culturally and linguistically over its long history, and the Greek name was progressively used more and more over the native [[Egyptian language|Egyptian]] '''Taremu '''("Land of Fish").<ref>GDG VI, 26; LÄ VI, 351</ref> After the annexation of [[Ptolemaic dynasty|Ptolemaic Egypt]] as a [[Roman Egypt|Roman province]], the city retained the Greek name, and was referred to in [[Latin]] sources as the [[oppidum]] '''Leontos''',<ref>[[Pliny the Elder|Plin.]] v. 20. s. 17</ref> though the Egyptian name still lingered among primary speakers of [[Coptic language|Coptic Egyptian]] into the [[post-classical history|post-classical period]]. Today, the site itself is referred to in [[Arabic]] as '''Tell el-Muqdam''' ("mound of the city").
Known most popularly in the modern era and to scholarship by its traditional [[Greek language|Greek]] name '''Leontopolis''' {{lang|grc|Λεόντων πόλις}}<ref>[[Ptolemy|Ptol.]] iv. 5. § 51, [[Strabo]] xvii. pp. 802, 812</ref> (literally, "city of lions"), or '''Leonto''' {{lang|grc|Λεοντώ}}, ("lion"),<ref>Hieronym. ''ad Jovian.'' ii. 6</ref> the demographic makeup of the city varied culturally and linguistically over its long history, and the Greek name was progressively used more and more over the native [[Egyptian language|Egyptian]] '''Taremu '''("Land of Fish").<ref>GDG VI, 26; LÄ VI, 351</ref> After the annexation of [[Ptolemaic dynasty|Ptolemaic Egypt]] as a [[Roman Egypt|Roman province]], the city retained the Greek name, and was referred to in [[Latin]] sources as the [[oppidum]] '''Leontos''',<ref>[[Pliny the Elder|Plin.]] v. 20. s. 17</ref> though the Egyptian name still lingered among primary speakers of [[Coptic language|Coptic Egyptian]] into the [[post-classical history|post-classical period]]. Today, the site itself is referred to in [[Arabic]] as '''Tell el-Muqdam''' ("mound of the city").


== History ==
==History==
[[File:Terzo periodo intermedio, fine XXII-inizio XV dinastia, rilievo di re iuput II, 754-715 ac ca. 02.JPG|thumb|Iuput II ruled over Leontopolis from 754 to 720/715 BCE]]
[[File:Terzo periodo intermedio, fine XXII-inizio XV dinastia, rilievo di re iuput II, 754-715 ac ca. 02.JPG|thumb|Iuput II ruled over Leontopolis from 754 to 720/715 BCE]]
The city is located in the central part of the [[Nile Delta]] region. It was the capital of the 11th [[nome (Egypt)|nome]] of [[Lower Egypt]] (the [[Ka-heseb|Leontopolite nome]]) and was probably the centre of [[pharaoh|pharaonic]] power under the [[twenty-third Dynasty of Egypt|23rd dynasty]]. In his conquest-stela found at the fourth Nile Cataract at [[Jebel Barkal]], [[Piye]] writes about his conquest over [[Iuput II]]. who ruled over Leontopolis.<ref>TUAT 1, 1985, 557ff.</ref> [[Strabo]] is the earliest writer who mentions either the nome, or its chief town: and it was probably of comparatively recent origin or importance.
The city is located in the central part of the [[Nile Delta]] region. It was the capital of the 11th [[nome (Egypt)|nome]] of [[Lower Egypt]] (the [[Ka-heseb|Leontopolite nome]]) and was probably the centre of [[pharaoh|pharaonic]] power under the [[twenty-third Dynasty of Egypt|23rd dynasty]]. In his conquest-stela found at the fourth Nile Cataract at [[Jebel Barkal]], [[Piye]] writes about his conquest over [[Iuput II]]. who ruled over Leontopolis.<ref>TUAT 1, 1985, 557ff.</ref> [[Strabo]] is the earliest writer who mentions either the nome,<ref>Strabo XVII, 1,19, 20</ref> or its chief town: and it was probably of comparatively recent origin or importance.


The Greek name of this city means, "City of Lions", given on account of the presence of temples to the lioness goddesses [[Bast (goddess)|Bast]] and [[Sekhmet]], and their son, [[Maahes]], the lion prince. Live lions were kept at the temples during the time of the Greek occupation.
The Greek name of this city means "City of Lions", given on account of the presence of temples to the lioness goddesses [[Bast (goddess)|Bast]] and [[Sekhmet]], and their son, [[Maahes]], the lion prince. Live lions were kept at the temples during the time of the Greek occupation.


It became the capital of the [[Roman province]] of [[Augustamnica Secunda]]
It became the capital of the [[Roman province]] of [[Augustamnica Secunda]].


== Ecclesiastical history ==
==Ecclesiastical history==
As provincial capital it also was a Metropolitan archbishopric, known as '''Leontopolis in Augustamnica''', which was to fade.
As provincial capital it also was a Metropolitan archbishopric, known as '''Leontopolis in Augustamnica''', which was to fade.
* [[Michel Le Quien]] lists Theodotus at the second Council of Constantinople in 553AD.<ref> Le Quien (Oriens Christianus, II, 553)</ref>
and
*[[Metrodorus of Leontopolis]] signed the cannon of the [[Council of Ephesus]].


=== Titular see ===
===Catholic Titular see===
The diocese was restored nominally in the 18th century, as [[titular bishopric]], erroneously called '''Leontopolis in Bithynia''', and as such had the following incumbents of fitting episcopal (lowest) rank :
The diocese was restored nominally in the 18th century, as [[titular bishopric]], erroneously called '''Leontopolis in Bithynia''', and as such had the following incumbents of fitting episcopal (lowest) rank :
* Elias Daniel von Sommerfeld (1714.01.26 – 1742.07.26)
* Elias Daniel von Sommerfeld (1714.01.26 – 1742.07.26)
Line 23: Line 41:
* Ludwig Forwerk (1854.07.11 – 1875.01.08)
* Ludwig Forwerk (1854.07.11 – 1875.01.08)


It was promoted circa 1880 to [[titular archbishopric]] of Metropolitan rank; it was renamed in 1925 '''Leontopolis''', in 1933 '''Leontopolis in Augustamnica'''. It has had the following incumbents, of fitting (Metropolitan? archiepiscopal) rank :
It was promoted circa 1880 to [[titular archbishopric]] of Metropolitan rank; it was renamed in 1925 '''Leontopolis''', in 1933 '''Leontopolis in Augustamnica'''.<ref>[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/d2l45.html Leontopolis in Augustamnica], Catholic Heirachy.org.</ref> It has had the following incumbents, of fitting (Metropolitan? archiepiscopal) rank :
* Jean-Pierre-François Laforce-Langevin (1891.02.06 – 1892.01.26)
* [[Jean-Pierre-François Laforce-Langevin]] (1891.02.06 – 1892.01.26)
* Dominique-Clément-Marie Soulé (1893.03.21 – 1919.04.21)
* [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint-Denis de La Réunion#Ordinaries|Dominique-Clément-Marie Soulé]] (1893.03.21 – 1919.04.21)
* Andrea Cassulo (1921.01.24 – 1952.01.09)
* [[Andrea Cassulo]] (1921.01.24 – 1952.01.09)
* Terence Bernard McGuire (1953.11.16 – 1957.07.04)
* [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Townsville#Bishops|Terence Bernard McGuire]] (1953.11.16 – 1957.07.04)
* Angelo Ficarra (1957.08.02 – 1959.06.01)
* [[Bishop of Patti#Scince 1800|Angelo Ficarra]] (1957.08.02 – 1959.06.01)<ref>Revue des Ordinations Épiscopales, Issue 1936, Number 84</ref>
* Cornelius Bronsveld, [[White Fathers]] (M. Afr.) (1959.12.21 – 1970.11.30)
* [[Cornelius Bronsveld]],<ref>Revue des Ordinations Épiscopales, Issue 1950, Number 61.</ref> [[White Fathers]] (M. Afr.) (1959.12.21 – 1970.11.30)


== The site ==
===Greek Orthodox Titular See===
*Dionysios (Hatzivasiliou) 1997-2012
⚫
Antiquarians were long divided as to the real site of the ruins of Leontopolis. According to [[D'Anville]], they were covered by a mound called ''Tel-Essabè'' (Tel es-sab`), or the Lion's Hill.<ref>Comp. [[Champollion]], ''l'Egypte'', vol. ii. p. 110, seq</ref> [[Jomard]], on the other hand, maintains that some tumuli near the village of ''El-Mengaleh'' in the Delta, represent the ancient Leontopolis., And this supposition agrees better with the account of the town given by [[Xenophon of Ephesus]].<ref>''Ephesiaca'', iv. p. 280, ed. Bipont</ref> [[William Smith (lexicographer)|Smith]] sites the city at latitude 30° 6′North, which is considerably further south than the actual site.
*Gabriel of Leontopolis 2012 - Present


==Identification==
Most scholars today {{Citation needed|date=November 2009}} agree that Leontopolis is located at Tell al Muqdam, at latitude 30° 45′North.
Most scholars today agree that Leontopolis is located at Tell al Muqdam, at latitude 30° 45′ North.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}


⚫
Researchers were long divided as to the real site of Leontopolis. According to [[D'Anville]] (1697–1782), its ruins were covered by a [[tell (archaeology)|mound]] called ''Tel-Essabè'' (Tel es-sab`), or the "Lion's Hill".<ref>Comp. [[Champollion]], ''l'Egypte'', vol. ii. p. 110, seq</ref> [[Jomard]] (1777–1862), on the other hand, maintained that some [[tumuli]]{{dubious|Probably just tells, not specifically tumuli, as a tumulus is a tomb by definition.|date=November 2009}} near the village of ''El-Mengaleh'' in the Delta, represent the ancient Leontopolis, and this supposition agrees better with the account of the town given by [[Xenophon of Ephesus]].<ref>''Ephesiaca'', iv. p. 280, ed. Bipont</ref> [[William Smith (lexicographer)|W. Smith]] (1813–1893) locates the city at latitude 30° 6′ North, which is considerably further south than the actual site.
⚫
== Notes ==

==See also==
* [[List of ancient Egyptian towns and cities]]

⚫
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


== Sources and external links ==
==Sources and external links==
* {{SmithDGRG}}
* {{SmithDGRG}}
;Printed sources
;Printed sources
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* {{CathEncy|wstitle=Leontopolis}}
* {{CathEncy|wstitle=Leontopolis}}


{{s-start}}
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{{Coord|30|41|N|31|21|E|source:eswiki|display=title}}
{{succession box|title=[[List of Egyptian capitals|Capital of Egypt]]|before=[[Bubastis]]|after=[[Sais]]|years=818 - 715 BC}}
{{s-end}}



[[Category:Populated places established in the 1st millennium BC]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 1st millennium BC]]
[[Category:Populated places disestablished in the 1st millennium]]
[[Category:Populated places disestablished in the 1st millennium]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Egypt]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Egypt]]
[[Category:Hyksos Cities in Ancient Egypt]]
[[Category:Cities in ancient Egypt]]
[[Category:Cities in Ancient Egypt]]
[[Category:Historic capitals|Egypt]]
[[Category:Catholic titular sees in Africa]]
[[Category:Catholic titular sees in Africa]]
[[Category:Former Roman Catholic dioceses in Africa]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Egypt]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Egypt]]
[[Category:Jewish Ptolemaic history]]
[[Category:Jewish Ptolemaic history]]
[[Category:Nile Delta]]
[[Category:Nile Delta]]
[[Category:Roman sites in Egypt]]
[[Category:Roman sites in Egypt]]
[[Category:Tells]]
[[Category:Tells (archaeology)]]
[[Category:Former capitals of Egypt]]
[[Category:Former capitals of Egypt]]
[[Category:Bastet]]
[[Category:Sekhmet]]

Latest revision as of 21:11, 17 December 2023

This article is about the large ancient city in Lower Egypt. For the city near the Egyptian Heliopolis, see Leontopolis (Heliopolis). For other uses, see Leontopolis (disambiguation).
Leontopolis
Leontopolis is located in Egypt
Leontopolis
Shown within Egypt
LocationDamietta Governorate, Egypt
Coordinates30°41′N 31°21′E / 30.683°N 31.350°E / 30.683; 31.350

Leontopolis was an ancient Egyptian city located in the Nile Delta, Lower Egypt. It served as a provincial capital and Metropolitan Archbishopric. The archaeological site and settlement are known today as Kafr Al Muqdam.

Name[edit]

Known most popularly in the modern era and to scholarship by its traditional Greek name Leontopolis Λεόντων πόλις[1] (literally, "city of lions"), or Leonto Λεοντώ, ("lion"),[2] the demographic makeup of the city varied culturally and linguistically over its long history, and the Greek name was progressively used more and more over the native Egyptian Taremu ("Land of Fish").[3] After the annexation of Ptolemaic Egypt as a Roman province, the city retained the Greek name, and was referred to in Latin sources as the oppidum Leontos,[4] though the Egyptian name still lingered among primary speakers of Coptic Egyptian into the post-classical period. Today, the site itself is referred to in Arabic as Tell el-Muqdam ("mound of the city").

History[edit]

Iuput II ruled over Leontopolis from 754 to 720/715 BCE

The city is located in the central part of the Nile Delta region. It was the capital of the 11th nome of Lower Egypt (the Leontopolite nome) and was probably the centre of pharaonic power under the 23rd dynasty. In his conquest-stela found at the fourth Nile Cataract at Jebel Barkal, Piye writes about his conquest over Iuput II. who ruled over Leontopolis.[5] Strabo is the earliest writer who mentions either the nome,[6] or its chief town: and it was probably of comparatively recent origin or importance.

The Greek name of this city means "City of Lions", given on account of the presence of temples to the lioness goddesses Bast and Sekhmet, and their son, Maahes, the lion prince. Live lions were kept at the temples during the time of the Greek occupation.

It became the capital of the Roman province of Augustamnica Secunda.

Ecclesiastical history[edit]

As provincial capital it also was a Metropolitan archbishopric, known as Leontopolis in Augustamnica, which was to fade.

and

Catholic Titular see[edit]

The diocese was restored nominally in the 18th century, as titular bishopric, erroneously called Leontopolis in Bithynia, and as such had the following incumbents of fitting episcopal (lowest) rank :

  • Elias Daniel von Sommerfeld (1714.01.26 – 1742.07.26)
  • Joaquim de Nossa Senhora de Nazareth Oliveira e Abreu, Friars Minor (O.F.M.) (1815.09.04 – 1819.08.23)
  • Alexander Dobrzański (1819.12.17 – 1831?)
  • Ludwig Forwerk (1854.07.11 – 1875.01.08)

It was promoted circa 1880 to titular archbishopric of Metropolitan rank; it was renamed in 1925 Leontopolis, in 1933 Leontopolis in Augustamnica.[8] It has had the following incumbents, of fitting (Metropolitan? archiepiscopal) rank :

Greek Orthodox Titular See[edit]

  • Dionysios (Hatzivasiliou) 1997-2012
  • Gabriel of Leontopolis 2012 - Present

Identification[edit]

Most scholars today agree that Leontopolis is located at Tell al Muqdam, at latitude 30° 45′ North.[citation needed]

Researchers were long divided as to the real site of Leontopolis. According to D'Anville (1697–1782), its ruins were covered by a mound called Tel-Essabè (Tel es-sab`), or the "Lion's Hill".[11] Jomard (1777–1862), on the other hand, maintained that some tumuli[dubious – discuss] near the village of El-Mengaleh in the Delta, represent the ancient Leontopolis, and this supposition agrees better with the account of the town given by Xenophon of Ephesus.[12] W. Smith (1813–1893) locates the city at latitude 30° 6′ North, which is considerably further south than the actual site.

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Ptol. iv. 5. § 51, Strabo xvii. pp. 802, 812
  2. ^ Hieronym. ad Jovian. ii. 6
  3. ^ GDG VI, 26; LÄ VI, 351
  4. ^ Plin. v. 20. s. 17
  5. ^ TUAT 1, 1985, 557ff.
  6. ^ Strabo XVII, 1,19, 20
  7. ^ Le Quien (Oriens Christianus, II, 553)
  8. ^ Leontopolis in Augustamnica, Catholic Heirachy.org.
  9. ^ Revue des Ordinations Épiscopales, Issue 1936, Number 84
  10. ^ Revue des Ordinations Épiscopales, Issue 1950, Number 61.
  11. ^ Comp. Champollion, l'Egypte, vol. ii. p. 110, seq
  12. ^ Ephesiaca, iv. p. 280, ed. Bipont

Sources and external links[edit]

  •  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
Printed sources
External links
Preceded by Capital of Egypt
818 - 715 BC 		Succeeded by
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