Map of the Roman Empire - Zeugma
Zeugma
Q-7 on the Map
Ancient Zeugma (Greek for a bridge of boats): A city on the western bank of the Euphrates in the province of Cyrrhestica, in Syria.
Zeugma (Ζεῦγμα). Probably Rumkaleh; a city of Syria, on the borders of Commagené and Cyrrhesticé, built by Seleucus Nicator on the western bank of the Euphrates, at a point where the river was crossed by a bridge of boats, which had been constructed by Alexander the Great (Polyb. v. 43). - Harry Thurston Peck. Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities. New York. Harper and Brothers.
Zeugma (Greek: Ζεύγμα) is an ancient city of Commagene; currently
located in the Gaziantep Province of Turkey. It is a historical settlement which
is considered among the four most important settlement areas under the reign of
the kingdom of Commagene. It was named for the bridge of boats, or zeugma, which
crossed the Euphrates there.
History of Zeugma. The ancient city of Zeugma was originally founded as a
Greek settlement by Seleucus I Nicator, one of the generals of Alexander the
Great, in 300 BC. King Seleucus almost certainly named the city Seleucia after
himself; whether this city is, or can be, the city known as Seleucia on the
Euphrates or Seleucia at the Zeugma is disputed. The population in the city at
its peak was approximately 80,000. In 64 BC Zeugma was conquered and ruled by
the Roman Empire and with this shift the name of the city was changed into
Zeugma, meaning "bridge-passage" or "bridge of boats". During Roman rule, the
city became one of the attractions in the region, due to its commercial
potential originating from its geo-strategic location because the city was on
the Silk Road connecting Antioch to China with a quay or pontoon bridge across
the river Euphrates which was the border with the Persian Empire until the late
2nd century. During the Roman Era, the Legio IV Scythica was camped in Zeugma.
For about two centuries the city was home to high ranking officials and officers
of the Roman Empire, who transferred their cultural understanding and
sophisticated life style into the region.
Zeugma, a town of Cyrrhestica, on the Euphrates, bet. Europus and Urima, opposite Apamea, with which it communicates by a bridge, whence its name. Zetjme. - Classical Gazetteer
Zeugma
ZEUGMA (Σεῦγμα, Ptol. 5.15.14), a town founded by Seleucus Nicator, in the
province of Cyrrhestica, in Syria. It derived its name from a bridge of boats
which was here laid across the Euphrates, and which in the course of time became
the sole passage over the river, when the older one at Thapsacus, 2000 stadia to
the S., had become impracticable, or at all events very dangerous, owing to the
spreading of the Arabian hordes. (Plin. Nat. 5.24. s. 21; Strab. xvi. p.746;
Steph. B. sub voce Zeugma lay on the right bank of the Euphrates, opposite to
Apamea, 72 miles SW. of Samosata, 175 miles NE. of the maritime Seleucia, and 36
miles N. of Hierapolis. (Plin l.c., and 5.12. s. 13; Strab. xvi. p.749; Tab.
Peut.) It was therefore opposite to the modern Bir or Biredsjik, which occupies
the site of the ancient Apamea. (Cf. Ritter, Erdkunde, x. p. 944, seq.) In the
time of Justinian, Zeugma had fallen into decay, but was restored by that
emperor. Procop. de Aed. 2.9, p. 237, ed. Bonn.)
- Dictionary of Greek and Roman
Geography (1854) William Smith, LLD, Ed.