ZEUGMA – Art and the Riches of Asia

Photographs from Antep Museum

In my years of research, I’ve come across many ancient sites that have quite taken my breath away with their history and the splendour of their remains.

One of these sites is located in what is now the south-eastern part of modern Turkey. It’s called Zeugma, and it is one of those places that have left an indelible mark on my image of the ancient world.

The Nine Muses

The Nine Muses

In 2000 I saw a documentary called ‘Treasures of Ancient Zeugma’ which talked about a race against time to save the remains of this ancient city from the rising waters of a hydro-electric dam that was being built at Birecik.

In all truth, I had not heard of Zeugma before this documentary, but after watching it I would certainly never forget it.

Rising waters around excavation site

Rising waters around excavation site

Zeugma is located on the banks of the Euphrates River where its remains were buried beneath pistachio groves for over 2000 years.

It was founded in 300 B.C. by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great’s generals who came to control the lands from Syria to the east after the death of Alexander. Seleucus named the settlement ‘Seleucia Euphrates’, after himself, with the settlement on the opposite bank of the river called ‘Apamea’, named after his Persian wife.

Seleucus Nicator I

Seleucus I Nicator 

In 64 B.C. Seleucia Euphrates was conquered by the Romans who then called it ‘Zeugma’, which actually means ‘bridge’ or ‘crossing’.

Zeugma was a highly important as a strategic location for crossing the Euphrates River, and one of the Scythica Legions guarded it.

But it was also valuable as a link in the future Silk Road trade route, connecting Antioch on the Mediterranean coast to China far to the east around A.D. 256. Myriad merchants and goods passed through Zeugma’s customs, and the settlement became extremely rich.

At its peak, the population of Zeugma is said to have reached 80,000!

Site of Zeugma as seen from Apamea, across the Euphrates

Site of Zeugma as seen from Apamea, across the Euphrates

However, like most great cities, Zeugma’s time in the Sun was not to last. The city was destroyed by the Sassanian King, Shapur I, and then later a massive earthquake finished it off.

Zeugma never really recovered its former glory.

In the fourth century A.D. Zeugma fell under Roman control again, and then came under the rule of the Byzantines during the fifth and sixth centuries. By the tenth century, it was just a small Abbassid settlement.

If history teaches us anything, it is that glory is fleeting.

For two centuries, Zeugma was the residence of high-ranking Roman officials, guarded by legions, and it was this period and circumstance that allowed the city to flourish.

Mosaic of Nine Muses discovered

Mosaic of Nine Muses discovered

Zeugma’s glory might have been short-lived, but the marks that these years of prosperity have left in the form of its artwork are truly beautiful.

While watching that first documentary on the Treasures of Ancient Zeugma, my heart was gripped with sadness for the threatened loss of these works of art. As the archaeologists uncovered mosaic after mosaic, my eyes widened at their intricacy, their detail, the lively beauty revealed as wet sponges wiped away the dust to explosions of colour. I think I may even have wept at the site.

Incredible detail and colour

Incredible detail and colour

I won’t even attempt to describe the wonders of the Zeugma mosaics – I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves…

In an ideal world, works on the hydro-electric dam would have been stopped, and an alternative plan set in place. But this was not to be. Thankfully the Turkish Ministry of Culture got things rolling and brought in experts to try and save what they could before Zeugma was lost beneath the waters of the Euphrates forever.

Zeugma Mosaic 1

Because of the dam, Apamea has been totally submersed, as has the majority of the Zeugma settlement. However, a museum has been constructed on-site, and archaeologists continue to excavate where they can so that more of Zeugma’s past can be revealed and preserved.

Zeugma Mosaic 5

Thankfully, many of Zeugma’s treasures have been rescued, rendering our image of the ancient world that much richer.

How many other magnificent settlements lie beneath the sand and seas, waiting to be discovered?

Gods only know, but it is exciting to think about.

Thank you for reading.

Sadly, I was unable to find a live link to the documentary, Treasures of Ancient Zeugma, but here is an alternative video which also goes over the rescue mission and history of Zeugma. It’s less dramatic, but will give you an idea.

For more information on Zeugma, be sure to check out the website for the Zeugma Archaeological Project.

Also, click here to read a fantastic article on Zeugma in Archaeology Magazine.

Zeugma Site Map

Zeugma Site Map

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8 thoughts on “ZEUGMA – Art and the Riches of Asia

  1. This was a fascinating post on the rediscovered civilization of Zeugma in south-eastern part of modern Turkey. I’ve never heard about this city that was founded by the Greeks until I read this article. The archaeological finds appear to be invaluable and again highlight the wonders of Ancient civilization. I really enjoyed learning about the history of this city.

    Thank you for sharing. Have a great week!

    Best regards,
    Linnea

    • Thank you for your comment, Linnea. I hadn’t heard about it until I saw the documentary back when it came out. I wonder what else remains to be discovered, or more depressingly, what has been lost to the waters of the dam. In my research for my Alexander novels, I read that Zeugma was actually the crossing point for Alexander the Great’s army on the way to Gaugamela.
      So glad you enjoyed this post. Cheers to you 🙂

    • I like this post and I have gone ahead and bookmarked it on Digg.com so enreyove on my email list can read your post as well. I used your own blog title as the entry on Digg and I might add it to one of my Squidoo pages as a link if the reaction from my email list is good. Thanks again, Great stuff.

    • Glad you liked this post, Li. It was (still is?) a pretty massive effort on the part of the archaeologists. They really were racing against the rising waters! Thank goodness for dedicated folks like them! Thanks for your comment 🙂

  2. Hi Adam,

    I do enjoy reading about the various ancient sites and the discovery of artefacts. Those mosaics are incredible, the detail and colour still as fresh as the day they were laid. I had heard of Zeugma through my readings and various documentaries on Alexander the Great and his generals. I do hope they are able to conserve the site as it is a rich source of the world’s history.
    A wonderful article 😀
    best wishes
    Luciana

    • Thanks Luciana! It is such an amazing place. I just hope it survives. I can’t believe the destruction that is being wrought on archaeological sites in that part of the world at the moment. Terrible. If you haven’t seen the Horizon documentary on Zeugma I mentioned in the post, do try to find it. It is well worth the watching. I really could not find it online, else I would have posted a link. Hope your writing is going well! Cheers from still-snowy Canada!

  3. Ellen Gabriel reported for the University of Wisconsin-Madison News ( Archaeologists on front lines of prnitcetog ancient culture in turbulent regions ) that archaeologists may only have until June to work at Mes Aynak unless something can be

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