Magdala
/ˈmæɡ.də.lə/noun
An ancient town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, best known as the home of Mary Magdalene.
Did you know?Magdala is tied to the same Semitic root behind Hebrew migdal, meaning “tower,” so a place-name became a lasting identity marker in the phrase “Mary Magdalene.”
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Northwest Semitic
Semitic
*migdāl
“tower”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
מִגְדָּל (migdal)
“tower”
Aramaic
Aramaic
מגדלא (magdālā)
“tower; fortified place”
Greek (New Testament)
Greek
Μαγδαλά (Magdalá)
“Magdala, the town-name”
Latin
Latin
Magdala
“Magdala, the place-name”
Modern English
English
Magdala
“the ancient town name, especially in biblical and historical references”