Heliopolis is the Greek (literally, "city of the sun," and followed by the English) rendition of Hebrew On (or Awen), an ancient Egyptian city that is now a 'high-end' part of Cairo metropolis (it's on the right side of the highway from Cairo International Airport into the city).
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Heliopolis is one of Egypt's most ancient cities, important as a venerable and wealthy center for the worship of Re, the Egyptian sun-god, and pharaohs from the 5th Dynasty onwards were named "son of Re."
Heliopolis is mentioned several times by this name, or On or Awen, in the Old Testament. When Joseph came to power in Egypt, the pharaoh "gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On" by whom Manasseh and Ephraim were born (Gen 41:45, 50; 46:20). The expression "priest of On" probably implies "high-priest," and Potiphera's name is compounded from the name of the god Re.
Commentators are generally agreed that the Hebrew Beth Shemesh, translated "the temple of the sun," in the NIV of Jer 43:13, is a reference to the city. In this passage, Jeremiah predicts that the city will be razed by the approaching Nebuchadnezzer. This is paralleled by Ezekiel's oracle of judgment that the young men of the city will fall, and the city together with others in Egypt will be taken.
The city may also feature in Isa 19:18, though the identify is uncertain; NKJ and NIV renders it as "City of Destruction," while most others have "City of the Sun."
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