Ταρσός,
Ταρσου,
ἡ (on its accent cf.
Chandler §§ 317, 318), in secular authors also
Ταρσοι,
ταρσῶν,
αἱ,
Tarsus, a maritime city, the capital of Cilicia during the Roman period (
Josephus, Antiquities 1, 6, 1), situated on the river Cydnus, which divided it into two parts (hence, the plural
Ταρσοι). It was not only large and populous, but also renowned for its Greek learning and its numerous schools of philosophers (
Strabo 14, p. 613 (cf.
Lightfoot on Colossians, p. 303f)). Moreover, it was a free city (
Pliny, 5, 22), and exempt alike from the jurisdiction of a Roman governor, and the maintenance of a Roman garrison; although it was not a Roman 'colony'. It had received its freedom from Antony (Appendix, b. 104:5, 7) on the condition that it might retain its own magistrates and laws, but should acknowledge the Roman sovereignty and furnish auxiliaries in time of war. It is now called
Tarso or
Tersus, a mean city of some 6,000 inhabitants (others set the number very much higher). It was the birthplace of the apostle Paul:
Acts 9:30;
Acts 11:25;
Acts 22:3. (
BB. DD., under the word; Lewin, St. Paul, 1:78f cf. 2.)
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