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Bosra (Busra)

Bosra: ancient city, legionary base of III Cyrenaica, capital of the Roman province Arabia (modern Busra).

Nabataean inscription ("Nathar'el, son of Nathar'el")

The name "Bosra" means (in Nabataean and Palmyrene) "fortress"
Settled since Early Bronze Age
Caravans between Red Sea (along the King's Road) to northern Syria
D12: contact with Egypt (mentioned Saqqara, later Karnak and Amarna)
Gap in our knowledge (probably Aramaean, cf. Aram-Damascus)
Nabataean, second city of the kingdom (after Petra itself); part of the final stages of the Incense Route
Nabataean Gate

106 CE: annexed by Trajan; Bosra Traiana, capital of Arabia
Base of Legio III Cyrenaica in the north (seventeen hectare, a bit small twenty is common); city itself more to the south
115 CE: earthquake and reconstruction
Second century: theater, several cisterns, baths, perhaps the hippodrome
Early third century: central arch
Colonia (recognized by Heliogabalus?)
Third century: circus
5,000 inhabitants

Bosra, Central Gate	Bosra, Cathedral	Bosra, Baths	Bosra, Nabataean Arch
Bosra, Tombstone of optio Q. Calpurnius of III Cyrenaica	Bosra, Dedication by III Cyrenaica	Bosra, Tombstone of centurio Aelius Vitalinius Valentinus of III Cyrenaica	Bosra, Nabataean Arch, capital
Bosra, Birket el-Haj	Bosra, Central Baths	Bosra, Episcopal Palace	Bosra, Hippodrome

J. Dentzer-Feydy e.a., Bosra. Aux portes d l'Arabie (2007)

Bosra, Theater	Bosra, Theater	Bosra, Theater, Stage	Bosra, Theater
Bosra, Theater, Stage, Corridor	Bosra, Theater, Inscription "Vict Augg" (EDCS-11301143)	Bosra, Theater, Stage, Game	Bosra, Theater, Stage, Decoration