Dura Europos.

Abstract

In this well written and produced book, Jennifer Baird gives a concise and readable summary of the exploration of the great site of Dura Europos, until recently a jewel in the archaeology of Syria, now devastated by the systemic looting that took place during the time when it came under terrorist control. This destruction is all the more tragic as Dura is an extraordinary site. As the seat of a Hellenistic fort, a Parthian administrative centre and a Roman military base, it gives an insight into periods of archaeology little investigated in Mesopotamia, and into the interface of the superpowers of the time. In Chapter 1, Baird covers the history of exploration at the site. She recounts the astonishing story of how, less than a month after the news of the discovery of wall paintings in March 1920 was conveyed to the British authorities in Baghdad (where the report landed on the desk of Gertrude Bell), James Henry Breasted of the Oriental Institute of Chicago was on his way to inspect the site, reaching it at the beginning ofMay that same year. The discoveries also caught the attention of the Belgian archaeologist Franz Cumont, who instigated the first scientific excavations at Dura (1922–23). These in turn led to the major excavations carried out on behalf of Yale University by Mikhail Rostovtzeff (1928–1937), with fieldwork directed by Maurice Pillet (1928–spring 1931) and Clark Hopkins (autumn 1931–spring 1935). The final two seasons of the Yale expedition were directed by Frank Brown (autumn 1935–spring 1937). Hostilities precluded the expedition taking advantage of an extension of the permit for the years 1939–45, and it was half a century until operations resumed, in 1986, under the direction of Pierre Leriche of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Assad al Mahmoud of the Syrian Directorate of Archaeology and Museums: these excavations lasted until 2011, at which point the outbreak of the Syrian war prevented further work. Following this excellent overview, Chapter 2 presents the archaeological remains at Dura. The city has its genesis in the Hellenistic period, probably founded by Seleucus Nicator and originally consisting, in all likelihood, of a fort ( phrourion) and a surrounding colony with attached parcels of land (kleroi). While it was this Hellenistic aspect which initially drew Rostovtzeff to the site, actual remains from this period are scarce. Nevertheless, it has now been established that the original Hellenistic garrison was in and around the Citadel in the eastern part of the site. It is not certain when Dura came under Parthian control: as noted by Baird (p. 23) the generally accepted date of 113 BC is based on numismatic evidence which is, however, not decisive. It is from this time that the role of Greek culture becomes so prominent. As Baird successfully illustrates, this is seen not only in the rich inventory of papyri, but in the widespread veneration of deities who are either Greek or have bilingual Greek-Parthian appellations, such as Zeus Kurios/Baal-Shamain and Artemis/ Azzanathkona. While this appears to have been a time of flourishing prosperity, it also witnessed the rise of the superpower rivalry between Parthia and Rome. Following an overview of the Parthian period evidence at Dura, Baird turns to the period of Roman rule, which lasted for around a century (from 165 AD). This is the last phase of occupation of the site and many of the great results of the excavation — temples, houses, the administrative palace — date to this phase. A striking feature of this period, discussed by Baird, is the large number of temples connected with many different religions of Mesopotamian, Syrian and Parthian origin. A Mithraeum was built, no later than 168 AD, expanding considerably in the following century, while the church and synagogue also date to this time. In due course the city fell to the Sasanians. Chapter 3 is dedicated to the archaeological archive of the Yale excavations. The development and composition of the archive is complex, and to have a whole chapter dedicated to this, although quite unusual, is highly welcome. The personal style of the various directors was very different, each with his own aims, motivations and approaches. As Chapter 3 illustrates, the archive, with its assemblage of reports, notebooks, photographs, plans, ceramics and artefacts, unwittingly preserves and reflects these priorities and