DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4680#0340
2. THE LEGEND OF THE FLOOD IN APAMEIA. 671
Kibotos, and the tale of the ark of Noah; but there is no evidence
whether the by-name (which occurs first in Strabo about a.d. 19) was
derived from the tale, or the tale was localized here because of the
name. It seems possible that there was a native Phrygian name, to
which the grecized form Kibotos was given. In fact, we know that
this transformation actually occurred elsewhere, for the name Kibotos
occurs in Bithynia 1. But, on the other hand, we find reason to think
that the Jewish element was quite strong enough in Apameia to give
the city a by-name derived from the biblical legend as early as the
time of Christ2, Evidence may yet be found ; but though probability
inclines toward Jewish origin of the name, one cannot feel any con-
fidence at present.
M. Babelon, who has discussed this subject with great care 3, con-
siders that most of the Jewish colonies of the Dispersion identified the
loftiest mountain of their neighbourhood as that where the ark rested ;
and that in this way the Jews of Apameia selected the mountain behind
Apameia, But this explanation seems unsatisfactory. Even suppos-
ing that Jewish colonies as a rule did as M. Babelon supposes them
to have done (though I cannot find that his references prove the state-
ment), the Apamean colony would never have thought of the little
hill of Kelainai4 which is dominated by the whole ridge of Djebel-
Sultan, and especially by its southern peak Ai-Doghmush (5580 ft.),
a beautiful and striking mountain about six miles away. Further,
two other mountains in full view from any prominent point in the
city rise to a far greater height than even Ai-Doghmush, viz. Yan-
Dagh (6619 ft.) and Ak-Dagh (8013 ftv), whose superior elevation was
attested to the eyes of the Apamean Jews by the snow lying late on
them; If M. Babelon's theory were correct, one of these lofty moun-
tains would surely have been selected as the point where the ark
rested.
We must therefore conclude, with AIM. Ch. Lenormant and Th.
Reinach, that the hill of Kelainai was considered by the Apamean
Jews to be the spot where the ark had rested, because an Apamean
1 Hist. Geogr. p. 186. It lay opposite idea that the name Kibotos was given
Dakibyza; and we have seen the pro- to Apameia on account of its com-
bability that the name Dakibyza was mercial importance.
used in S. Phrygia (like Askania): s Melanges de Numism. I pp. 165 if
above, p. 31 note. (Rev. de Vliist. des Religions 1891 XXIII
2 This view is stated by Gutschmicl pp. 174 if).
Rhein. Mus. 1864 XIX p. 400, and main- i My aneroid showed 815 feet above
tained by M. Babelon and adopted by the railway station, i. e. 3660: the pro-
Schurer Prophetin Isabel p. 54. Schiirer posed railway tunnel through Djebel-
rightly rejects Prof. G. Hirschfeld's Sultan is at a level of 3600.
Kibotos, and the tale of the ark of Noah; but there is no evidence
whether the by-name (which occurs first in Strabo about a.d. 19) was
derived from the tale, or the tale was localized here because of the
name. It seems possible that there was a native Phrygian name, to
which the grecized form Kibotos was given. In fact, we know that
this transformation actually occurred elsewhere, for the name Kibotos
occurs in Bithynia 1. But, on the other hand, we find reason to think
that the Jewish element was quite strong enough in Apameia to give
the city a by-name derived from the biblical legend as early as the
time of Christ2, Evidence may yet be found ; but though probability
inclines toward Jewish origin of the name, one cannot feel any con-
fidence at present.
M. Babelon, who has discussed this subject with great care 3, con-
siders that most of the Jewish colonies of the Dispersion identified the
loftiest mountain of their neighbourhood as that where the ark rested ;
and that in this way the Jews of Apameia selected the mountain behind
Apameia, But this explanation seems unsatisfactory. Even suppos-
ing that Jewish colonies as a rule did as M. Babelon supposes them
to have done (though I cannot find that his references prove the state-
ment), the Apamean colony would never have thought of the little
hill of Kelainai4 which is dominated by the whole ridge of Djebel-
Sultan, and especially by its southern peak Ai-Doghmush (5580 ft.),
a beautiful and striking mountain about six miles away. Further,
two other mountains in full view from any prominent point in the
city rise to a far greater height than even Ai-Doghmush, viz. Yan-
Dagh (6619 ft.) and Ak-Dagh (8013 ftv), whose superior elevation was
attested to the eyes of the Apamean Jews by the snow lying late on
them; If M. Babelon's theory were correct, one of these lofty moun-
tains would surely have been selected as the point where the ark
rested.
We must therefore conclude, with AIM. Ch. Lenormant and Th.
Reinach, that the hill of Kelainai was considered by the Apamean
Jews to be the spot where the ark had rested, because an Apamean
1 Hist. Geogr. p. 186. It lay opposite idea that the name Kibotos was given
Dakibyza; and we have seen the pro- to Apameia on account of its com-
bability that the name Dakibyza was mercial importance.
used in S. Phrygia (like Askania): s Melanges de Numism. I pp. 165 if
above, p. 31 note. (Rev. de Vliist. des Religions 1891 XXIII
2 This view is stated by Gutschmicl pp. 174 if).
Rhein. Mus. 1864 XIX p. 400, and main- i My aneroid showed 815 feet above
tained by M. Babelon and adopted by the railway station, i. e. 3660: the pro-
Schurer Prophetin Isabel p. 54. Schiirer posed railway tunnel through Djebel-
rightly rejects Prof. G. Hirschfeld's Sultan is at a level of 3600.