Dolicheneum
The so-called Dolicheneum is a temple in Dura Europos in the east of today's Syria , where Jupiter / Zeus Dolichenus may have been worshiped. The remains of the temple were excavated in 1935/36, but were never fully published. Further investigations took place in 2007 and 2008.
The temple entrance is in the south. The building consists of a courtyard with columns in which two altars stood. Behind it are two cellae . The temple was therefore dedicated to two deities. There are various rooms around the courtyard. Some of them have benches along the walls. Remains of wall paintings were also found in one room. Various inscriptions were found in and around the temple. An inscription names a goddess (name not well preserved). Two inscriptions name the otherwise little known mountain god Turmasgade . An inscription names him together with Zeus Helios Mithras . Turmasgade was probably brought to Dura Europos by Roman soldiers stationed in the city. Three altars, which Iupiter call Dolichenus, were found in front of the building. Because of these altars, the building is called a Dolicheneum, but the assignment of the altars to the temple is not mandatory, which means that the name of the building as a Dolicheneum can also be called into question. Next to the temple and forming a unit with it and built at the same time, there is a private house that may have been the home of a priest. A door connects both buildings.
literature
- Simon James: The Roman Military Base at Dura-Europos, Syria , Oxford 2019. ISBN 978-0-19-874356-9 , pp. 177-182.
Coordinates: 34 ° 45 ′ 4.8 ″ N , 40 ° 43 ′ 43.7 ″ E