Syene
“Opening or Key”
Summary
An ancient Egyptian frontier town on the southern border with Ethiopia, marking the southern extremity of Egypt in prophetic oracles.
☩Location and Identification
Syene (Hebrew: Seveneh) was a town of Egypt on the frontier of Cush or Ethiopia, always the last town of Egypt on the south. It was situated at the foot of the first cataract on the Nile and served as the natural boundary of Egypt. The modern town of Aswan (Arabic: Aswān) lies slightly north of the ancient site, which is marked by an early Arab burial ground with remarkable Cufic inscriptions.
☩Biblical References
The prophet Ezekiel spoke of the desolation of Egypt 'from Migdol to Seveneh, even unto the border of Cush,' using these two cities to represent the full extent of Egypt from north to south. Migdol was on the eastern border, and Syene in the far south toward Ethiopia. The expression indicates total devastation throughout the land.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Syene," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. X (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.George Morrish, "Syene," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 3.John McClintock and James Strong, "Syene," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. X (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Syene," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 5.George Morrish, "Syene," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 6.John McClintock and James Strong, "Syene," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. X (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).