Edessa

American  

[ih-des-uh] / ɪˈdɛs ə /

noun

1. an ancient city in NW Mesopotamia, on the modern site of Urfa: an early center of Christianity; the capital of a principality under the Crusaders.

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Edessa British  

/ ɪˈdɛsə /

noun

1. Modern name: Urfa.  an ancient city on the N edge of the Syrian plateau, founded as a Macedonian colony by Seleucus I: a centre of early Christianity

2. Ancient name: Aegae.  Modern Greek name: Édhessa.  a market town in Greece: ancient capital of Macedonia. Pop (municipality): 25 729 (2001)

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Other Word Forms

• Edessan adjective
• Edessene adjective

Example Sentences

The loss of Edessa posed a serious threat to the remaining Crusader States, however, and prompted the pope to call the Second Crusade.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

He says that a Jewish merchant from Edessa bought the metal and required 900 camels to carry it off.

From Salon • Aug. 20, 2017

The king venerated a mysterious image of Christ known as the Mandylion of Edessa, which was believed to have been imprinted by supernatural means.

From BusinessWeek • Nov. 8, 2011

That image had long been defined by the Mandylion of Edessa, a piece of fabric thought to contain a direct impression of Jesus’ face.

From New York Times • Aug. 26, 2011

Baldwin was summoned from Edessa; and when he arrived, towards the end of the year, he was crowned king by Dagobert himself.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 7 "Crocoite" to "Cuba" by Various