Δάμαρις

Pronunciation Guide: dah’-mah-ris (with emphasis on the first syllable)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1152: Δάμαρις (Damaris) refers to a woman of Athens who was converted to faith in the Messiah Yeshua through Paul’s preaching at the Areopagus. Her name likely derives from Greek terms meaning “gentle” or “tame” and possibly connects to “damar” (wife). Though mentioned only once in Scripture, her conversion alongside Dionysius the Areopagite signifies the impact of Paul’s message among educated Athenians, potentially indicating she was a woman of some social standing.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Proper Noun (feminine)
• Origin: Greek
• Usage Context: Narrative (historical account in Acts)
• Occurrence: Only once in the New Testament (Acts 17:34)
• Possible Root Connection: δαμάζω (damazō, “to tame/subdue”) or possibly related to δάμαρ (damar, “wife”)

Δάμαρις Morphology:

• Δάμαρις (nominative singular) – subject form, “Damaris”
• Δαμάριδος (genitive singular) – possessive form, “of Damaris”
• Δαμάριδι (dative singular) – indirect object form, “to/for Damaris”
• Δάμαριν (accusative singular) – direct object form, “Damaris”

Origin & History

The name Δάμαρις does not appear in classical Greek literature before the New Testament, making its etymology somewhat uncertain. Some scholars suggest it may be a variant of the Greek word δάμαρ (damar), which means “wife” or “spouse,” potentially indicating her marital status. Others connect it to the Greek verb δαμάζω (damazō), meaning “to tame” or “to subdue,” which might suggest qualities of gentleness or refinement.

In Hellenic culture, names often carried significant meaning and social indicators. If her name indeed connects to δαμάζω, it might suggest qualities valued in Greek society—self-control, cultivation, and refinement. The fact that Luke specifically names her among the converts in Athens potentially indicates she was a woman of some prominence or cultural influence in Athenian society. Her association with Dionysius the Areopagite, a member of the prestigious Areopagus council, further suggests she may have been of elevated social standing.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• A woman of Athens converted to faith in the Messiah through Paul’s preaching
• A potentially noble or educated Athenian woman
• A significant female convert representing Greek intellectual engagement with the Gospel
• Possibly a woman associated with the philosophical circles of Athens

Δάμαρις Translation Options:

• Damaris – Direct transliteration, preserving the original Greek name (preferred in most English translations)
• The Athenian woman – Contextual translation emphasizing her cultural background
• The gentle one – If the etymology connecting to δαμάζω is accepted
• The noblewoman – Reflecting potential social status, though speculative

Biblical Usage

Δάμαρις appears only once in the New Testament, in Acts 17:34, where Luke records: “However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.” This brief mention comes at the conclusion of Paul’s famous address at the Areopagus (Mars Hill) in Athens, where he engaged with Epicurean and Stoic philosophers and proclaimed the “Unknown God” to the intellectual elite of the city.

The context is significant: Athens was the intellectual center of the ancient world, and the Areopagus was the prestigious council where philosophical and religious matters were debated. That Luke specifically names Damaris alongside Dionysius the Areopagite (a member of this council) indicates she may have been a person of some importance or influence. While the text provides no further details about her, her conversion represents the Gospel’s impact among educated Greeks, particularly notable as a woman convert in a society where women’s public roles were limited.

• “However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.” Acts 17:34

Cultural Insights

The specific mention of Δάμαρις in Athens carries significant cultural implications that would not have been lost on Luke’s original readers. Athens in the first century CE remained proud of its intellectual heritage as the birthplace of democracy and philosophy, though it was politically subordinate to Rome. The Areopagus, where Paul delivered his famous speech about the “Unknown God,” was both a geographical location (Mars Hill) and the name of the prestigious council that met there to discuss philosophical and religious matters.

For a woman to be specifically named in this context is remarkable. In classical Athenian society, respectable women were largely confined to domestic spheres, with limited public presence. Several possibilities exist for Damaris’s presence at Paul’s address: she may have been a hetaira (an educated companion or courtesan), who had more freedom of movement in intellectual circles; she might have been a woman of foreign origin not bound by strict Athenian customs; or she could have been a woman of significant social standing whose intellectual interests were tolerated. Some church traditions suggest she may have been the wife of Dionysius the Areopagite, though Scripture doesn’t confirm this. Whatever her specific status, her naming indicates the Gospel’s appeal across gender boundaries in a highly stratified society.

Theological Significance

The conversion of Δάμαρις represents a powerful theological statement about the inclusive nature of God’s kingdom. In a deeply patriarchal society where women—particularly in Athens—had limited public voice or authority, the specific mention of a female convert alongside a male member of the Areopagus illustrates how the message of Yeshua transcended social and gender barriers. This echoes Paul’s declaration in Galatians 3:28 that “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Messiah Yeshua.”

Moreover, Damaris’s conversion in the intellectual center of the ancient world demonstrates the Gospel’s power to engage not just with Jewish theological frameworks, but with Hellenic philosophical thought. Paul’s approach at the Areopagus—beginning with the “Unknown God” and connecting Greek philosophical concepts with biblical truth—shows divine wisdom in contextualizing the message of salvation. That this approach reached someone like Damaris reveals יהוה’s sovereignty in drawing people from diverse intellectual and cultural backgrounds to Himself. Her conversion stands as a testimony that God’s truth speaks not only to Jewish minds steeped in Torah, but also to Greek intellects trained in philosophy.

Personal Application

The brief mention of Δάμαρις reminds us that behind every name in Scripture lies a complete human story—a life transformed by encounter with the living God. Though we know little about her, Damaris made a decision that day on Mars Hill that changed her eternal destiny. Her willingness to embrace the message of the resurrection, despite how foolish it appeared to many Greek philosophers (1 Corinthians 1:23), challenges us to examine our own intellectual barriers to faith.

For those of us living in intellectually sophisticated environments that may be skeptical of biblical truth, Damaris stands as an encouragement that genuine intellectual inquiry, when pursued with openness, can lead to faith rather than away from it. She reminds us that following Yeshua doesn’t require abandoning our cultural identity or intellectual gifts, but rather consecrating them to His service. Her story invites us to consider: What crowds or councils do we influence? How might our position—however prominent or humble—become a platform for advancing God’s kingdom?

Related Words

• Διονύσιος (Dionysios) [dee-on-OO-see-os] – Fellow convert mentioned alongside Damaris; identified as a member of the Areopagus council, suggesting prominence in Athenian society. His name connects to Dionysus, Greek god of wine, possibly indicating his pagan background before conversion. See G1354
• Ἀρεοπαγίτης (Areopagitēs) [ah-reh-oh-pah-GEE-tace] – A member of the Areopagus council, a title given to Dionysius who was converted alongside Damaris. This term denotes high social and intellectual standing in Athenian society, suggesting the Gospel’s penetration into educated circles. See G698
• Ἀρείος Πάγος (Areios Pagos) [AH-ray-os PAH-gos] – The hill in Athens where Paul delivered his speech that led to Damaris’s conversion; also the name of the council that met there. It represented Athenian intellectual and judicial authority. See G697
• Ἀθῆναι (Athēnai) [ah-THAY-nai] – Athens, the city where Damaris lived and was converted; the intellectual center of the ancient world, named for Athena, goddess of wisdom. This cultural context adds significance to her conversion. See G116
• κολλάω (kollaō) [kol-LAH-oh] – The verb used in Acts 17:34 indicating that Damaris “joined” or “attached herself” to Paul, suggesting committed discipleship rather than merely intellectual agreement. See G2853

Did You Know?

• Did you know? Early Church tradition suggests that Damaris may have become a significant figure in the early Athenian church. While not mentioned in Scripture beyond Acts 17:34, some Orthodox traditions hold that she, along with Dionysius the Areopagite, helped establish the Christian community in Athens. Though we cannot verify these traditions historically, they highlight how even brief biblical mentions inspired later generations of believers.
• Did you know? The name Damaris experienced a revival in popularity during the Puritan era in England and America. Puritans often chose obscure biblical names to demonstrate their devotion to Scripture, and Damaris became one of these names. This practice connected modern women to this ancient Athenian convert, creating a spiritual legacy spanning continents and centuries.
• Did you know? The context of Damaris’s conversion in Athens has profound apologetic significance. Athens was the birthplace of Western philosophy, home to the legacies of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. That the Gospel found reception even here—where human reason and intellectual achievement were most celebrated—demonstrates that faith in Yeshua isn’t opposed to intellectual inquiry but can satisfy the deepest philosophical longings. Paul’s approach at the Areopagus, beginning with common ground and moving toward the resurrection, remains a model for engagement with intellectual skepticism today.

Remember This

Damaris reminds us that the Gospel transcends all human boundaries—gender, class, and intellectual tradition—bringing diverse people into the unified family of God through faith in the resurrected Messiah.