Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

DURA-EUROPOS

An ancient city located 434 km. (270 mi.) NW of Babylon where the ³abur River enters the Euphrates, about halfway between modern Aleppo and Baghdad. The site of the Roman frontier post Circesium, locally known in Greek as Europos from its founding during the Hellenistic rule of Seleucus I (311-281 b.c.e.) until at least 180 c.e., after 200 c.e. it was usually called Doura (Gk.), based on a Semitic name meaning “fortress.” The hyphenated name is a modern construct. The city was destroyed in 256 under the rule of the Sassanid Shapur I and never rebuilt.

Following the chance discovery by British troops in 1920 of mural paintings, systematic excavations beginning in 1922 have converted the desolate town into one of the famous archaeological retrievals of the 20th century. Dura-europos is probably best known for the artwork with religious themes. This includes a standing Jewish synagogue, originally a private house, whose four walls are covered with a fascinating panorama of paintings from the OT; a Christian church, also created from a remodeled private home, containing a vaulted baptismal font; and a temple of Mithra, atypical for such temples since it was built above rather than below ground.

Florence M. Gillman

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

DURA-EUROPOS

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)