SEPPHORIS sĕf ōr ĭs (Σεπφουρίν, and Σεπφωρια; prob. from Sem. original; perhaps ṩufūĩa, little bird) A strongly fortified city c. five m. NW of Nazareth. It was famous as a military, political, and cultural center and as one of the chief cities of Hel. Galilee.