The Temple of Zeus Theos at

Dura Europos Dura-Europos was a Hellenistic, Parthian, and Roman border city built on an escarpment above the southwestern bank of the Euphrates river. It is located near the village of Salhiyé, in present-day Syria. Dura-Europos was founded around 300 ...

was built in the second century AD and was among the most important sanctuaries of the city. The structure was located in the centre of the settlement. It had an area of around 37 m² and took up half an insula. It was excavated by an American-French team between December 1933 and March 1939.

Description

The entrance to the temple was on the east side. Above it was an inscription which named the builder as one Seleukos and the year of construction as AD 114. The excavators interpreted the inscription as referring to the completion of the exterior ("public") portions of the complex. The early second-century date is usually accepted for the construction of the temple as a whole. The temple complex contained a monumental court, within which there was a large Naos. On the north and south sides of the court there was a series of rooms, most with benches lining all the walls. It shares these features in common with other

Parthian Parthian may refer to: Historical * Parthian people * A demonym "of Parthia", a region of north-eastern of Greater Iran * Parthian Empire (247 BC – 224 AD) * Parthian language, a now-extinct Middle Iranian language * Parthian shot, an archery sk ...

-era religious buildings at Dura. The Naos was located on the west side of the court as a free-standing structure. It had four rooms. The largest was the

cella In Classical architecture, a or naos () is the inner chamber of an ancient Greek or Roman temple. Its enclosure within walls has given rise to extended meanings: of a hermit's or monk's cell, and (since the 17th century) of a biological cell ...

. This had wall paintings which were found in tiny fragments but were able to be largely reconstructed. On the back wall, the cult image of the god was depicted. He stood next to a chariot and was crowned by

Nike Nike often refers to: * Nike, Inc., a major American producer of athletic shoes, apparel, and sports equipment * Nike (mythology), a Greek goddess who personifies victory Nike may also refer to: People * Nike (name), a surname and feminine giv ...

. On the side walls of the hall, there were three registers of images of the donors who had financed this temple and their family members.Baird, J. (2018). ''Dura-Europos.'' London: Bloomsbury, p. 134. Their names were written next to their images. They appear to be the members of two influential families, one of which is known as the family of Lysias. Several inscriptions were found, all in

Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...

. Next to the cella was a smaller room, which was probably the temple treasury. Some gemstones were found here. A dedicatory inscription on a stele is dated AD 120/121 and was dedicated by one Seleukos.

References

Bibliography

* Baird, J. (2018). ''Dura-Europos.'' London: Bloomsbury. * Rostovtzeff, M. I., F. E. Brown, C. B. Welles (1939). ''The excavations at Dura-Europos: Preliminary Report of Seventh and Eighth Season of Work 1933–1934 and 1934–1935.'' New Haven: Yale University Press, New Haven, pp. 181–217. {{Coord, 34.746914, N, 40.730929, E, type:landmark_region:SY, display=title Dura-Europos 2nd-century religious buildings and structures Dura Destroyed Greek temples