Nicephorium

• A grove near Pergamum, Liv. 32, 33 and 34.—
• II A city in Mesopotamia, Tac. A. 6, 41; Plin. 5, 24, 21, § 86 al.

NICEPHO´RIUM(Νικηφόριον, Strab. 16. p. 747; Ptol. 5.18.6; Steph. B. s. v.), a place of considerable importance in Mesopotamia, on the river Euphrates. According to Isidorus ( Mans. Parth. i. ed. Müller) and Pliny (Plin. Nat. 5.24. s. 21, 6.26. s. 30), it owed its foundation to Alexander the Great; according, however, to Appian, to Seleucus I., which is much more likely ( Syriac. c. 57). It is mentioned by Dio Cassius (Dio Cass. 40.13) and by Tacitus (Tac. Ann. 6.40), but simply as one of many towns founded by the Macedonians. Strabo calls it a town of the Mygdonians in Mesopotamia (16. p. 747). Nothing is known of its intermediate history; but Justinian erected a fortress here (Procop. de Aedif. 2.7); and the emperor Leo, who probably added several new works to it, is said to have changed its name to Leontopolis. (Cf. Hierocl. p. 715; and Chron. Edess. ap. Assemani, 1. p. 405.)

(Νικηφόριον). (1) A fortified town of Mesopotamia, on the Euphrates, and due south of Edessa, built by order of Alexander the Great, and probably completed under Seleucus. It is identical with Callinīcus. Still later it was called Leontopolis.

(2) A fortress on the Propontis.