Zeugma

The "gypsy girl"

Zeugma: one of the main crossings of the Upper-Euphrates., famous for the many mosaics excavated in the 1990s

Zeugma (litt.: "bridge") was not just one of the places where the Upper-Euphrates could be crossed. It was also the point where a traveler left the Mediterranean world and entered the ancient Near East. The many merchants who visited Zeugma had really rare products to sell and consequently became very rich. Archaeologists have unearthed many splendid mosaics in the city.

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Belkıs Tepe

The river crossing was of great strategic importance, and we know, for example, that the Seleucid king Seleucus I Nicator (311-281) built a fortress over there. As was common in those days, the place was renamed; it was from now on known as Seleucia. The old name, however, remained in use. Across the river, in the northeast, a second city was built, which was called Apamea, after Seleucus' wife. Both cities must have been of the normal Seleucid type, with a colonnaded street through the city's center, and a citadel on a hilltop on the edge of the town (cf. Cyrrhus and Apamea on the Orontes). This citadel is now known as Belkıs Tepe.

The Euphrates

Two large reliefs suggest that the kingdom of Commagene, which succeeded the Seleucid Empire, also showed an interest in the site; Zeugma was probably one of the four main Commagenean settlements.

In 66 CE, the Romans stationed the Fourth legion Scythica at Zeugma; it had to protect the empire against Parthian invasions or Armenian raids. The soldiers must have spent their money in the town on the Euphrates, contributing to its wealth.


Antiochus I Theos of Commagene shaking hands with Apollo-Helios-Mithras	Funerary stele from Zeugma	Antiochus I Theos of Commagene shaking hands with Apollo-Helios-Mithras

Tombstone of a man, second-third century CE	Portrait of a man	Tombstone of a family, second-third century CE

Roman villa at Zeugma. Photo Marco Prins.

Remains of a villa

Another important factor that contributed to the city's prosperity was the sanctuary of Tyche on the citadel, Belkıs Tepe. (Here you can see the site on a satellite photo. The hill is easily recognizable.)

In the mid-third century, Zeugma was abandoned. This may have had something to do with the large war against the Sasanian Empire, which had succeeded the Parthian Empire in c.226. In 256, the Sasanian king Shapur I captured nearby Satala, the Romans redeployed their troops, and must have left Zeugma.

Detail of a column

In the 1990's, the Turkish government built a large dam in the Euphrates near Birecik. The famous mosaics of Zeugma were saved but most of the ruins are now submerged.

>> to the mosaics >>

Literature

Nezih Başgelen & Rıfat Ergeç, Belkıs/Zeugma, Halfeti, Rumkale. A Last Look at History (2000 Istanbul)