(lat.: "sea in the middle of the lands").
It extends between Europe and Africa, bordering to the east with the western tip of Asia.
The Bible gives it the simple name of:
"the sea" because of its importance (Num. 13:29; Acts 10:6);
"the great sea" or "the great sea" (Num. 34:6; Josh. 15:47);
"the western sea" (Deut. 11:24; Joel 2:20);
"the sea of the Philistines" (Ex. 23:31).
The epithet "Mediterranean" is later.
It measures 3,220 km in length; between Sicily and the coast of Africa it is only 127 km wide.
In biblical times, the Phoenicians traded throughout their territory, from Syria to Gibraltar, called the Pillars of Hercules by the Greeks and Romans.
Meaning of MEDITERRANEAN
(lat.: "sea in the middle of the lands").
It extends between Europe and Africa, bordering to the east with the western tip of Asia.
