Paleocaster
City of Crete, only mentioned as the homeland of Nicomedes Philadelphius, an experienced captain who escorts apostles to Antioch of Syria.
Inhabitants or Natives
Description
In the port of Tyre, Peter inquires about a ship departing for Seleucia.- "Can you tell me whether in the port over there, there is the ship of… wait a moment till I read his name… (and he takes a tied parchment out of his belt), here it is: Nicomedes Philadelphius of Philip, a Cretan from Paleocaster…" - "Oh! The great navigator! Who does not know him? [...]"[1]In his work, Jean-François Lavère wonders:
“Could it be that this is the famous ‘Mariner of Tyre'’, first-century geographer, whose memoirs Ptolemy consulted, and to whom he paid tribute by admitting to have been inspired by him?[2] Whatever the case, without this ‘illustrious’ navigator, there would be no reference to Paleocaster in the work of Maria Valtorta.”[3]
Its Name
Paleocaster, Paleokastro, literally means “old fortress” or “ancient castle”. This name is often given to archaeological sites or to ruins of fortresses. It is named for the existence of an ancient cyclopean wall.
Where is it mentioned in the work?
GRM 319.
Learn More About This Place
Paleocaster is a city of Crete, located in the east of the island, situated two kilometers from the sea. It protected the city of Heraklion, known for its palace of Knossos. The Heraklion region has been continuously inhabited since at least 7000 BC, making it one of the oldest inhabited regions in Europe.
Explore
- 35° 11’ 52’’ N / 26° 15’ 17’’ E /
- +10m
Notes and references
Article partially based on the Geographical Dictionary of the Gospel, by Jean-François Lavère.
- ↑ GRM 319.2.
- ↑ Claudius Ptolemy Treatise on Geography, Book One, chap. VI.
- ↑ Geographical Dictionary of the Gospel, by Jean-François Lavère.