After Deir Ezzor, Rasaffa, and Halabia, I am heading for Dura Europos, Syria's most southeastern frontier
garrison on the Euphrates.
The landscape is as barren as the northeastern desert corner of Jordan, and it is hard to imagine that Mesopotamia once was so fertile and consequently so
prosperous. Instead, I suddenly see a row of sand dunes, but so straight that
they must be manmade. And they are, for these are drift-sands that
accumulated against the walls of Dura Europos, the only original Hellenistic
fort in the abovementioned series. Approaching from the land side, it is not
apparent to appreciate the unique location as the Euphrates
only reveals itself once you have penetrated the very heart of the city.
Like Apamea and Deir Ezzor, it was founded around 303 BC
by Seleucos. He
wanted to build a reliable control post on the Euphrates and new trade routes with his recently founded cities of Antioch-on-the-Orontes and
Seleucia-on-the-Tigris. He must have remembered the lessons of
his master, Alexander.
Being Hellenistic, it is no surprise that Dura Europos is set up according to the
Hippodamian plan with right-angled streets around the large central Agora. The
Parthians conquered the city by the end of the second century BC. They stayed
till the arrival of the Romans in 165 AD. People of different origins lived
in Dura Europos, as testified by papyri and parchment inscribed in Greek, Latin, Aramean, Hebrew, Syriac, the
language of Hatra, Palmyrene, Persian, and Pahlavi. But it is mainly
the Macedonians who left their indelible imprint on this place.
The main entrance is through
the Palmyra Gate,
which, although only partially preserved, gives an excellent idea of how this
stronghold was conceived. The surrounding massive nine-meter-high ramparts are
interrupted by a series of defense towers built, like in Halabia, with the same pink
crystal-like gypsum. But it is difficult to get a good overall picture of the
site since most of the city is half-buried under the sands. However, on
the far left is where the Roman military camp from the third century
is located, complete with the commander's palace.
Following the main street in the direction of the Euphrates, I am pointed to the right, where most of the
sixteen temples were situated, worshiped by Christians and pagans alike. The
oldest synagogue of Jewish origin is among them, dating according to Aramean
inscriptions to 244 AD. Every inch of its walls and ceiling were covered
with wonderfully well-preserved frescoes depicting scenes of the Last Judgment.
Men and animals from the oldest bible stories are illustrated with vivid images
and colorful pictures. The inside of this synagogue has
been entirely dismantled and moved to the Archaeological Museum of Damascus,
which is worth a visit if only for this synagogue!
Besides the synagogue, there
are temples dedicated to Mithras, Baal, and Adonis, proof that Jews,
Christians, and pagans lived together in this multicultural city. The first
traces of the Mithras
Temple go back to the
period 168-171, i.e., Roman times. Still, the wall paintings clearly show
Parthian influences because Mithras wears Parthian trousers, boots, and a
pointed bonnet. It is known that, although the Mithras cult originated in Iran, this God
was very popular with the Romans. More exciting finds were made in other
buildings, like mural frescos, inscriptions, military outfits such as painted
wooden shields, and a complete horse harness
also exhibited at the Museum of Damascus.
At the bottom of these
temples, a small museum has been set up. Although the best pieces are in Damascus, I am happy to see the mural
marriage ceremony with priests wearing their funny-looking Phrygian hats – a
copy of the original in Damascus. Here, at least, I am allowed to
take a picture! Interestingly, the graffiti from the Palmyra
Gate helps to better understand the real one.
A last attempt to save Dura Europos was made during the siege of
the Persian Sassanids led by King Shapur I in the year 256. The local museum proudly
exhibits a copy of a relief from Bishapur, Iran, portraying Shapur in state riding his horse
- a man with presence. During the siege, he devised a
masterly strategy when he dug tunnels underneath the city walls to undermine
them. In a desperate attempt to increase their survival chances, the Romans
immediately filled all the buildings and spaces behind the city walls with sand
to reinforce them. At the same time, they worked with might and main to fill up
the Sassanid tunnels underneath, but there were simply too many corridors and
ramifications, leading to the ultimate defeat of the Romans. This is how Shapur conquered Dura Europos. He razed the city to the ground
and sold its population as slaves. Part of the destroyed walls is still visible
in the southwest corner. However, many survived since the Romans had choked all
the buildings close to the walls with sand. Among them was the synagogue with
its famous frescos.
Dura Europos was never rebuilt and
disappeared from history until it was rediscovered in 1920. Serious excavations
started in 1932 when said frescoes from the synagogue were brought to
light. It is pretty unique that the wall paintings display animals and people,
together with a Torah shrine on the western wall, i.e., the direction of Jerusalem.
Close to the Euphrates,
one cannot miss the elongated remains of the fine Seleucid Citadel, strategically set on its own outcrop guarding the bend in the river. Such great
builders!
Walking back to the Palmyra Gate, I
recognize a square Bouleuterion,
but the only information I can find mentions a Baptistery on this spot; this square is
supposed to be a shallow pool used by Christian believers to be baptized. The
public was evidently seated on the tiers around the basin.
And then, in January 2009, Dura Europos made the headlines as new
research confirmed that during the Persian invasion, poison gas had been used
for the first time in history against the Roman defenders. This conclusion was
made based on twenty Roman soldier remains at the foot of the city
walls. Analysis showed the product was a mixture of bitumen and sulfur
crystals set afire. The gasses were directed toward the enemy using several
bellows and underground chimneys. Previous speculations about this technique
existed, for instance, with the Spartans during the Peloponnese War (400 BC)
and from Chinese texts about warfare (500 BC). Still, the theory has just been
proven. Quite unbelievable, isn't it?
I think it is sick, sad and a very evil presence in the human race when this kind of things are going on. I had always thought good was stronger then evil but I feel differently now. I wonder how even this goes on and everyone that has the power to do something about it just turn the other cheek and say 'what can I do' There are many that can do something but don't. Get it together I say to those because there is something that ones of the power can do something about. If this history is erased by this greedy selfish destructive action we all soon, all of us on this earth will disappear including those who are doing this destruction.
ReplyDeleteSad, but true - unfortunately.
ReplyDelete