Emesa
/ɛˈmiːsə/noun
An ancient city in Syria, identified with modern Homs.
Did you know?Emesa was ruled by the Emesene dynasty, whose most famous member, Elagabalus, became Roman emperor and promoted the worship of the Syrian sun god Elagabal in Rome.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Near East
Aramaic
Ḥemṣ / Ḥoms
“A proposed local form underlying the later name; the precise original meaning remains uncertain.”
Hellenistic period
Greek
Ἔμεσα (Emesa)
“The Greek name for the Syrian city.”
Roman period
Latin
Emesa
“The Latin form used for the city and its surrounding territory.”
3rd Century CE
Latin
Emeseni
“The name applied to the dynasty and people associated with Emesa.”
Modern English
English
Emesa
“A historical name for ancient Homs, especially in discussions of Syrian and Roman history.”
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