Singara
| Singara in hieroglyphics | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senger / Senuger (Sen ger / Se nu ger) Sn gr / S nw gr Babylonia / Schinear |
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Singara (also Shiggar ; Egyptian Senger ) was an ancient place in Mesopotamia (today Sinjar in northern Iraq ), south of Nisibis .
The place, located at the foot of the Sinjar Mountain , was of great strategic importance. In Roman times Singara was heavily fortified and was a legion base (for example for the Legio I Parthica ). In late antiquity , the city was repeatedly the target of attacks by the Sassanids . In 344 a great battle took place here, in which the Roman Emperor Constantius II had almost won when the undisciplined behavior of his troops cost him victory. In the peace of 363 the city was awarded to the Sassanid king Shapur II . There must also have been a larger Christian community in Singara, from which, among others, Gabriel von Schiggar came, who was King Chosraus II's personal physician in the 7th century .
There are still some remains from Roman times. The place can also be equated with the shinar of the Bible ; at least the name is derived from it.
literature
- David Oates: Studies in the Ancient History of Northern Iraq. Oxford University Press, London 1968.