Nicephorium

NICEPHO´RIUM(Νικηφόριον, Strab. 16. p. 747; Ptol. 5.18.6; Steph. B. s. v.), a place of considerable importance in Mesopotamia, on the river Euphrates. According to Isidorus ( Mans. Parth. i. ed. Müller) and Pliny (Plin. Nat. 5.24. s. 21, 6.26. s. 30), it owed its foundation to Alexander the Great; according, however, to Appian, to Seleucus I., which is much more likely ( Syriac. c. 57). It is mentioned by Dio Cassius (Dio Cass. 40.13) and by Tacitus (Tac. Ann. 6.40), but simply as one of many towns founded by the Macedonians. Strabo calls it a town of the Mygdonians in Mesopotamia (16. p. 747). Nothing is known of its intermediate history; but Justinian erected a fortress here (Procop. de Aedif. 2.7); and the emperor Leo, who probably added several new works to it, is said to have changed its name to Leontopolis. (Cf. Hierocl. p. 715; and Chron. Edess. ap. Assemani, 1. p. 405.)
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