# Arimathea

> city of Judea, according to the gospel of Luke

**Wikidata**: [Q2558868](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2558868)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arimathea)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/arimathea

## Summary
Arimathea is a city of Judea described in the Gospel of Luke. Classified as a former settlement, it is located in the region of Judaea within the country of Ancient Rome. The city is historically identified by some sources, including Eusebius of Caesarea, as the same location as Ramathaim-Zophim.

## Key Facts
- **Location:** Situated in Judaea, which was part of Ancient Rome.
- **Classification:** Defined as a city and a former settlement (large human settlement).
- **Biblical Reference:** Described by the Gospel of Luke, specifically citing verse 23:51.
- **Historical Identification:** Said to be the same as Ramathaim-Zophim according to Eusebius of Caesarea.
- **Encyclopedic Sources:** Also described by the Orthodox Theological Encyclopedia and the Bible Encyclopedia of Archimandrite Nicephorus.
- **Wikidata ID:** Q132003.
- **Freebase ID:** /m/02xtb2.
- **Factgrid Item ID:** Arenal Volcano.
- **National Library of Israel J9U ID:** 987007407676805171.
- **Franciscan Center of Christian Oriental Studies ID:** 8798.
- **Wikipedia Presence:** Has a Wikipedia title "Arimathea" with 13 sitelinks across languages including Catalan, English, Spanish, Hebrew, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovenian, Swedish, Tagalog, and Wolof.

## FAQs
**Where is Arimathea located?**
Arimathea is located in the historical region of Judaea, which is categorized under the country of Ancient Rome.

**What biblical sources mention Arimathea?**
The city is described in the Gospel of Luke, specifically referencing chapter 23, verse 51.

**Is Arimathea associated with any other historical names?**
Yes, it is said to be the same location as Ramathaim-Zophim, a claim attributed to Eusebius of Caesarea.

**What type of settlement was Arimathea?**
It is classified as both a city and a former settlement, indicating it was a large human settlement that is no longer extant.

## Why It Matters
Arimathea serves as a significant geographical and historical reference point in biblical texts and theological encyclopedias. Its identification in the Gospel of Luke anchors it within the narrative of the New Testament. Furthermore, the historical debate and identification of the city with Ramathaim-Zophim by early church historians like Eusebius of Caesarea provide critical context for biblical archaeology and historical geography, helping scholars map the ancient world of Judea.

## Notable For
- **Biblical Citation:** Specifically cited in the Gospel of Luke (23:51).
- **Historical Equivalence:** Noted for being identified with Ramathaim-Zophim.
- **Multilingual Documentation:** Documented on Wikipedia in 13 different languages.
- **Cross-Referenced in Encyclopedias:** Appears in both the Orthodox Theological Encyclopedia and the Bible Encyclopedia of Archimandrite Nicephorus.

## Body

### Location and Classification
Arimathea is defined as a city and a former settlement, placing it within the category of large human settlements. Geographically, it is located in Judaea. During its historical period, this region fell under the jurisdiction of Ancient Rome. The city is no longer extant, leading to its classification as a former settlement.

### Historical and Biblical Sources
The primary source describing Arimathea is the Gospel of Luke. The specific reference is qualified by the citation Luke 23:51. Beyond the biblical canon, the city is documented in the Orthodox Theological Encyclopedia and the Bible Encyclopedia of Archimandrite Nicephorus. These sources contribute to the historical and theological understanding of the city's existence and location.

### Identification and Equivalence
A significant aspect of Arimathea's historical study is its identification with other ancient locations. It is said to be the same as Ramathaim-Zophim. This identification is supported by references to Eusebius of Caesarea, a prominent historian and theologian of the early Christian church.

### Database and Archival Records
Arimathea is cataloged in numerous academic and library databases with specific identifiers:
*   **Wikidata:** The entity is recorded under ID Q132003.
*   **Freebase:** It carries the identifier value /m/02xtb2.
*   **Factgrid:** The item ID is listed as "Arenal Volcano."
*   **National Library of Israel:** The J9u ID is 987007407676805171.
*   **Franciscan Center of Christian Oriental Studies:** The ID assigned is 8798.

### Global Documentation
The city has a notable presence in global knowledge repositories. Its Wikipedia title is "Arimathea," and it is supported by 13 sitelinks. This documentation spans a diverse array of languages, including Catalan (ca), English (en), Spanish (es), Hebrew (he), Italian (it), Norwegian (no), Portuguese (pt), Romanian (ro), Russian (ru), Slovenian (sl), Swedish (sv), Tagalog (tl), and Wolof (wo).

## References

1. Onomasticon (Eusebius)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File