Mary Magdalene’s Name

Today’s drawing of Mary Magdalene

I found the following information in a website and thought it would be interesting to share. From The Polymathium:

“In the four Gospels, Mary Magdalene remains outstanding from other women named Mary[10] by adding “Magdalene” (η Μαγδαληνή) to her name.[3] But most likely the term Migdal Eder was mistranslated as Magdalene whereas, in the Hebrew language Migdal refers to a “tower” or “fortress”; and in Aramaic, “Magdala” is defined as “tower” or “elevated, great or magnificent.”

Mary Magdalene’s given name Μαρία (Maria) is usually regarded as a Latin form of Μαριὰμ (Mariam), which is the Greekvariant used in Septuagint for Miriam, the Hebrew name for Moses‘ sister. However Mar Yam HaMelah is the most likely true and original denomination. The name had become very popular during Jesus’ time due to its connections to the ruling Hasmonean and Herodian dynasties, in that Mar meant “master” or “learned person” and was an honorific pronoun or title; Yam being sea or ocean lends the idea that MarYam was an “Ocean of Wisdom” or “Vast Expanse of Wisdom”[13]”