Cohors XX Palmyrenorum

Cohors XX Palmyrenorum
Roman infantry helmet (late 1st century)
ActiveLate 2nd century AD to at least c. 257 AD
CountryRoman Empire
TypeRoman auxiliary cohort
Roleinfantry/cavalry
Size1,040 men (800 infantry, 240 cavalry)
Garrison/HQDura-Europos

The Cohors XX Palmyrenorum ("20th Cohort of Palmyrenes") was an auxiliary cohort of the Roman Imperial army. It was a cohors equitata milliaria, mixed infantry and cavalry regiment, originally recruited from the inhabitants of Palmyra in Roman Syria. There were also a small number (32–36) of dromedarii forces attached to the infantry.[1]

The unit was probably raised in the late 2nd century, when Palmyra became part of the Roman Empire. At first they served in the province of Dacia. In the early 3rd century they were stationed in Dura-Europos. The headquarters of the Cohors XX Palmyrenorum was the Temple of Artemis Azzanathkona aside the Praetorium.[2]

  1. ^ Southern, Pat (2007). The Roman Army: A Social and Institutional History. Oxford University Press. p. 123. ISBN 9780195328783.
  2. ^ Peter Edwell: Between Rome and Persia. The Middle Euphrates, Mesopotamia and Palmyra Under Roman Control. Routledge, 2008, ISBN 9780415424783, p. 124.