HIPPUS
HIPPUS (
Ἵππος,
Steph. B. sub voce Plin. Nat. 5.15; Euseb. Onom.: Eth.
Ἱππηνός), a town of the Decapolis and “Palaestina Secunda.” It was situated to the E. of the sea of Galilee, 30 stadia from Tiberias (
Tŭbarîya). (Joseph.
Vita, § 65.) Augustus presented it to Herod (
J. AJ 15.7.3).
After his death it was annexed to Syria (
Antiq. 17.2.4; comp. Marquardt,
Handbuch der Röm. Alt. p. 201).
It was sacked in the Jewish War by the Jews (
B. J. 2.18.1), but the people afterwards revolted, and slew many of the Jews (
B. J. 2.18.5).
The district HIPPENE (
Ἱππηνή, B. J. 3.3.1; comp.
Vita, § 31) lay to the E. of Galilee.
There were bishops of Hippus at the councils of Seleuceia A.D. 359, and of Jerusalem A.D. 536. Burkhardt (
Trav. p. 278) has the merit of having discovered the site of the ancient Hippos, which he fixes at
Khurbet es-Sŭmrah, an hour frown
Semakh. (Comp. Robinson,
Researches, vol. iii. p. 264, note.)
(Reland,
Palaestina, vol. ii. p. 82l; Von Raumer,
Palestina, p. 242.)
[
E.B.J]
