HIPPUS(Ἵππος, Steph. B. Plin. Nat. 5.15; Euseb. Onom.: Eth. Ἱππηνός), a town of the Decapolis and Palaestina Secunda.It was situated to the E. of the sea of Galilee, 30 stadia from Tiberias ( Tŭbarîya). (Joseph. Vita, § 65.) Augustus presented it to Herod (J. AJ). After his death it was annexed to Syria ( Antiq. 17.2.4; comp. Marquardt, Handbuch der Röm. Alt. p. 201). It was sacked in the Jewish War by the Jews ( B. J. 2.18.1), but the people afterwards revolted, and slew many of the Jews ( B. J. 2.18.5).
The district HIPPENE(Ἱππηνή, B. J. 3.3.1; comp. Vita, § 31) lay to the E. of Galilee. There were bishops of Hippus at the councils of Seleuceia A.D. 359, and of Jerusalem A.D. 536. Burkhardt ( Trav. p. 278) has the merit of having discovered the site of the ancient Hippos, which he fixes at Khurbet es-Sŭmrah, an hour frown Semakh. (Comp. Robinson, Researches, vol. 3. p. 264, note.)
(Reland, Palaestina, vol. 2. p. 82l; Von Raumer, Palestina, p. 242.)
[E.B.J]