Necropolis Temple, Dura-Europos

The so-called necropolis temple was in the north of Dura-Europos, outside the city walls, about 150 m northwest of the main gate. Although the temple was located in the city's necropolis, the cult there has no connection with the cemetery; the temple was built before a necropolis. It could be a first port of call for caravans coming from Palmyra. A cistern next to the temple may have served as a water point for the pack animals. According to the inscriptions of the temple was dedicated to Baal and Yarhibol. The temple was built in 33 BC. The temple initially consisted of a building with a large courtyard; the main entrance was in the east, the pronaos just opposite the entrance, in the west. The pronaos consisted of a large room with a niche (naos) on the back wall. In front of the Holy of Holies was a small portico with two pillars. In a second construction phase, a building of roughly the same size was added in the south. This building also had a courtyard in the middle and a sanctuary with a niche on the west side. The extension probably dates back to 173. Remains of wall paintings were found in the temple. However, three inscriptions are particularly important. The oldest of them dates back to 33 BC (year 279 of the Seleucid era). The inscription is written in Palmyric. It is the oldest known inscription from Dura-Europos and when it was found and published in 1935 it was t

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