Nisaea

Meaning

Proper Noun

• several regions and towns in ancient Iran:
• a town in Megara at the mouth of the Saronic Gulf

Origin

• The placename(s) may be derived from several placenames that may or may not be connected with each other.
• *(1) The name for the famous Nisaean plain is from Ancient Greek Νήσαιον πεδίον, Νίσαιον (akin to Akkadian 𒌷𒉌𒃻𒀀𒀀, 𒆳𒉌𒅖𒃻𒀀 [Assyrian], Arabic نِسَا).
• *(2) Old Persian 𐎴𐎡𐎿𐎠𐎹 (DB I 58) (compare Elamite 𒉡𒅖𒃻𒉿, Akkadian 𒉌𒄑𒊓𒀀𒀀), from (compare Aramaic נישי, from OIr. *Naisāya). This may be identified with the Nisaean plain mentioned above.
• *(3) Old Persian (attested as Elamite 𒉡𒃻𒉿). It may be identified with Arabic نِسَا, نسايك. The name Elamite 𒈾𒀀𒃻𒀀𒉿 (from Old Persian) may be related to this, or to no. 2.
• *(4) Avestan 𐬥𐬌𐬯𐬁𐬌𐬌𐬀. It is known in primary sources to be different from no. 2. Herzfeld identified it with Old Armenian Նսաի or Նսաի-Միանակ (from Middle Persian) (recorded by Ananias of Shirak) and Ancient Greek Νίσαια (no. 7).
• *(5) Ancient Greek Νισαία (akin to Latin Nisea), Νίγαια. This is probably connected with no. 4 and/or 6, possibly the capital of the district in question. Probably the same place as Old Armenian Նսաի or Նսաի-Միանակ (from Middle Persian).
• *(6) Ancient Greek Νησαία. Presumably identified with Ancient Greek Νισιαία (possibly emended to Νισαία). Possibly identical with no. 4.
• *(7) Ancient Greek Νίσαια, apparently identified with the Parthian royal city Nisa. Related to Νισαῖοι.
• The toponyms are probably from the choronyms. The choronyms, that is, nos. 2, 4, and 6 are from *ni-sāya-. For more also compare Nahavand and نهاوند a famous city located on the Nisaean plain.
• Ancient Greek