Dura

Dura (door'u) [key]or Europus (yoorō'pus) [key], ancient city of Syria, on the Euphrates River and E of Palmyra, sometimes called Dura-Europus or Dura-Europos. Founded (c.300 B.C.) by a general of Seleucus I, it prospered. In the 2d cent. A.D. the Parthians took Dura, and in A.D. 165 it was taken by Rome and remained a Roman city until it was seized (c.A.D. 257) by Shapur I of Persia. Dura was then abandoned to the desert. Modern excavations have yielded rich finds, supplying much information on life, history, and art in Mesopotamia from Hellenistic through Roman times. The name is also spelled Doura. The modern village of Salihiye is on the site.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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