Zeugma (Commagene)


Zeugma is an ancient city of Commagene; located in modern Gaziantep Province, Turkey. It was named for the bridge of boats, or , that crossed the Euphrates river at that location. Zeugma Mosaic Museum contains mosaics from the site. One of the largest mosaic museums in the world.

History

Zeugma was founded as Seleucia by Seleucus I Nicator in the early 3rd century BC on the site where he had the first bridge over the Euphrates built. In 64 BC, the Romans controlled the city. Zeugma was of great importance to the Romans as it was located at a strategically important place. Up to 70'000 people shall have lived in the city, and it became a center for the military and commerce for the Romans. In 253 AD, it was destroyed by the Sassanids, but was later rebuilt.
In late antiquity, Zeugma was a diocese, but the place seems to have been abandoned in the 7th century due to Persian and Arab raids. Arabs lived there temporarily in the Middle Ages, and in the 17th century the Turkish village of Belkis was built near the ruins.

Today

Zeugma has been on the UNESCO World Heritage Site tentative list since 2012. Extant archaeological remains at the site include "the Hellenistic Agora, the Roman Agora, two sanctuaries, the stadium, the theatre, two bathhouses, the Roman legionary base, administrative structures of the Roman legion, the majority of the residential quarters, Hellenistic and Roman city walls, and the East, South and West necropoles."
Three large glass mosaics were discovered at Zeugma in 2014, including one depicting the nine muses.
In February 2020, it was reported that the Zeugma Mosaic Museum attracted a record 340,569 visitors in 2019, according to the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry.

Gallery