Patara

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

(Πάταρα, neut. pl_.)

Patara was a maritime city in the S.W. of Lycia, about 6 miles S.E. of the mouth of the Xanthus. For classical writers it had a romantic interest as a home of Apollo (Herodotus, i. 182), whose temple and oracle there were only less famous than those at Delphi: ‘Pataraean Apollo who haunts the thickets of Lycia’ (Hor. Od. III. iv. 64). Its more practical importance was two-fold; it served as a seaport for the fertile Xanthus valley, including the splendid city of that name; and it lay on the highway of ships trading between the aegean and the Levant or Egypt. St. Paul did an ordinary thing when he changed ships at Patara ( Acts 21:2). The coaster in which he had sailed from Troas had either reached her destination or else was about to continue her course along the south coast, whereas larger vessels bound from Lycia for Syria struck right across the high sea, passing Cyprus on the left ( Acts 21:3). Ships coming in the opposite direction usually found the straight course too difficult on account of the prevailing westerly wind, and had to keep closer to shore, passing Cyprus on the left, and making not for Patara but for Myra, about 30 miles to eastward ( Acts 27:5). Patara derived an ample revenue from the vast traffic between the aegean coast and Alexandria. Ptolemy Philadelphus enlarged and improved the city, calling it ‘the Lycian Arsince’ in honour of his wife, ‘but the old name prevailed’ (Strabo, XIV. iii. 6). Patara was the reputed birthplace of St. Nicholas. The harbour is now ‘an inland marsh generating poisonous malaria’ (T. A. B. Spratt and E. Forbes, Travels in Lycia, Milyas, and the Cibyratis, 2 vols., 1847, i. 32). There are extensive and well-preserved ruins, including a triumphal arch with the inscription, ‘Patara, the metropolis of the Lycian nation.’

Literature.-F. Beaufort, Karamania, 1817; C. Fellows, Account of Discoveries in Lycia, 1841; O. Benndorf and G. Niemann, Reisen in südwestlichen Kleinasien, vol. i.: ‘Reisen in Lykien und Karien,’ 1884; Murray’s Handbook of Asia Minor, 1895.

James Strahan.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

PATARA. A great seaport on the coast of Lycia, a few miles E. of the mouth of the Xanthus. The valley of this river is the best part of Lycia, and doubtless from early times Patara had a local trade, but its importance depended on its convenient position for the trade between the West and the Levant. The prevailing winds in this part of the Mediterranean are from the west (especially in the autumn), and ships sailing from the Ægean or from Italy to PhÅ“nicia or Egypt would often risk the voyage straight across the sea from Patara. Thus we find St. Paul on his last journey to Jerusalem (  Acts 21:2 ), after coasting in a slow vessel along the Ægæan, taking a vessel that was sailing straight from Patara to Tyre. Cf. Myra.

Lycia was never definitely colonized by Greeks, and the Lycians spoke a non-Aryan language. But Patara had an early culture, its coins date from b.c. 440, and the chief Lycian god was identified with Apollo, whose celebrated oracle at Patara gave him the title Patareus (Hor. Od . iii. lv., 64).

A. E. Hillard.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Patara ( Păt'A-Rah ), a seaport town on the southwest shore of Lycia, near the left bank of Xanthus, and opposite Rhodes.  Acts 21:1-2. It was about seven miles east of the mouth of the river, had a convenient harbor, and was visited by ships of all nations. The gospel was early preached there. The city was given up to the worship of Apollo, its founder, Patarus, being reputed to be a son of that god. Patara is now in ruins, but retains its ancient name.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Pat'ara. (City Of Patarus). A Lycian city, situated on the southwestern shore of Lycia, not far from the left bank of the river Xanthus. The coast, here, is very mountainous and bold. Immediately opposite is the island of Rhodes. Patara was, practically, the seaport of the city of Xanthus, which was ten miles distant. These notices of its position and maritime importance introduce us to the single mention of the place in the Bible -  Acts 21:1-2.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

A city on the S.W. shore of Lycia, near the left bank of the Xanthus and opposite Rhodes ( Acts 21:1-2). Paul coming from Rhodes at the end of his third missionary journey here found a ship going to Phoenicia, and in it completed his voyage. The seat of a bishopric subsequently. The river and harbor are now becoming choked with sand.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A maritime city of Lycia in Asia Minor, at the mouth of the river Xanthus, celebrated for an oracle of Apollo, who was supposed to reside here during the six winter months, and the rest of the year at Delos. Paul, in passing from Philippi to Jerusalem, found here a ship for Phoenicia, in which he embarked,  Acts 21:1 .

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

A sea-port of Lycia. It was here Paul the apostle found a ship bound for PhÅ“nicia, into which he entered. ( Acts 21:1)

Morrish Bible Dictionary

City on the coast of Lycia in Asia Minor.  Acts 21:1 . The same name is still retained, but the ruins are being covered and the harbour blocked up with sand.

Holman Bible Dictionary

Cities Of Asia Minor

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Acts 21:1,2

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

pat´a - ra ( τὰ Πάταρα , tá Pátara ): A coast city of ancient Lycia, from which, according to   Acts 21:1 , Paul took a ship for Phoenicia. Because of its excellent harbor, many of the coast trading ships stopped at Patara, which therefore became an important and wealthy port of entry to the towns of the interior. As early as 440 Bc autonomous coins were struck there; during the 4th and the 3rd centuries the coinage was interrupted, but was again resumed in 168 Bc when Patara joined the Lycian league. Ptolemy Philadelphus enlarged the city, and changed its name to Arsinoe in honor of his wife. The city was celebrated not only as a trading center, but especially for its celebrated oracle of Apollo which is said to have spoken only during the six winter months of the year. Among the ruins there is still to be seen a deep pit with circular steps leading to a seat at the bottom; it is supposed that the pit is the place of the oracle. In the history of early Christianity, Patara took but little part, but it was the home of a bishop, and the birthplace of Nicholas, the patron saint of the sailors of the East. Though born at Patara, Nicholas was a bishop and saint of Myra, a neighboring Lycian city, and there he is said to have been buried. Gelemish is the modern name of the ruin. The walls of the ancient city may still be traced, and the foundations of the temple and castle and other public buildings are visible. The most imposing of the ruins is a triumphal arch bearing the inscription: "Patara the Metropolis of the Lycian Nation." Outside the city walls many sarcophagi may be seen, but the harbor, long ago choked by sand, has been converted into a useless swamp. See also Myra .

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Bibliography Information McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Patara'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/p/patara.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Pat´ara, a port of Lycia in Asia Minor, where Paul, on his voyage to Jerusalem, changed his ship for one bound to Phoenicia . Patara was at the mouth of the river Xanthus, and had a famous temple and oracle of Apollo.