Candace

2 definitions found

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Candace
     the queen of the Ethiopians whose "eunuch" or chamberlain was
     converted to Christianity by the instrumentality of Philip the
     evangelist (Acts 8:27). The country which she ruled was called
     by the Greeks Meroe, in Upper Nubia. It was long the centre of
     commercial intercourse between Africa and the south of Asia, and


     hence became famous for its wealth (Isa. 45:14).
     
       It is somewhat singular that female sovereignty seems to have
     prevailed in Ethiopia, the name Candace (compare "Pharaoh,"
     "Ptolemy," "Caesar") being a title common to several successive
     queens. It is probable that Judaism had taken root in Ethiopia
     at this time, and hence the visit of the queen's treasurer to
     Jerusalem to keep the feast. There is a tradition that Candace
     was herself converted to Christianity by her treasurer on his
     return, and that he became the apostle of Christianity in that
     whole region, carrying it also into Abyssinia. It is said that
     he also preached the gospel in Arabia Felix and in Ceylon, where
     he suffered martyrdom. (See {PHILIP}.)
     

From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]:

  Candace, who possesses contrition