Elymais

(Ε᾿λυμαϊvς), a general designation (Tob 2:10) of that province of the Persian empire. See Smith, Diet. of Class. Geog. s.v.) termed ELAM SEE ELAM (q.v.) in the Bible. In 1Ma 6:1, however, the word is used (incorrectly) in a more specific or local sense of some Persian city, as we are there informed that Antiochus Epiphanes, understanding there were very great treasures in the temple at Elymais, determined to plunder it; but the citizens resisted him successfully. 2Ma 9:2 calls this city Persepolis, probably because it formerly had been the capital of Persia; for Persepolis and Elymais were very different cities; the former situated on the Araxes, the latter on the Eulaeus. The temple which Antiochus designed to pillage was that of the goddess Nannaea, according to 2Ma 1:13; Appian says (Syr. page 66) a temple of Venus (i.e., probably the goddess Anubis); Polybius (31:11), Diodorus, Josephus (Ant. 12:9, 1), and Jerome say a temple of Diana. SEE ANTIOCHUS (EPIPHANES).

By: Emil G. Hirsch, M. Seligsohn

Generally denoting the Persian province of Elam (). It occurs in two places (I Macc. vi. 1; Josephus, "Ant." xii. 9, § 1) as the name of a rich city besieged by Antiochus Epiphanes. But the other historians who relate this event do not mention any town of this name. The existence of such a town has been denied, the name in I Macc. vi. I being explained (see Vaihinger in Herzog's "Real-Encyc." iii. 749) as a mistranslation of an original "be-'Elam ha-Medinah" (comp. Syriac and Arabic versions). On the Talmudical identified with Elymais, see Neubauer, "Géographie du Talmud," p. 381.

ELYMAIS.—This name, which represents the OT Elam, was given to a district of Persia, lying along the southern spurs of Mt. Zagros, S. of Media and N. of Susiana. In 1Ma 6:1, according to the common reading, which is adopted by the AV [Note: Authorized Version.] , Elymais is named as a rich city in Persia. No such city, however, is mentioned elsewhere, except by Josephus, who is simply following 1 Mac. There can be no doubt, therefore, that we should correct the text and read with RV [Note: Revised Version.] , ‘in Elymais in Persia there was a city.’

el-i-mā´is (Ἐλύμαις, Elúmais): This name, representing the Old Testament Elam (see ELAM), was given to a district of Persia lying South of Media and North of Susiana. In 1 Macc 6:1 the common reading, which is adopted by the King James Version, refers to Elymais as a rich city in Persia. No other reference, however, to such a city is found except in Josephus (Ant., XII, ix, 1) who simply follows 1 Macc. The text should therefore be corrected to read as in the Revised Version (British and American), “in Elymais in Persia there was a city.”