| The Mediterranean Sea has been known by a number of alternative names throughout human history. It was, for example, commonly called ''[[Mare Nostrum]]'' (Latin, ''Our Sea''), and occasionally ''Mare Internum'' by the Romans. ([[Sallust]], ''Jug.'' 17). The [[Greeks]] name it ''Mesogeios'' (Μεσόγειος), meaning inland, interior | | The Mediterranean Sea has been known by a number of alternative names throughout human history. It was, for example, commonly called ''[[Mare Nostrum]]'' (Latin, ''Our Sea''), and occasionally ''Mare Internum'' by the Romans. ([[Sallust]], ''Jug.'' 17). The [[Greeks]] name it ''Mesogeios'' (Μεσόγειος), meaning inland, interior |
− | (μεσο, 'middle' + γαιος, 'land, earth') [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%2366422 entry μεσόγαιος] at [[Liddell & Scott]]</ref>. In the [[Old Testament]], on the west coast of the [[Holy Land]], and therefore behind a person facing the east, it is called the "Hinder Sea", sometimes translated as "Western Sea", ([[Deuteronomy|Deut.]] xi. 24; [[Book of Joel|Joel]], ii. 20), and also the "Sea of the Philistines" ([[Exodus|Exod.]] xxii. 81), because that people occupied a large portion of its shores near the [[Israelites]]. Mostly, however, it was the "Great Sea" ([[Book of Numbers|Num.]] xxxiv. 6, 7; [[Book of Joshua|Josh.]] i. 4, ix. 1, xv. 47; [[Book of Ezekiel|Ezek.]] xlvii. 10, 15, 20), or simply "The Sea" ([[1 Kings]], v. 9; ''comp.'' [[1 Macc.]] xiv. 34. xv. 11). In [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], it is called ''HaYam HaTikhon'' (הַיָּם הַתִּיכוֹן), "the middle sea", a literal adaptation of the German equivalent ''Mittelmeer''. In [[Turkish language|Turkish]], it is ''Akdeniz'', "the white sea". In Arabic, it is ''Al-Baħr Al-Abyad Al-Muttawasit'' (البحر الأبيض المتوسط), "the middle white sea". | + | (μεσο, 'middle' + γαιος, 'land, earth') [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%2366422 entry μεσόγαιος] at [[Liddell & Scott]]</ref>. In the [[Old Testament]], on the west coast of the [[Holy Land]], and therefore behind a person facing the east, it is called the "Hinder Sea", sometimes translated as "Western Sea", ([[Deuteronomy|Deut.]] xi. 24; [[Book of Joel|Joel]], ii. 20), and also the "Sea of the Philistines" ([[Exodus|Exod.]] xxii. 81), because that people occupied a large portion of its shores near the [[Israelites]]. Mostly, however, it was the "Great Sea" ([[Book of Numbers|Num.]] xxxiv. 6, 7; [[Book of Joshua|Josh.]] i. 4, ix. 1, xv. 47; [[Book of Ezekiel|Ezek.]] xlvii. 10, 15, 20), or simply "The Sea" ([[1 Kings]], v. 9; ''comp.'' [[1 Macc.]] xiv. 34. xv. 11). In [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], it is called ''HaYam HaTikhon'' (הַיָּם הַתִּיכוֹן), "the middle sea", a literal adaptation of the German equivalent ''Mittelmeer''. In [[Turkish language|Turkish]], it is ''Akdeniz'', "the white sea". In Arabic, it is ''Al-Baħr Al-Abyad Al-Muttawasit'' (البحر الأبيض المتوسط), "the middle white sea". |
| Pollution in this region has been extremely high in the past couple years. In just one year, 1,000,000 tons of sewage has been dumped directly into the Mediterranean Sea. Also, many marine species, such as the [[Mediterranean Monk Seal]], have been almost wiped out because of the pollution there. The Monk Seal has been placed as one of the top ten [[endangered species]] in the world. | | Pollution in this region has been extremely high in the past couple years. In just one year, 1,000,000 tons of sewage has been dumped directly into the Mediterranean Sea. Also, many marine species, such as the [[Mediterranean Monk Seal]], have been almost wiped out because of the pollution there. The Monk Seal has been placed as one of the top ten [[endangered species]] in the world. |