Apamea or Apameia (, ) was a
Hellenistic
In classical antiquity, the Hellenistic period covers the time in Greek history after Classical Greece, between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and the death of Cleopatra VII in 30 BC, which was followed by the ascendancy of the R ...
city on the left (viz., the eastern) bank of the
Euphrates
The Euphrates ( ; see #Etymology, below) is the longest and one of the most historically important rivers of West Asia. Tigris–Euphrates river system, Together with the Tigris, it is one of the two defining rivers of Mesopotamia (). Originati ...
, opposite the famous city of
Zeugma, at the end of a bridge of boats (Greek: ''zeugma'') connecting the two, founded by
Seleucus I Nicator
Seleucus I Nicator (; Ancient Greek, Greek: Σέλευκος Νικάτωρ, ''Séleukos Nikátōr'', "Seleucus the Victorious"; ) was a Ancient Macedonians, Macedonian Greek general, officer and successor of Alexander the Great who went on to fo ...
(
Pliny, v. 21). The city was rebuilt by Seleucus I. The site, once partially covered by the village of (now
Keskince),
Şanlıurfa Province
Şanlıurfa Province (; ), also known as Urfa Province, is a Provinces of Turkey, province and Metropolitan municipalities in Turkey, metropolitan municipality in southeastern Turkey. The city of Şanlıurfa is the capital of the province which be ...
,
Turkey
Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...
, is now flooded by the lake formed by the
Birecik Dam (Birejik Dam).
The ancient term Zeugma actually referred to the twin cities on the opposing banks of the river. Today the name Zeugma is usually understood to refer to the settlement on the west bank, called Seleucia () after the
founder, while the one on the East bank was called Apamea after his Persian wife
Apama
Apama (), sometimes known as Apama I or Apame I, was a Sogdian noblewoman and the wife of the first ruler of the Seleucid Empire, Seleucus I Nicator. They Susa weddings, married at Susa in 324 BC. According to Arrian, Apama was the daughter of t ...
.
Archeological Site of Zeugma
/ref>
See also
* List of ancient Greek cities
This is an incomplete list of ancient Greek cities, including colonies outside Greece, and including settlements that were not sovereign '' poleis''.
Many colonies outside Greece were soon assimilated to some other language but a city is included h ...
References
External links
*
Map of Zeugma showing Apamea across the river
{{Şanlıurfa-geo-stub
Ancient Greek archaeological sites in Turkey
Seleucid colonies
Populated places in Osroene
Twin cities
Former populated places in Turkey
Euphrates
History of Şanlıurfa Province
Submerged places
Seleucus I Nicator