Maximianopolis (Palestine)


Maximianopolis was an ancient city in Palaestina Secunda, within the Byzantine Empire. The name Maximianopolis was given to it by Diocletian, in honour of his co-emperor Maximian. It was located 17 M.P. from Caesarea and 10 M.P. from Jezreel. The town earlier bore the names Legio and Caporcotani.
Its site is near Lejjun, Israel.

History

Bible reference

identified Maximianopolis with the Hadad-rimmon of –
The mention of the Hadad-rimmon mourning may be a reference to pagan worship ceremonies or to an event such as the death of Josiah, mortally wounded in the Battle of Megiddo.

Episcopal see

Maximianopolis in Palaestina was also a seat of a Bishop in the province of Palestina II.
In the time of the so-called Pilgrim of Bordeaux and of Jerome, the town already bore the name of Maximianopolis.
The camp of the Legio VI Ferrata was within the same Catholic see, at a place that was known as Legio. In the Latin version of an episcopal Notitia Episcopatuum, probably of the 11th century, the name "Legionum" is given to what in the original Greek text is Maximianopolis. Legio became Lajjun, currently the site of Kibbutz Meggido, closer than Maximianopolis to Megiddo.
Only three of its residential bishops are known:
The ancient episcopal see is now included, under the name Maximianopolis in Palaestina, in the list of titular sees of the Roman Catholic Church given in the Annuario Pontificio.