Heliopolis
/ˌhiːliˈɒpəlɪs/noun
An ancient city in Egypt near modern Cairo, and the name of other ancient cities in the Greek world.
Did you know?Heliopolis was a major center of solar worship in ancient Egypt, and its Greek name preserves the cultic idea of a city devoted to the sun god.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Egyptian
Egyptian
Iunu
“The original Egyptian name of the city, associated with a major cult center of solar worship”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Ἡλιούπολις (Hēlioúpolis)
“Literally “Sun City,” the Greek name for the Egyptian city”
Classical Latin
Latin
Heliopolis
“Borrowed from Greek as a proper name for the city”
Modern English
English
Heliopolis
“The historical name used in English for the ancient Egyptian city and related places”