Bible Lexicons

אַחְמְתָא Ezra 6:2 [Achmetha], Ecbatana. [“The ancient orthography of this name is traced by Lassen (Ind. Biblioth. iii. 36), in the Sansc. açuàdhana, i.e. ἱπποστασία; the Sansc. ç passing over sometimes into a guttural, and sometimes into s. The corresponding modern name is Ispahan.” Ges. corr.-In Manuale]. The metropolis of Ancient Media, and the summer residence of the kings of Persia; situated in the same place where afterwards was, and still is Hamedan (همدان), the Parthian metropolis, which name has itself sprung from a softer pronunciation of the ancient word. The accounts given by travellers respecting the remains of this city have been collected by Hoeck (Veteris Mediæ et Persiæ Monumenta, page 144-155). If the word be Phœnicio-Shemitic, it means undoubtedly the same as חֲמָת (from the root חמה), and denotes citadel, fortress; if it be Persic, it is i.q. ابادان a cultivated place, and full of inhabitants. The former explanation, however, is preferable. [But see Ges. corr. above.]