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ArchivesRe: Magdalen(e/a)
in reply to a message by viveza
Very interesting post, viveza! First let me say I’ve liked the name Magdalene ever since I can remember, mostly because Mary Magdalene has long been one of my favorite saints!
To add to your theory of Magdala known as Taricheae, and not being where Mary was from, but instead a title - I had a thought while reading your post. Some Biblical scholars argue that Mary was actually from Bethany. Some agree that Lazarus and Martha were the siblings of Mary Magdalene, who are also described as being from Bethany. If Mary was from Bethany, why would they call her Mary of Magdala? Perhaps the title Magdal-eder, answers this question.
To add to your theory of Magdala known as Taricheae, and not being where Mary was from, but instead a title - I had a thought while reading your post. Some Biblical scholars argue that Mary was actually from Bethany. Some agree that Lazarus and Martha were the siblings of Mary Magdalene, who are also described as being from Bethany. If Mary was from Bethany, why would they call her Mary of Magdala? Perhaps the title Magdal-eder, answers this question.
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Mary, Miriam, Mariamne ... all extremely popular versions of the same name; there would have been plenty of Marys in Bethany, Bethlehem, Magdala, Jerusalem etc, etc and there is no reason to imagine that biblical writers were even slightly modern in their approach to scholarly referencing - unfortunately. Look at Salome - important enough to attend a crucifixion; not important enough to rate a reference. The only avenue to explore, sensibly, is where the -ene ending came from and whether it can have a figurative meaning - tower - rather then just a geographical one.
Instinct tells me that it is so odd to call a woman from Bethany a woman from Magdala that she probably wasn't a woman from Bethany in the first place ... if we're lucky, some nice, scholarly person will be able to help us out with the Greek (and/or Aramaic).
Instinct tells me that it is so odd to call a woman from Bethany a woman from Magdala that she probably wasn't a woman from Bethany in the first place ... if we're lucky, some nice, scholarly person will be able to help us out with the Greek (and/or Aramaic).
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