Temple of Atargatis
The Temple of Atargatis in Dura-Europos was one of the main temples of the city. The temple was built in the first century AD, when the city was under Parthian rule, and excavated in 1928–1929 under the direction of Maurice Pillet.[1]
The temple is located south of the center (referred to by the excavators as the
The Temple used to share a wall with the building occupying the Southeast corner of block H2, which is believed to have been the living space for the Priests. These speculations have resulted in the adjoining building being named the House of Priests. The alley that runs between the Temple and the House is believed to have supported an upper floor connecting the two buildings, and a barricaded doorway has been found between the two buildings, implying that the residents were affiliated with the Temple.[3]
Various inscriptions by ancient visitors tell of the people who visited the sanctuary; the temple was frequented by people from
In the walls of the temple there was a cuneiform tablet with old Babylonian script, which names the place Da-wa-ra. This can be an old name for Dura.[6]
References
- ISBN 978-1-4725-2211-5.
- ISBN 3-515-08724-9.
- ^ Baur, P. V. C (1932). The Excavations at Dura-Europos (Preliminary Report of Third Season of Work November 1929-March 1930 ed.). Yale University Press. pp. 25–39.
- ISBN 978-1-892850-16-4.
- ISBN 978-1-107-12379-3.
- ISBN 978-1-4725-2211-5.