The Roman Frontier with Persia in North-Eastern Mesopotamia
Fortresses and Roads around Singara
By (author) Anthony Comfort
Paperback (Published)
(January 2023)
ISBN: 9781803273426
6.85 x 9.69 inches
Price: $42.00
In stock
This volume investigates the Roman city of Singara and the fortifications and roads in the surrounding area. The Rome / Persia frontier has been little studied, in part because of the difficulty of access for scholars, but was of great importance because it separated the two major civilisations of the early first millennium CE.
The Roman frontier with Persia in north-eastern Mesopotamia investigates the Roman city of Singara and the fortifications and roads in the surrounding area. The physical frontier between Rome and Persia has been little studied, in part because of the difficulty of access for scholars. In comparison with other parts of the Roman ‘limes’, this frontier was of great importance because it separated the two major civilisations of the early first millennium CE. Although the frontier stretched north to Armenia and the Black Sea, north-east Mesopotamia was for long periods the major area of confrontation. After a brief review of the history of north-east Mesopotamia and its role as the setting for repeated clashes between the two empires, the book focuses on Singara, its fortifications and the surrounding frontier zone. This town was one of the strongpoints on the Roman frontier as it existed up to 363 CE. The volume then addresses the ancient road network around Singara and the links to Nisibis and to the Khabur valley to the west. It makes use of old aerial photographs and satellite imagery to illustrate fortifications, roads and associated sites, in particular those mentioned in the Peutinger Table. A final chapter addresses the nature of the frontier in this region.
Introduction Aerial photography, satellite imagery and maps Geographical and historical background Forts and fortresses Dating the fortifications The city of Singara The forts at Ain Sinu Alaina Thebeta Qohbol/Ghobal Towards the Khabur al-Han al-Hol Batitas Amostae Thannouris (Tell Tuneynir) Touloul Mougayir and Hirbet Hassan Aga The wall of Jebel Cembe The Khabur valley North of Circesium Tell Ajaja/Arban/Horoba Tell Brak and the Jaghjagh Tell Brak Cizre and Bezabde Castra Maurorum Eski Mosul and the Tigris The roads Roads north of Singara Roads east of Singara Roads to the west of Singara and to the Khabur valley Roads south-east of Singara The northern road from Nisibis east to the Tigris The frontier in north-eastern Mesopotamia Conclusions Bibliography Placename index, Introduction
Aerial photography, satellite imagery and maps ;
Geographical and historical background
Forts and fortresses
Dating the fortifications ;
The city of Singara ;
The forts at Ain Sinu ;
Alaina ;
Thebeta ;
Qohbol/Ghobal ;
Towards the Khabur ;
al-Han ;
al-Hol ;
Batitas ;
Amostae ;
Thannouris (Tell Tuneynir) ;
Touloul Mougayir and Hirbet Hassan Aga ;
The wall of Jebel Cembe ;
The Khabur valley ;
North of Circesium ;
Tell Ajaja/Arban/Horoba ;
Tell Brak and the Jaghjagh ;
Tell Brak ;
Cizre and Bezabde ;
Castra Maurorum ;
Eski Mosul and the Tigris ;
The roads
Roads north of Singara ;
Roads east of Singara ;
Roads to the west of Singara and to the Khabur valley ;
Roads south-east of Singara ;
The northern road from Nisibis east to the Tigris ;
The frontier in north-eastern Mesopotamia
Conclusions
Bibliography
Placename index
Anthony Comfort is an independent researcher and an associate member of the Centre for the study of Greek and Roman antiquities at Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He has an MA in archaeology from the University of Leicester and a PhD in archaeology and ancient history from the University of Exeter. Previously he worked as an official of the European Parliament’s secretariat, principally in the Research Department. He is a specialist in the use of satellite imagery for archaeology in the Middle East but has also conducted research on ancient roads in Aquitaine and in Romania. With Michał Marciak he is co-author of How did the Persian king of kings get his wine? The upper Tigris in antiquity (Archaeopress 2018).
- By (author) Anthony Comfort
'In conclusion, this is a valuable and well executed book. Already with his similar article, ‘Fortresses of the Tur Abdin and the confrontation between Rome and Persia’, Anatolian Studies 67 (2017), 181-229, he had covered the region immediately to the north of that covered here. We may hope that the author continues his investigations in the coming years.' – Geoffrey Greatrex (2023): Bryn Mawr Classical Review
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