Dura Europos

History

• 

  Founded in about 303 BCE by Macedonian settlers; typical Seleucid design with a central, colonnaded street, agridiron plan, walls following the contours of the landscape, and a separate citadel on a hill (cf. Apamea, Chalcis, Cyrrhus, Diocaesarea, and Damascus.)
• In the 140s taken over by the Parthians; military function and station along the route from Babylonia and the Persian Gulf in the southeast to Palmyra and the Mediterranean in the west
• Iranian religious cults
• Temporarily occupied under Trajan
• Flourishing in the second century; civil center
• Mixed population: Macedonians, Greeks, Syrians, Iranians, Romans
• Syncretism of religions
• 164 Roman conquest by Lucius Verus: easternmost point
• Remilitarized in the Severan age
• Decline because changed course Euphrates
• 256 CE: captured by the Sasanians (a mine has been found)

Dura Europos, Palace of the Dux Ripae

Dura Europos, Palmyra Gate

Dura Europos, Temple of the Palmyrene Gods

Dura Europos, Old Citadel

Seleucid Buildings

• Old Citadel
• Old Palace
• Redoute
• Agora
• City walls with gates (especially the Palmyra Gate in the west)
• Temple of Artemis

Dura Europos, Figurine of a Hellenistic lady

Dura Europos, a Parthian votive relief

Dura Europos, Temple of Aphlad, Relief of Aphlad

Dura Europos, Temple of Atargatis, Heracles

Parthian Buildings

• 

  Temples: Aphlad, Gad of Dura and Gad of Palmyra, Hadad and Atargatis, Palmyrene gods, Zeus Kyrios, Zeus Theos
• House of the Priest

Roman Buildings

• Roman baths (2x)
• Praetorium
• Palace of the Dux Ripae
• Amphitheater
• Temples: Mithras, Dolichenus, Roman archers

The End

• Synagogue (oldest picture of the Aqedah!)
• Christian House Church (pre-Constantinian)
• Sasanian siege ramp

Dura Europos, Synagogue, Wall painting	Dura Europos, Synagogue, Wall painting	Dura Europos, Synagogue, Wall painting	Dura Europos, Synagogue, Wall painting
Dura Europos, Temple of Adonis	Dura Europos, Church	Dura Europos, Sasanian Siege Ramp	Dura Europos, Collapsed tower 14