The Roman frontier with Persia in north-eastern Mesopotamia investigates the Roman city of Singara and the fortifications and roads in the surrounding area. The physical frontier between Rome and Persia has been little studied, in part because of the difficulty of access for scholars. In comparison with other parts of the Roman 'limes', this frontier was of great importance because it separated the two major civilisations of the early first millennium CE. Although the frontier stretched north to Armenia and the Black Sea, north-east Mesopotamia was for long periods the major area of confrontation.

After a brief review of the history of north-east Mesopotamia and its role as the setting for repeated clashes between the two empires, the book focuses on Singara, its fortifications and the surrounding frontier zone. This town was one of the strongpoints on the Roman frontier as it existed up to 363 CE. The volume then addresses the ancient road network around Singara and the links to Nisibis and to the Khabur valley to the west. It makes use of old aerial photographs and satellite imagery to illustrate fortifications, roads and associated sites, in particular those mentioned in the Peutinger Table. A final chapter addresses the nature of the frontier in this region.

About the Author
Anthony Comfort is an independent researcher and an associate member of the Centre for the study of Greek and Roman antiquities at Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He has an MA in archaeology from the University of Leicester and a PhD in archaeology and ancient history from the University of Exeter. Previously he worked as an official of the European Parliament's secretariat, principally in the Research Department. He is a specialist in the use of satellite imagery for archaeology in the Middle East but has also conducted research on ancient roads in Aquitaine and in Romania. With Michal Marciak he is co-author of How did the Persian king of kings get his wine? The upper Tigris in antiquity (Archaeopress 2018).

Reviews

'In conclusion, this is a valuable and well executed book. Already with his similar article, 'Fortresses of the Tur Abdin and the confrontation between Rome and Persia', Anatolian Studies 67 (2017), 181-229, he had covered the region immediately to the north of that covered here. We may hope that the author continues his investigations in the coming years.' - Geoffrey Greatrex (2023): Bryn Mawr Classical Review

Book Information
ISBN 9781803273426
Author Anthony Comfort
Format Paperback
Page Count 148
Imprint Archaeopress Archaeology
Publisher Archaeopress
Weight(grams) 404g