Dara (Mesopotamia)

Dara
Δάρας (in Greek)
Ruins of rock-cut building in Daras
Dara (Mesopotamia) is located in Turkey
Dara (Mesopotamia)
Shown within Turkey
Alternative nameDaras, Anastasiopolis, Iustiniana Nova
LocationOğuz, Mardin Province, Turkey
RegionMesopotamia
Coordinates37°10′40″N 40°56′28″E / 37.17778°N 40.94111°E / 37.17778; 40.94111
TypeSettlement
History
BuilderAnastasius I
Founded505
AbandonedAfter 639
PeriodsLate Antiquity
EventsBattle of Dara
Fall of Dara

Dara or Daras (Turkish: Dara Antik Kenti; Kurdish: Darê; Greek: Δάρας; Syriac: ܕܪܐ[1]) was an important East Roman fortress city in northern Mesopotamia on the border with the Sassanid Empire. Because of its great strategic importance, it featured prominently in the Roman-Persian conflicts (in 530, 540, 544, 573, and 604). The former archbishopric remains a multiple Catholic titular see. Today, the village of Dara, in the Mardin Province occupies its location.

  1. ^ Thomas A. Carlson et al., “Dara — ܕܪܐ ” in The Syriac Gazetteer last modified June 30, 2014, http://syriaca.org/place/67.