Names of cities in Biblical Greek

Christian Alexander

Why are the names of cities in ancient Greek almost always plural? See John 10:22 UBS5 Ἐγένετο τότε τὰ ἐγκαίνια ἐν τοῖς Ἱεροσολύμοις, χειμὼν ἦν Some lexicons say the term in John 10:22 "Jerusalem" is a predecessor of semitic language. Also is their any basis in biblical Greek for all city names to be in feminine form? 

Dave Hooton

Why are the names of cities in ancient Greek almost always plural?

I think you mean "bible" Greek rather than "ancient".

Jerusalem is used with both Singular and Plural, incl "all Jerusalem", which also appears with Feminine and Masculine  i.e. plural masculine and singular feminine. but you also get plural neuter??