Zion: Encyclopedia - Zion

Zion

Zion, or Sion (צִיּוֹן "Height", Standard Hebrew Tziyyon, Tiberian Hebrew Tsiyyôn; Arabic صهيون Ṣuhyūn), is an archaic term that originally referred to a specific mountain near Jerusalem (Mount Zion), on which stood a Jebusite fortress of the same name that was conquered by David. "Zion" became applied to the section of Jerusalem where the fortress stood, and after Solomon's Temple was built there, it came to refer to the temple grounds and the temple itself. Today "Zion" is often used metaphorically, to symbolize Jerusalem and the Promised Land to come, in which God dwells among his chosen people.

The modern hill south of the Old City's Armenian Quarter now called Zion is the result of a misnomer dating from the Middle Ages when pilgrims mistook the relatively large, flat summit for the original site of the City of David. The Church of the Dormition (right) is located upon that hill.

Zion - Modern use

Zion - Anti-Slavery

The longing for Zion of the Babylonian Hebrews was adopted as a metaphor by Christianized Black slaves. Thus, Zion symbolizes a longing, by wandering peoples, for a safe homeland. This could be a literal place such as in Ethiopia for Rastafarians for example. For others, it has taken on a more spiritual meaning—a safe spiritual homeland, like in heaven, or a kind of peace of mind in one's present life.

Zion - Latter Day Saint usage of the term Zion

Zion is a term with broad significance in the Latter Day Saint movement. In addition to its Biblical meaning referring to Jerusalem, Mormons see Zion more broadly as any city in which the people are unified and are "pure at heart". In particular, the term refers to the central physical location or city to which Latter Day Saints have historically gathered, which has included Kirtland, Ohio; Independence, Missouri; and Nauvoo, Illinois. In a more metaphorical sense, Zion represents a unified society of Latter Day Saints, unified as members of the Church of Christ. Under this interpretation one can strive to make even one's own home "Zion". Zion also refers to what Latter Day Saints generally believe will be the New Jerusalem, a physical, Millennial city expected to be established in Jackson County, Missouri.

Zion - Rastafarians

For Rastafarians, Zion is to be found in Africa, and more specifically in Ethiopia, where the term is also in use. Some Rastas believe themselves to represent the Children of Israel in modern times, and their goal is to repatriate to Africa, or to Zion. Rasta reggae music is peppered with references to Zion. One of the best known examples is the Bob Marley song Zion Train; in recent years, such references have also "crossed over" into popular music, thanks to Soul artists like Lauryn Hill (refer to "To Zion" song).

Zion - Ugaritic Texts and the Bible

In texts uncovered at Ugarit, references to "Zephon" (Tsephon) have been identified with the Syrian mountain Jebel Aqra. In these texts, the mountain is the holy place of the gods, where the god known as the "Lord" reigns over the divine assembly. The word "Zephon" is a common Semitic word for "North", and some have considered it to be possibly cognate with the Hebrew name Zion (Tsiyyon). Psalm 48:2 mentions both terms together: "...Her-Tsiyyon yerktey Tsafon..." ("Mount Zion on the sides of the North"), usually taken to refer to the north side of Mount Zion, not necessarily indicating that Zion is found to the North.

That part of Jerusalem known from folk tradition as "Mount Zion", where the Temple was located, is neither a mountain nor a city, nor even the highest elevation in the city, but rather a smallish hill, and this hill is sometimes considered to be what is meant by the phrase "Daughter of Zion" - Mount Zion's true location being somewhat of a mystery. Another cryptic verse, Zechariah 4:7, seems to refer to this hill, but is also ambiguous, depending on the punctuation. In Hebrew it reads "Mi-'attah Her-heGadol lipney Zerubbabel limishor..."; the original had no punctuation, but this is punctuated in the Masoretic text with a question mark following Her-heGadol, to mean "What art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel, (thou shalt become) but a plain..." However, if the question mark were placed following Zerubbabel, it would mean instead "What art thou, O "great mountain" before Zerubbabel? But a plain..." Since this hill is where Zerubbabel built the Second Temple, it appears to be a reference to the Daughter of Zion (the hill), as distinct from Zion (the mountain).

Zion - Other references

• In the William Gibson´s classic science fiction novel Neuromancer, Zion is a rastafarian space station constructed as a sanctuary aside a much bigger commercial station build by Jamaican workers which they used to call Babylon.
• In The Matrix films, Zion is the last free human city, located deep beneath the surface of Earth.

See also

• Zionism

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Zion", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki