Zion (zī´ən), city (1990 pop. 19,775), Lake co., extreme NE Ill., on Lake Michigan; inc. 1902. Largely residential, the city has some light industry. Zion was founded in 1901 by John Alexander Dowie, the Scottish founder of the Christian Catholic Church. Until 1935 the city was a communal society with a theocratic government; the church remains an important force there. Of note are the huge Zion Hotel (1902), and Shiloh House (1902), the mansion built for the Dowie family. Illinois Beach State Park is nearby.

Zion (zī´ən) or Sion (sī´ən), section of Jerusalem, defined in the Bible as the City of David. Originally the name referred to the Jebusite fortress conquered by David, on the southeastern hill of Jerusalem. Zion was later applied to the hill where the Temple stood, and in turn came to denote the Temple area itself. Zion is symbolic of Jerusalem, of the Promised Land, of Israel's hope of returning to Palestine (hence the term Zionism), and of heaven or God's dwelling-place with his people.

Zi·on / ˈzīən/ (also Si·on) • n. the hill of Jerusalem on which the city of David was built. ∎  the citadel of ancient Jerusalem. ∎  Jerusalem. ∎  (in Christian thought) the heavenly city or kingdom of heaven. ∎  the Jewish people or religion.

Zion, Sion one of the hills of Jerusalem on which the city of David was built; (hence) house of God, the Christian Church, place of worship. OE. Sion — ecclL. Siōn, Gr. Seṓn, Seiṓn — Heb. ṣīyôn.

Zion Hill in e Jerusalem, Israel. Zion was originally the hill on which a Jebusite fortress was built. It now refers to the hill on which the Temple was built. It is a centre of Jewish spiritual life and symbolic of the Promised Land.

Zion. A hill in the city of Jerusalem. The term Zion can refer to the city of Jerusalem, to the whole of Judea or just to the Temple mount. By the 1st cent. CE, Mount Zion included the Upper City which was surrounded by a wall.

Zion the hill of Jerusalem on which the city of David was built; the citadel of ancient Jerusalem; (in Christian thought) the heavenly city or kingdom of heaven. Also, the Jewish people or religion.

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