Palace of Dux Ripae
The palace of the Palace of Dux Ripae was the largest and most important building of the Roman Empire in Dura Europos .
The palace was about 87.5 m long and 62.5 m wide. The building was in the northeast of the city directly on the Euphrates , high above it. The entrance was in the south. From there one came into a large palaestra (30.78 m × 30.78 m) with ten columns on each side. There was also an exedra here , in which justice was possibly given. Ceremonial events and diplomatic receptions were certainly held in this courtyard.
From the first courtyard a gate led to a large peristyle (25.16 m × 22.71 m). Almost all other rooms in the palace were arranged around this peristyle. Finally, on the river side, there was a terrace on which private rooms were oriented. There were three residential units here. The other rooms arranged around the peristyle are mostly individual rooms, only in the west was a group of rooms, which probably also served as a residential unit. The building also had its own bathroom. The building was made of clay. Much of the room had vaulted ceilings. The roof of the palace as a whole was flat. The walls and ceilings were once plastered and partially painted. There were various cassette patterns on the ceilings, panels and imitation marble on the walls. There were numerous inscriptions on the walls.
On graffiti the dux ripae Domitius Pompeianus is mentioned several times , who apparently lived in the middle and largest group of rooms that opened onto the terrace. Subordinates must have lived in the other residential units. The function of the other rooms around the courtyard, however, is unclear, some may have served as stables. The whole building was the official residence of this high official, who was responsible for the administration of the Syrian borders, but also the city administration of Dura Europos.
According to inscriptions, the palace was built under Elagabal (218–222 AD) and was sure to stand until the Sassanids conquered Dura Europos in 256.
The palace corresponds to the type of a Roman portico villa with slightly reduced corner risalits and is therefore a typical Roman building. Only the flat roof followed more local traditions.
literature
- MI Rostovtzeff (Ed.), Ar. R. Bellinger, FE Brown, CB Wells: The Excavations at Dura Europos. Preliminary Report of the Ninth Season of Work, 1935-1936. Part III. The Palace of the Dux Ripae and the Dolicheneum . New Haven, London 1952.
- Alexander G. McKay: Roman houses, mansions and palaces . Luzern 1980, ISBN 3-7611-0585-1 , pp. 161–162.
Coordinates: 34 ° 45 ′ 5 ″ N , 40 ° 43 ′ 46 ″ E