Megiddo
/məˈɡɪdoʊ/noun
An ancient fortified city and archaeological site in northern Israel, famous for its strategic battles and biblical associations.
Did you know?The name Megiddo became linked to apocalypse through the biblical Greek form Harmagedon, interpreted as “Mount of Megiddo,” although Megiddo itself lies on a tell rather than a prominent mountain.
Etymological Timeline
2nd Millennium BCE
Egyptian
Mkty
“A place-name recorded in Egyptian inscriptions, commonly identified with Megiddo; its original pronunciation is uncertain.”
Late Bronze Age
Canaanite
Mgd
“The likely local Canaanite form of the place-name, though its precise meaning remains disputed.”
c. 10th–6th Century BCE
Biblical Hebrew
מְגִדּוֹ (Megiddo)
“The name of the fortified city and its surrounding region in the Hebrew Bible.”
3rd–2nd Century BCE
Ancient Greek
Μαγεδδώ (Mageddō)
“The Greek transliteration used for Megiddo in the Septuagint.”
1st Century CE
Koine Greek
Ἁρμαγεδών (Harmagedōn)
“The form appearing in Revelation 16:16, traditionally understood as “Mount of Megiddo” or “the hill-country of Megiddo,” though the construction is linguistically debated.”
Modern English
English
Megiddo
“The archaeological site and ancient city; its name is also preserved in Armageddon as an apocalyptic symbol.”
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