Temple of Artemis Azzanathkona, Religious ruins in Dura-Europos, Syria.
The Temple of Artemis Azzanathkona is an ancient ruin in Dura-Europos with a square layout and inner chamber that originally served religious purposes. The structure contained a small hall with elevated seating for roughly 30 to 50 people, and over 100 inscriptions in Greek and Latin are scattered throughout the site.
The site was used as headquarters for the Cohors XX Palmyrenorum, a Roman military unit from Palmyra, after the city's capture in 165 CE. Excavations between 1928 and 1929 by Yale University uncovered the inscriptions and structural features that document this period of use.
The temple brought together worship of the Greek goddess Artemis with the Syrian deity Azzanathkona, showing how different faiths coexisted in this ancient trading hub. Visitors can still observe how inscriptions on the walls document this blending of religious traditions.
The site is located within the ruins of Dura-Europos and is best visited during cooler months, as summer heat can be intense. Visitors should allow time to read the inscriptions carefully, as they provide substantial information about the ancient garrison.
On the eastern wall sits a preserved horoscopic-astronomical inscription from July 176 CE that reveals astronomical observations and calculations from the Roman period. This rare astronomical record shows how science and faith intersected in this border settlement.
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