P.
Eleutheropolis (mod. Bet Guvrin; 31 ̊ 36 ’ N, 34 ̊ 53 ’ E): previously named Baitogabra
(Iosephus, Bell. Iud. 4.447; P, Geog. 5.16.6), on the road between Askalon and
Jerusalem, conquered 64 BCE by Pompey for Rome; renamed “Eleutheropolis” by the
emperor Septimius Seuerus ca 200 CE, and its inhabitants made Roman citizens; a
Christian bishopric from before 325 CE. RE 5.2 (1905) 2353–2354, I. Benzinger; PECS 298,
A. Negev; BAGRW 70-F2.
E.
E ̄lis (mod. E ̄lis or Palaiopolis; 37 ̊ 53 ’ N, 21 ̊ 23 ’ E): city of western Peloponnesos founded
472 BCE on the Peneios river, prosperous until the 3rd c. CE, when it declined. PECS 299 –
300, N. Yalouris; OCD3 521, T.J. Dunbabin et al.; BAGRW 58-A2; BNP 4 (2004) 921– 924
(#1–2), Y. Lafond. (Contrast the small and unlocated Arkadian town, cited by S
B, s.v.)
A, H, H.
Emesa (mod. Homs; 34 ̊ 44 ’ N, 36 ̊ 43 ’ E): ancient inland city on the Orontes river, south
of Apameia and north of Damaskos, a client kingdom of Rome from ca 50 BCE to
Domitian who suppressed the kingship, and the center of worship of the Syrian sun-god,
El-Gabal (cf. Syria). Prospered under Emperor Elagabalus (born here and a priest of El-
Gabal), from 218 CE, and afterward. PECS 302, J.-P. Rey-Coquais; ODB 690, M.M. Mango;
OCD3 523, J.F. Healey; BAGRW 68-C4; BNP 4 (2004) 940–941, C. Colpe; EJ2 6.394,
L. Roth and A. Shmuelevitz.
M, N, V.
E ̄peiros: north-western Greece from Gulf of Ambrakia to Nikopolis, south of Illyria,
west of Macedon; some of the native peoples were under Greek influence, and a few allied
with Athens or Macedon from the 4th c. BCE. The first king of all E ̄peiros was P
(297 BCE); in the late 3rd c. BCE, allied with Macedon against Rome; under Rome
from 167 BCE. Divided into two provinces by Diocletian 297 CE; pillaged by the Vandals
under Alaric 395– 397 CE. OCD3 546 – 547, N.G.L. Hammond; BNP 4 (2004) 1123–1127,
D. Strauch and J. Niehoff.
Sites: Nikopolis (?).
People: M (?), P, P.
Ephesos (mod. Selçuk; 37 ̊ 56 ’ N, 27 ̊ 20 ’ E): Greek colony (of Athens?) founded in the
10th c. BCE on a Karian site, in the delta of the Kaüstros/Cayster river, and devoted to the
worship of Artemis. In the mid-6th c. BCE, Kroisos/Croesus moved the town inland, as did
again L ca 290 BCE. Allied with Athens in the 5th c. BCE; under Seleukid con-
trol 281–246 and 196– 188 BCE; Ptolemaic 246– 196 BCE; from 188 BCE under Pergamon.
Under Rome from 133 BCE, as a ciuitas libera ac foederata; allied with M VI 89– 84
BCE. Became a large and prosperous city, including e.g. the library of Celsus (135 CE);
withstood siege by the Goths 268 CE. PECS 306 – 310, V. Mistopoulou-Leon; OCD3 528,
W.M. Calder et al.; BAGRW 61-E2; BNP 4 (2004) 1024–1030, P. Scherrer and E. Wirbelauer.
A, A, B (?), D, D, H,
H, I, M, M, O (?), P,
R, S, X.
Eresos (mod. Skala; 37 ̊ 10 ’ N, 25 ̊ 56 ’ E): on south-west part of Lesbos island, occupied
from Archaic times, perhaps Sappho’s birthplace. The harbor was small, strengthened by
Mutile ̄ne ̄ 428 BCE. (See Lesbos.) PECS 502 – 503, M. Paraskevaïdis; OCD3 555, D.G.J.
Shipley; BAGRW 56-B3; BNP 5 (2004) 22, H. Sonnabend.
GAZETTEER