Former name of Syria

Answer 1

The name Syria may come from the name of the language witch has been spoken around the area, the Syriac language, one of the three principal languages of bible (Syriac is also known as Northern Aramaic). It is also possible that it comes from the name of the Phoenician city state of Sour (Tyre in English), Souriya meaning the land of Sour. Phoenicia is the ancient name of the land that corresponds roughly to today's Lebanon, as well as part of the Syrian and Israeli seacoasts.

That answer above is correct but the Modern day Syria's name is actually from the alliance that created Greater Syria. The Christians wanted to name the new nation something that reminded them of there ancient Empire "Assyria" so the Muslims Agreed and they named it SYRIA :)

Answer 2

The name Syria is Latinized from the Greek Συρία. Herodotus used it loosely to refer to Cappadocia. In Greek usage, Syria and Assyria were used almost interchangeably, but in the Roman Empire, Syria and Assyria came to be used as distinct geographical terms. "Syria" in the Roman Empire period referred to "those parts of the Empire situated between Asia Minor and Egypt", i.e. the western Levant, while "Assyria" was part of the Persian Empire, and very briefly came under Roman control (116-118 AD, marking the historical peak of Roman expansion), where it was known as Assyria Provincia.

Answer 3

Well!! Syria has been "Syria" for long! However, all the area of Syria, Lebanon, Palestine (Israel), and Jordan used to be called as "Great Syria" which is the place where the old Assyrians lived. The same area called "Sham" afterward up around 1900. Damascus is locally called as Sham even now.

http://smo-sy.com/

true!

Answer 4

In Arabic, Greater Syria is sometimes called "al-Sham", which properly refers to the city of Damascus. "The Levant" is another name for that region.

Answer 5

sun-bright, glowing.