Temple of Zeus Megistos

The Temple of Zeus Megistos is in Dura-Europos in the east of the city in a part of the city that is modernly referred to as the Acropolis. It was one of the main temples of the city, the oldest construction phases of which perhaps go back to the time when the city was under Greek rule (from about 300 to 114 BC). The temple is not well preserved and the results of its excavations are not fully published. Several times the temple has been the target of excavations. The first excavations took place in 1928–37. The ceramics have hardly been recorded, which makes dating the older layers more difficult. The excavators presented some reconstructions of the oldest Greek temple. In particular, the more recent excavations from 1992 and 2002 raise doubts about older reconstructions and interpretations. In its final phase, which dates from AD 169/170, the temple takes up most of a street block (C4). The main entrance is in the south. The majority of the complex consists of various smaller chapels; in the west part there is a cella and in the north-east there is a large courtyard with a portico in the north.

According to older reconstructions, there was initially a sanctuary with a courtyard, an altar and three cellae. The reconstruction shows a temple that combines Hellenistic and Iranian elements. This reconstruction is problematic and it is not even certain whether a temple stood here

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