Pontus in Biblical History

Bible History

Schaff's Bible Dictionary

Definitions in Biblical History
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What is Pontus?
PON'TUS
(the sea), the north-eastern province of Asia Minor, bordering on the Euxine Sea. Under the Romans the name comprised the whole district from the river Halys on the west, separating it from Bithynia, to Colchis and Armenia on the east; it was separated on the south from Cappadocia by lofty mountains. It was originally considered a part of Cappadocia, and called "Cappadocia on the Sea." Pontus rose into power under Mithridates, who was defeated by Pompey, b.c. 66, after a long struggle, and was brought under the Roman yoke. The western portion of the empire of Mithridates was united partly with Bithynia and partly with Galatia, but for a long period the region properly called Pontus remained under the government of independent chieftains. It was really made a province under Nero before Paul's death. Polemo II., who married Bernice, great granddaughter of Herod the Great and sister of Herod Agrippa, Acts 25:13, was its last king. This marriage of a Jewess with the king must have had an influence upon the Jewish population of Pontus, of whom some representatives were in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:9. Aquila, a Jew born in Pontus, Acts 18:2, was a very useful helper of Paul, and Peter addressed his First Epistle "to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus." 1 Pet 1:1. It formed part of the later Greek empire; became the seat of a new Christian empire founded by Alexius Comnenus in the thirteenth century; was conquered by the Turks in a.d. 1461, and remained under their dominion. It corresponds nearly with the modern province of Trebizond, which came into some prominence during the Russo-Turkish war in 1877-78. The country contains valuable mineral deposits, extensive forests, and some fertile districts.

Bibliography Information
Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'pontus' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
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