ABSTRACT

In the course of its history up to the middle of the third century ce, Edessa underwent at least eight changes of government or political allegiance. The establishment of Seleucid rule in the region was followed by the Parthian domination and establishment of the monarchy; the Trajanic invasion and subsequent rebellion; the invasion of Lucius Verus; the rebellion of Abgar VIII and his submission to Septimius; and finally, the city’s incorporation into the Roman frontier system as a municipality under Caracalla in 212/13. Despite various lacunae, this overall outline of events is fairly clear. Far less clear is the development of Edessan society and culture, which probably both influenced, and were influenced by, political and military developments. Rather than being attempts to achieve pure independence, Edessa’s resistance to Roman rule during the second century might be thought to represent a basic affinity with the ‘Orient’ – with the Parthian kingdom to which it had been allied for more than 200 years. Such an affinity is certainly conceivable, given that Edessa during the Parthian period was under the control of a series of kings with Arabic names speaking a Semitic language, rather than a Greek-speaking aristocracy as at Dura-Europos and Seleucia on the Eulaeus.