Expert: Maria - 10/30/2008

Question
The word is 'ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ' I looked over the internet but I could not find out what 'ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ' means. Do you have any insight? It would be much appreciated. ευχαριστώ.

Answer
Hello,

First of all the word ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ in capital letters or Σεβαστή in small letters was a common placename in ancient times as it was the Greek equivalent of the Latin name “Augusta” given to many towns in the Roman Empire in honour of the first Roman emperor Octavianus Augustus as ‘Augustus’ (a masculine adjective meaning “venerable”/” worthy of reverence”)  was the title given by the Roman senate to Octavian, the first Roman emperor, in 27 BC.

See for example “Augusta Vindelicorum” (today  ‘Augsburg’ in Germany); “Augusta Taurinorum” (today  “Torino” in Italy) or ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ / Σεβαστή (today ‘Sebastia’ in Palestine, near Nablus).

As for the meaning of ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ or Σεβαστή, this adjective in the nominative feminine, as it implies the feminine Greek noun “polis” (city) it agrees with, means  just  “venerable”, “worthy of reverence”.

Best regards,
Maria
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Note that in ancient Greek the nominative masculine is ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ / σεβαστός, while the nominative neuter is ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΝ / σεβαστόν