Charax Spasinu
Encyclopedia
Charax Spasinu, or Charax Pasinu, Charax Spasinou , Alexandria (Greek: Ἀλεξάνδρεια), and Antiochia in Susiana (Greek: Ἀντιόχεια τῆς Σουσιανῆς) was an ancient port at the head of the Persian Gulf
, and the capital of the ancient kingdom of Characene
.
The exact location of Charax is unknown. The name Charax, probably from Greek Χάραξ,) literally means "palisaded fort", and was applied to several fortified Seleucid towns. One possible site is a large mound known as Jabal Khuyabir or Naisan near the confluence of the Eulaios/Karkheh and the Tigris
Rivers. Another possibility is that the town was lost when its dike collapsed and/or one of the rivers in the delta changed course. According to Pliny the Elder
:
Charax was originally named Alexandria, after Alexander the Great, and was perhaps even personally founded by him. After destruction by floods, it was rebuilt by Antiochus IV (175-164 BCE) and renamed Antiochia. It was provided with a massive antiflood embankment almost 4½ km long by Antiochus's governor, Hyspaosines
, and renamed "Charax of Hyspaosines."
Although it was nominally a vassal
of the Seleucids and, later, the Arsacids, it seemed to retain a considerable degree of autonomy at times. It became a centre for Arab trade, largely controlled by the Nabataeans, at least until they became assimilated by the Romans in 106 CE.
Charax was a rich port with ships arriving regularly from Gerrha
, Egypt, India, and beyond. It was also the beginning of the overland trade route from the Persian Gulf to Petra
and Palmyra
.
It was visited in 97 CE by the Chinese envoy, Gan Ying
甘英, who referred to it as 于羅 (Pinyin: Yuluo; reconstructed ancient pronunciation *ka-ra), who was trying to reach the Roman Empire
via Egypt
but, after reaching the Persian Gulf was convinced to turn back by the Parthians.
In 116 CE the Roman Emperor Trajan
visited Charax Spasinu – his most recent, easternmost and shortest-lived possession. He saw the many ships setting sail for India
, and wished he were younger, like Alexander had been, so that he could go there himself.
It was enlarged by an Arabian chieftain, Spasines, and afterward named Spasines and Charax Spasinou after him. http://www.ancientlibrary.com/gazetteer/0108.html It was a major trading center of late antiquity as evidenced by the hoards of Greek coins recovered during excavations there. http://www.parthia.com/webreport_37.htm
Isidore of Charax
, a 1st century geographer, came from Charax Spasinu.
Robert Eisenman
contends that it was this city, and not the better-known Antioch
in which Paul established his first church.
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
, and the capital of the ancient kingdom of Characene
Characene
Characene, also known as Mesene , was a kingdom within the Parthian Empire at the head of the Persian Gulf. Its capital was Charax Spasinou, "The Fort of Hyspaosines"...
.
Tigris
The Tigris River is the eastern member of the two great rivers that define Mesopotamia, the other being the Euphrates. The river flows south from the mountains of southeastern Turkey through Iraq.-Geography:...
Rivers. Another possibility is that the town was lost when its dike collapsed and/or one of the rivers in the delta changed course. According to Pliny the Elder
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
:
- "The town of Charax is situated in the innermost recess of the Persian Gulf, from which projects the country called Arabia Felix. It stands on an artificial elevation between the Tigris on the right and the Karún on the left, at the point where these two rivers unite, and the site measures two [Roman] miles [3 km] in breadth. . . . It was originally at a distance of 1¼ miles [1.9 km] from the coast, and had a harbour of its own, but when Juba
[ Juba IIJuba IIJuba II or Juba II of Numidia was a king of Numidia and then later moved to Mauretania. His first wife was Cleopatra Selene II, daughter to Greek Ptolemaic Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt and Roman triumvir Mark Antony.-Early life:Juba II was a prince of Berber descent from North Africa...
, c. 50 BCE—c. CE 24] published his work it was 50 miles [74 km] inland ; its present distance from the coast is stated by Arab envoys and our own traders who have come from the place to be 120 miles [178 km]. There is no part of the world where earth carried down by rivers has encroached on the sea further or more rapidly. . . ."
Charax was originally named Alexandria, after Alexander the Great, and was perhaps even personally founded by him. After destruction by floods, it was rebuilt by Antiochus IV (175-164 BCE) and renamed Antiochia. It was provided with a massive antiflood embankment almost 4½ km long by Antiochus's governor, Hyspaosines
Hyspaosines
Hyspaosines or Aspasine was a satrap installed by Antiochus IV Epiphanes and later the first king of Characene or Mesene . Hyspaosines is mainly known from coins, but also appears in texts of cuneiform script...
, and renamed "Charax of Hyspaosines."
Although it was nominally a vassal
Vassal
A vassal or feudatory is a person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. The obligations often included military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain privileges, usually including the grant of land held...
of the Seleucids and, later, the Arsacids, it seemed to retain a considerable degree of autonomy at times. It became a centre for Arab trade, largely controlled by the Nabataeans, at least until they became assimilated by the Romans in 106 CE.
Charax was a rich port with ships arriving regularly from Gerrha
Gerrha
Gerrha , was an ancient city of Arabia, on the west side of the Persian Gulf. More accurately, the ancient city of Gerrha has been determined to have existed near or under the present fort of Uqair. This fort is 50 miles northeast of Al-Hasa in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia...
, Egypt, India, and beyond. It was also the beginning of the overland trade route from the Persian Gulf to Petra
Petra
Petra is a historical and archaeological city in the Jordanian governorate of Ma'an that is famous for its rock cut architecture and water conduits system. Established sometime around the 6th century BC as the capital city of the Nabataeans, it is a symbol of Jordan as well as its most visited...
and Palmyra
Palmyra
Palmyra was an ancient city in Syria. In the age of antiquity, it was an important city of central Syria, located in an oasis 215 km northeast of Damascus and 180 km southwest of the Euphrates at Deir ez-Zor. It had long been a vital caravan city for travellers crossing the Syrian desert...
.
It was visited in 97 CE by the Chinese envoy, Gan Ying
Gan Ying
Gan Ying , was a Chinese military ambassador who was sent on a mission to Rome in 97 CE by the Chinese general Ban Chao.Although Gan Ying never reached Rome, only travelling to as far as the Parthian coast of the Persian Gulf, he is, at least in the historical records, the Chinese who went the...
甘英, who referred to it as 于羅 (Pinyin: Yuluo; reconstructed ancient pronunciation *ka-ra), who was trying to reach the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
via Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
but, after reaching the Persian Gulf was convinced to turn back by the Parthians.
In 116 CE the Roman Emperor Trajan
Trajan
Trajan , was Roman Emperor from 98 to 117 AD. Born into a non-patrician family in the province of Hispania Baetica, in Spain Trajan rose to prominence during the reign of emperor Domitian. Serving as a legatus legionis in Hispania Tarraconensis, in Spain, in 89 Trajan supported the emperor against...
visited Charax Spasinu – his most recent, easternmost and shortest-lived possession. He saw the many ships setting sail for India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and wished he were younger, like Alexander had been, so that he could go there himself.
It was enlarged by an Arabian chieftain, Spasines, and afterward named Spasines and Charax Spasinou after him. http://www.ancientlibrary.com/gazetteer/0108.html It was a major trading center of late antiquity as evidenced by the hoards of Greek coins recovered during excavations there. http://www.parthia.com/webreport_37.htm
Isidore of Charax
Isidore of Charax
Isidorus Characenus , commonly translated Isidore of Charax, was a geographer of the 1st century BC/1st century AD about whom nothing is known but his name and that he wrote at least one work....
, a 1st century geographer, came from Charax Spasinu.
Robert Eisenman
Robert Eisenman
Robert Eisenman is an American Biblical scholar, theoretical writer, historian, archaeologist, and "road" poet. He is currently Professor of Middle East Religions, Archaeology, and Islamic Law and director of the Institute for the Study of...
contends that it was this city, and not the better-known Antioch
Antioch
Antioch on the Orontes was an ancient city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. It is near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey.Founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch eventually rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the...
in which Paul established his first church.