Wo lag das neutestamentliche Emmaus (Lukas 24,13)?

Abstract

The location of Emmaus named in the Gospel of Luke is discussed. The article argues against the hypothesis of C.P. Thiede who proposed that Emmaus should be identified with Moza-Kalonije. The mention of this place as Ammaous in the manuscript tradition of Flavius Josephus is only a secondary varia lectio. In the Early Christianity Moza-Kalonije was never connected with the tradition of the Gospel of Luke. The small city of Nikopolis/Amwas, however, was considered as the place named by the Gospel of Luke from the 3rd century onwards. Perhaps the mention in the fragments of the Chronographiae of Julius Africanus hints to the fact that this is an old tradition, belonging perhaps to the 1st century. That Emmaus is named κώμη in Luke 24,13.28 is not a strong classification (in opposition to town), but only a current title of a smaller settlement. For the distance between Jerusalem and Nikopolis/Amwas the varia lectio of 60 stadia could be the older one, later corrected to 160 stadia. In any case, it is possible to reach even Nikopolis/Amwas during one day by foot.