damascus

4 definitions found

damascus - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Damascus \Damascus\ prop. n. (Geography)
     The capital city of Syria. Population (2000) = 1,549,932.
     [PJC]
  
     Damascus blade, a sword or scimiter, made chiefly at
        Damascus, having a variegated appearance of watering, and
        proverbial for excellence.
  
     Damascus iron, or Damascus twist, metal formed of thin
        bars or wires of iron and steel elaborately twisted and
        welded together; used for making gun barrels, etc., of
        high quality, in which the surface, when polished and
        acted upon by acid, has a damask appearance.
  
     Damascus steel. See Damask steel, under Damask, a.
        [1913 Webster]

damascus - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  Damascus
      n 1: an ancient city (widely regarded as the world's oldest) and
           present capital and largest city of Syria; according to the
           New Testament, the Apostle Paul (then known as Saul)
           underwent a dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus
           [syn: Dimash, Damascus, capital of Syria]

damascus - Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary :

  Damascus
  activity, the most ancient of Oriental cities; the capital of
  Syria (Isa. 7:8; 17:3); situated about 133 miles to the north of
  Jerusalem. Its modern name is Esh-Sham; i.e., "the East."
  
    The situation of this city is said to be the most beautiful of
  all Western Asia. It is mentioned among the conquests of the
  Egyptian king Thothmes III. (B.C. 1500), and in the Amarna
  tablets (B.C. 1400).
  
    It is first mentioned in Scripture in connection with
  Abraham's victory over the confederate kings under Chedorlaomer
  (Gen. 14:15). It was the native place of Abraham's steward
  (15:2). It is not again noticed till the time of David, when
  "the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer" (q.v.), 2
  Sam. 8:5; 1 Chr. 18:5. In the reign of Solomon, Rezon became
  leader of a band who revolted from Hadadezer (1 Kings 11:23),
  and betaking themselves to Damascus, settled there and made
  their leader king. There was a long war, with varying success,
  between the Israelites and Syrians, who at a later period became
  allies of Israel against Judah (2 Kings 15:37).
  
    The Syrians were at length subdued by the Assyrians, the city
  of Damascus was taken and destroyed, and the inhabitants carried
  captive into Assyria (2 Kings 16:7-9; comp. Isa. 7:8). In this,
  prophecy was fulfilled (Isa. 17:1; Amos 1:4; Jer. 49:24). The
  kingdom of Syria remained a province of Assyria till the capture
  of Nineveh by the Medes (B.C. 625), when it fell under the
  conquerors. After passing through various vicissitudes, Syria
  was invaded by the Romans (B.C. 64), and Damascus became the
  seat of the government of the province. In A.D. 37 Aretas, the
  king of Arabia, became master of Damascus, having driven back
  Herod Antipas.
  
    This city is memorable as the scene of Saul's conversion (Acts
  9:1-25). The street called "Straight," in which Judas lived, in
  whose house Saul was found by Ananias, is known by the name
  Sultany, or "Queen's Street." It is the principal street of the
  city. Paul visited Damascus again on his return from Arabia
  (Gal. 1:16, 17). Christianity was planted here as a centre (Acts
  9:20), from which it spread to the surrounding regions.
  
    In A.D. 634 Damascus was conquered by the growing Mohammedan
  power. In A.D. 1516 it fell under the dominion of the Turks, its
  present rulers. It is now the largest city in Asiatic Turkey.
  Christianity has again found a firm footing within its walls.

damascus - U.S. Gazetteer (1990) :

  Damascus, AR (town, FIPS 17290)
    Location: 35.36464 N, 92.40581 W
    Population (1990): 246 (122 housing units)
    Area: 3.5 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
  Damascus, GA (town, FIPS 21436)
    Location: 31.29840 N, 84.71751 W
    Population (1990): 290 (120 housing units)
    Area: 4.5 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
    Zip code(s): 31741
  Damascus, MD (CDP, FIPS 21475)
    Location: 39.27773 N, 77.20498 W
    Population (1990): 9817 (3315 housing units)
    Area: 24.7 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
    Zip code(s): 20872
  Damascus, PA
    Zip code(s): 18415
  Damascus, VA (town, FIPS 21184)
    Location: 36.63278 N, 81.78935 W
    Population (1990): 918 (485 housing units)
    Area: 2.2 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
    Zip code(s): 24236