Etymology Cappadocia

view of cappadocia landscape

the earliest record of name of cappadocia dates late 6th century bc, when appears in trilingual inscriptions of 2 achaemenid kings, darius i , xerxes, 1 of countries (old persian dahyu-) of persian empire. in these lists of countries, old persian name haspaduya, according researchers derived iranian huw-aspa-dahyu- land/country of beautiful horses .

others proposed kat-patuka came luwian language, meaning low country . subsequent research suggests adverb katta meaning down, below exclusively hittite, while luwian equivalent zanta. therefore recent modification of proposal operates hittite katta peda-, literally place below starting point development of toponym cappadocia.

herodotus tells name of cappadocians applied them persians, while termed greeks syrians or white syrians leucosyri. 1 of cappadocian tribes mentions moschoi, associated flavius josephus biblical figure meshech, son of japheth: , mosocheni founded mosoch; cappadocians . aotj i:6.

fresco of christ pantocrator on ceiling of karanlık kilise churches of göreme.

cappadocia appears in biblical account given in book of acts 2:9. cappadocians named 1 group hearing gospel account galileans in own language on day of pentecost shortly after resurrection of jesus christ. acts 2:5 seems suggest cappadocians in account god-fearing jews . see acts of apostles.

the region mentioned in jewish mishnah, in ketubot 13:11.

under later kings of persian empire, cappadocians divided 2 satrapies, or governments, 1 comprising central , inland portion, name of cappadocia continued applied greek geographers, while other called pontus. division had come before time of xenophon. after fall of persian government 2 provinces continued separate, distinction perpetuated, , name cappadocia came restricted inland province (sometimes called great cappadocia), alone focus of article.

the kingdom of cappadocia still existed in time of strabo (ca 64 bc - ca ad 24 ) nominally independent state. cilicia name given district in caesarea, capital of whole country, situated. 2 cities of cappadocia considered strabo deserve appellation caesarea (originally known mazaca) , tyana, not far foot of taurus.