Pella on the Nymphaios (Pella pros Nymphaio): A New Potamonym in the Dekapolis

Abstract

The Antonine-Severan bronze coins of Pella in the Dekapolis reveal an unusual name for the city (Pella pros nymph...), which has so far been interpreted as meaning that the city was named after a building, a nymphaion, a building also depicted on contemporaneous coins of the city. However, this article argues that the legend should be interpreted as referring to a river called Nymphaios. This potamonym was previously unknown and probably refers to the Wadi Jirm al-Muz.