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Damaris (biblical figure)

December 15, 2023

For other uses, see Damaris.

Damaris (Greek: Δάμαρις) is the name of a woman mentioned in a single verse in Acts of the Apostles (17:34) as one of those present when Paul of Tarsus preached in Athens in front of the Athenian Areopagus in c. AD 55.

Detail of Raphael's St Paul Preaching in Athens depicting Damaris.[1]

Biblical narrative edit

Together with Dionysius the Areopagite Damaris embraced the Christian faith following Paul's Areopagus sermon. The verse reads:

"Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them." (KJV)

As usually women were not present in Areopagus meetings, Damaris has traditionally been assumed to have been a hetaera (courtesan, high-status prostitute);[2] modern commentators have alternatively suggested she might also have been a follower of the Stoics (who welcomed women among their ranks)[3] or a foreigner visiting Athens.[4] The Georgian text of Acts makes Damaris the wife of Dionysius.[5]

Veneration edit

She is a saint of the Greek Orthodox Church, remembered on 3 October together with Dionysius the Areopagite and two other disciples of Dionysius, who also became martyrs.[6] 3 October in the Julian calendar, which is used by the Old Calendarists, currently coincides with 16 October in the Gregorian calendar.

Etymology edit

The etymology of the name is uncertain. Proposals include derivation from damar δάμαρ "wife, spouse", a contraction of the classical Greek name Damarete Δαμαρέτη (attested as the name of a daughter of Theron of Acragas and wife of Gelo), or derivation from damalis δάμαλις "heifer"; a Coptic derivation has also been considered.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ Finnan, Vincent. "Paul Preaching at Athens". Italian Renaissance Art. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  2. ^ e.g. Clare K. Rothschild, Paul in Athens: The Popular Religious Context of Acts 17 (2014), p. 97; Josef Hainz, "Personenlexikon zum Neuen Testament. Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft", Darmstadt 2004.
  3. ^ Craig S. Keener, Acts: An Exegetical Commentary : Volume 3: 15:1-23:35 (2014).
  4. ^ Acts (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) Darrell L. Bock - 2007 "The reference to Damaris continues Luke's focus on the response of women (Acts 16:15; 17:4, 12). "She may be a foreigner, since women of Athens would not likely have been present (Witherington 1998: 533)..."
  5. ^ Mark W. Hamilton, Thomas H. Olbricht, Jeffrey Peterson (eds.), Renewing Tradition: Studies in Texts and Contexts in Honor of James W. Thompson (2006), p. 217.
  6. ^ Church of Greece
  7. ^ Mark W. Hamilton, Thomas H. Olbricht, Jeffrey Peterson (eds.), Renewing Tradition: Studies in Texts and Contexts in Honor of James W. Thompson (2006), p. 210ff.

December 15, 2023
damaris, biblical, figure, other, uses, damaris, damaris, greek, Δάμαρις, name, woman, mentioned, single, verse, acts, apostles, those, present, when, paul, tarsus, preached, athens, front, athenian, areopagus, detail, raphael, paul, preaching, athens, depicti. For other uses see Damaris Damaris Greek Damaris is the name of a woman mentioned in a single verse in Acts of the Apostles 17 34 as one of those present when Paul of Tarsus preached in Athens in front of the Athenian Areopagus in c AD 55 Detail of Raphael s St Paul Preaching in Athens depicting Damaris 1 Contents 1 Biblical narrative 2 Veneration 3 Etymology 4 ReferencesBiblical narrative editTogether with Dionysius the Areopagite Damaris embraced the Christian faith following Paul s Areopagus sermon The verse reads Howbeit certain men clave unto him and believed among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them KJV As usually women were not present in Areopagus meetings Damaris has traditionally been assumed to have been a hetaera courtesan high status prostitute 2 modern commentators have alternatively suggested she might also have been a follower of the Stoics who welcomed women among their ranks 3 or a foreigner visiting Athens 4 The Georgian text of Acts makes Damaris the wife of Dionysius 5 Veneration editShe is a saint of the Greek Orthodox Church remembered on 3 October together with Dionysius the Areopagite and two other disciples of Dionysius who also became martyrs 6 3 October in the Julian calendar which is used by the Old Calendarists currently coincides with 16 October in the Gregorian calendar Etymology editThe etymology of the name is uncertain Proposals include derivation from damar damar wife spouse a contraction of the classical Greek name Damarete Damareth attested as the name of a daughter of Theron of Acragas and wife of Gelo or derivation from damalis damalis heifer a Coptic derivation has also been considered 7 References edit Finnan Vincent Paul Preaching at Athens Italian Renaissance Art Retrieved 26 September 2020 e g Clare K Rothschild Paul in Athens The Popular Religious Context of Acts 17 2014 p 97 Josef Hainz Personenlexikon zum Neuen Testament Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft Darmstadt 2004 Craig S Keener Acts An Exegetical Commentary Volume 3 15 1 23 35 2014 Acts Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament Darrell L Bock 2007 The reference to Damaris continues Luke s focus on the response of women Acts 16 15 17 4 12 She may be a foreigner since women of Athens would not likely have been present Witherington 1998 533 Mark W Hamilton Thomas H Olbricht Jeffrey Peterson eds Renewing Tradition Studies in Texts and Contexts in Honor of James W Thompson 2006 p 217 Church of Greece Mark W Hamilton Thomas H Olbricht Jeffrey Peterson eds Renewing Tradition Studies in Texts and Contexts in Honor of James W Thompson 2006 p 210ff Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Damaris biblical figure amp oldid 1144424365, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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