Syene

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

a city of Egypt, now called Assouan, situated at its southern extremity.  Ezekiel 29:10 , describing the desolation to be brought upon Egypt, says, "Therefore thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will make the land of Egypt utterly desolate, from the tower of Syene even to the border of Cush," or Arabia or, as some read it, "from Migdol to Syene," implying, according to either version of the passage, the whole length of the country from north to south. The latitude of Syene, according to Bruce is 24 0'

45'; that of Alexandria, 31 11' 33"; difference 7 10' 48", equal to four hundred and thirty geographical miles on the meridian, or about five hundred British miles; but the real length of the valley of Egypt, as it follows the windings of the Nile, is full six hundred miles.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Properly Seveneh or Sebennytus in the eastern delta (the Ηeracleopolis of Manetho, called from Ηercules the "local god") , meaning "a key or opening", a Syene Egyptian town. "From Migdol to Syene," i.e. from the fortress near Pelusium on the N. of Suez to Syene in the far S. toward Ethiopia ( Ezekiel 29:10;  Ezekiel 30:6); not as Kjv "from the tower of Syene." The shepherd kings had Syene for their chief city, from whence they are called Sebennyte Ρharaohs .

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A city on the southern frontiers of Egypt, towards Ethiopia, between Thebes and the cataracts of the Nile, and now called Assouan. Pliny says it stands in a peninsula on the eastern shore of the Nile; that is was mile in circumference, and had a Rome garrison. "From Migdol," the tower, "unto Syene," denotes the whole length of Egypt from north to south,  Ezekiel 29:10;  30:6 . Few remains of the ancient city are now extant. In its vicinity are quarries of the Egyptian granite called Syenite, which furnished the material for numerous obelisks and colossal statues.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

Town in the south of Egypt, bordering on Ethiopia.  Ezekiel 29:10;  Ezekiel 30:6 . The expression, 'from the tower of Syene,' is better translated 'from Migdol to Syene,' even unto the border of Ethiopia, as it is in the margin. The word is really Seveneh, as in the R.V. It is now called Assuan, about 24 N, 33 E.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Sye'ne Properly, Seventh, a town of Egypt, on the frontier of Cush, or Ethiopia,  Ezekiel 29:10;  Ezekiel 30:6, represented by the present Aruan or Es-Suan .

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Ezekiel 29:10 30:6

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Syene . See Seveneh.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Seveneh, סְוֵנֵה; Sept. Συήνη; Vulg. Syene), a town of Egypt on the frontier of Cush, or Ethiopia. The prophet Ezekiel speaks of the desolation of Egypt "from Migdol to Seveneh, even unto the border of Cush" (29, 10), and of its people being slain "from Migdol to Seveneh" (30, 6). Migdol was oh the eastern-border, (See Mignol), and Seveneb is thus rightly identified with the town of Syene, wihichi was always the last town of Egypt on the south, though at one time included in the name Nubia. Its ancient Egyptian name is Sun (Brugsch, Geogr. Inschrifit. 1, 155, tab. 1, No. 55), preserved in the Coptic Sonan, Senon, and the Arabic Aswdn. The modern town is slightly to the north of the old site, which is marked by an interesting early Arab burial-ground, covered with remarkable tombstones having inscriptions in the Cufic character. Champollion suggests the Coptic derivation sa "causative," and buen or ouen, "to open" as if it signified the opening or key of Egypt (L'Egypte, 1, 161-166), and this is the meaning of the hieroglyphic name. It is the natural boundary of Egypt at the south (Pttolem, 9:5; Pliny, Hist. Nat. 5, 10; 12:8 Strabo, p. 787, 815), being situated at the foot of the first cataract on the Nile (Murray, Handbook for Egypt, p. 463). See Jour. Sac. Lit, Oct. 1851, p. 158. (See Egypt).

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Sye´ne, a city of Egypt, situated in the Thebaïs, on the southern extremity of the land towards Ethiopia. Ezekiel, describing the desolation to be brought upon Egypt through its whole extent, says, 'Thus saith the Lord, I will make the Land of Egypt utterly desolate, from the tower of Syene even to the border of Cush (Arabia),' or, as some read, 'from Migdol to Syene,' implying, according to either version of the passage, the whole length of the country from north to south. Syene is represented by the present Assouan, which exhibits few remains of the ancient city, except some granite columns of a comparatively late date, and the sekos of a small temple.