ABSTRACT
We look to Rome for our own European cultural roots. But Rome itself looked East (Figure 1). The Roman East had an immense impact upon Europe in a way that no other part of the empire had. Christianity is the most obvious, but there were many other ways, more subtle but equally lmportant, that the East dominated Rome from the beginning of its imperial expansion. The East was Rome's greatest source of wealth. In the East was the only other great power - Iran - which ever matched Rome, both culturally and militarily. Mter contact with eastern royalty Rome itself became a monarchy. From mythological origins in Troy to Syrian emperors of Rome to oriental religious, intellectual and architectural influences, the East transformed Rome. Through this contact, Near Eastern civilisation transformed Europe. The story of Rome is a story of a fascination for the East, a fascination that amounted to an obsession. This is the story of that fascination.
