Hatra

35.57583333333342.728333333333Koordinaten: 35 ° 34 ' 33 "N, 42 ° 43 ' 42" O

Hatra (Arabic: al - الحضر HADR; Aramaic ʾ HTR ) in ancient times was the capital of a small principality in the Mesopotamian sphere of influence of the Parthian. Because of its abundance of monuments Hatra is one of the most informative sites of the Parthian period and is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The ruins of the city lie in what is now Iraq.

History

Hatrene

Hatra is located about 110 kilometers southwest of Mosul and 4 kilometers west of the Wadi al - Tharthar, one in Jabal Sinjar springing, only temporarily water-bearing river ( Wadi ). At that time the area was called the city Hatrene. It turned to the Parthian period (until 224 AD) a client king kingdom of the Parthians is, which belonged to the sphere of the Parthians, but was ruled by a king of their own. This allowed the Arsacids, who ruled in Parthia, control a significant part of the Araberstämmer the region.

Development of the city

On the edge of the steppe in other border area between the great powers of the time, the Parthian Arsacids and of the Roman Empire, could be accepted by nomadic tribes urban center was formed in the first century after Christ out. The name Hatra ( HTR Aramaic ʾ ) means " bund " or "establishment". The city was closely associated with the Arsakidenreich. In the course of the 2nd century, it was expanded into a walled that extend over 300 hectares, in its basic form a circle approximated system with central Temenosbereich ( temple area ). Importance and strength Hatras among others significantly in multiple, unsuccessful attempts Roman Emperor (including 117 Trajan and Septimius Severus 197 and 199) to conquer the city. In the sixties of the 2nd century the ruler Hatras assumed the title of king of the Arabs. Its meaning is controversial in research. Most likely, the title was awarded by the Arsacid Parthian king, belonged to the kingdom of Hatra.

224/26 brought down the Sassanid Iran in the Arsakidendynastie. Hatra was like Armenia the old dynasty loyal and now apparently sought the support of the Roman Empire: Three inscriptions of Roman soldiers from the years 235 and 238 show the at least temporary presence of imperial troops in the city. Ultimately, however, could the Romans, whose empire was bound increasingly since 235 by other problems (see also Reich crisis of the 3rd century ), the case Hatras not prevent it. After at least two years, enormously costly siege of the Sassanian Ardashir I. took (or was his son Shapur I.? ) The city 240 or 241 a. A later legend, the Sassanids owed ​​their victory to the betrayal of the daughter of the king of Hatra, which is said to have fallen in love with Shapur I, and it opened a way to the city. As recent studies to the comprehensive siege equipment show, including the second round wall should have heard about Hatra, the case Hatras was probably simply the result of very systematic siege by the Sassanids, coupled with the inability of the Romans and the nomadic allies of the city it to shock successful. The conquest Hatras was an important prerequisite for the following attacks on Roman territory, the Roman empire in the years should be difficult to draw up to 260 affected for the Sassanid Persians.

The rulers of Hatra

Mrj ' ( Marja, "Lord" )

  • Worōd, about 110,
  • Ma'nu, approximately 115-116/117,
  • Elkūd, ca 116/117-120,
  • Našrihab, about 120-125,
  • Naṣrū, 128/29-137/138,
  • Wolgas I., 140 -ca. 170,
  • Sanaṭrūq I., approximately 140-176/177,

Mlk ' (King)

  • Wolgas I., 140 -ca. 170,
  • Sanaṭrūq I., approximately 140-176/177,
  • Abdsamiya, approximately 180-197/199,
  • Sanaṭrūq II, ca 200 -ca. 240

Research

The first researcher of modern times, in 1836 and 1837 examined the area of ​​the city, was the British doctor, then at the British Consulate-General in Baghdad, John Ross. Was systematically studied for the first time Hatra by the archaeologists of the German Oriental Society, who worked under the direction of Walter Andrae at Assur, 50 km away. Between 1906 and 1911 they made on their day trips to an overall plan of the city and its conservation status. In the 1930s, aerial photographs were taken of the site. 1951, the Iraqi Department of Antiquities with renewed excavations. Since then, large parts of the city were exposed. The excavation teams have it lucky that after the destruction of 240/41 never lived near larger crowds, which, as has often happened in other ruin sites, have used as a source of building material, the remains of the city.

In a sub-project of the Collaborative Research Centre " Difference and Integration " the reasons for the emergence of the city against the backdrop of economic and political interaction of nomads and sedentary state are discussed. Then the question of relations between the city, the king of the Arabs and the major powers, especially the Arsakidenreich, in the center. The Hatras function is thereby described as " dimorphic ", as a link between nomads and State. Only in 2006 the city were using the aerial photography huge fortifications east discovered that could be identified as the fortified camp of the Sassanids during the siege Hatras to 239/40.

Sinjar Mountains Arab people Crisis of the Third Century John Ross (Arctic explorer) Historia (Antiquity journal)
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