Transliterated Name | Language | Name |
---|---|---|
Apamea | Latin | |
Apameia | Greek | Ἀπάμεια |
Afamiya | Arabic | آفاميا |
Famiya | Arabic | |
Femie | Old Frankish | |
Apamea | Hebrew | אפמיאה |
Qalaat al-Madiq, Kal'at al-Mudik, Qal'at al-Mudiq | Arabic | قلعة المضيق |
Apamea, located at Qal'at el-Mudiq in the Middle Orontes valley in Syria, was founded in 300/299 BCE by
Seleucus I Nicator with the dynastic name Apamea, related to that of the sovereign's wife, Apama
.
(
Jean Ch. Balty in Meyers et al, 1997) It contains Hellenistic, Roman , Byzantine, and Early Islamic city remains (along with earlier periods) and was one of
the four main cities of the North Syrian tetrapolis (Strabo 16.2.10).
(
Jean Ch. Balty in Meyers et al, 1997)
Jean Ch. Balty in Meyers et al (1997) attributes its ultimate demise to an earthquake
The severe earthquake of 1157 struck Apamea off the map. It is mentioned in Arabic sources in the list of the cities destroyed then but does not appear as one of the cities destroyed in 1170.
Ambraseys (2009) states that four other cities, among them Apamea, are inferred to be have damaged by the earthquake based on building programs initiated soon after. Ambraseys' (2009) sources were Balty (1988) and Krauss (1914).
Walmsley (2007b:334), without citing a reference, claims archaeoseismic evidence at Apamea due to the Jordan Valley Quake of 659/660 CE.
In east Apamea, the Maison aux consoles and the Maison aux pilastres were severely damaged in the 659/60 earthquake; and although occupation continued after that date, the buildings were only partially cleared, not fully or even adequately repaired. The nearby Maison aux graiti was used for glass manufacturing and, later, as a dump for rubbish.Unless an earthquake couplet was involved, such an assignment seems unlikely due to distance. The causitive earthquake may have been a 7th century CE earthquake at Aleppo which is discussed on the Aleppo page.
Jean Ch. Balty in Meyers et al (1997) attributes the ultimate demise of Apamea to one of the 1156-1159 CE Syrian Quakes
The severe earthquake of 1157 struck Apamea off the map. It is mentioned in Arabic sources in the list of the cities destroyed then but does not appear as one of the cities destroyed in 1170.
Balty, J.C. (1988). "Apamea in Syria in the Second and Third Centuries A.D." The Journal of Roman Studies 78: 91-104.
Krauss, S. (1914). "Das Erdbeben vom Jahre 115 in Palästina." Monatsschrift für Geschichte und Wissenschaft des Judentums 58 (N. F. 22)(5/6): 290-304.
Walmsley, A. (2007b). "Economic Developments and the Nature of Settlement in the Towns and Countryside of Syria-Palestine, ca. 565-800." Dumbarton Oaks Papers 61: 319-352.
Balty, Janine, et al., eds. Apamee de Syrie: Bilan des recherches archeologiques, 1065-1068. Brussels, 1969.
The results of the first four campaigns, as well as a discussion with colleagues excavating other sites
in Syria.
Balty, Janine, and Jean Ch. Balty, eds. Apamee de Syrie: Bilan des recherches archeologiques, 1969-1071. Brussels, 1972.
The results of the 1969-1971 campaigns.
Balty, Janine, and Jean Ch. Balty. "Julien et Apamee: Aspects de la
restauration de 1'hellenisme et de la politique antichretienne de
l'empereur." Dialogues d'Histoire Ancienne 1 (1974): 267-304. The
links between Apamea and Emperor Julian through an analysis of
the mosaics of the Neo-Platonic school discovered under the cathedral.
Balty, Janine, and Jean Ch. Balty. "Apame e de Syrie, archeologie et
histoire. I. Des origines a la Tetrarchie. " In Aufslieg und Niedergang
der romischen Welt, vol. II.8, edited by Hildegard Temporini, pp.
103-134 . Berlin, 1977. Ancient sources and archaeological monuments combined to present a history of Apamea.
Balty, Janine, ed. Apamee de Syrie: Bilan des recherches archeologiques, 1973-1979- Brussels, 1984.
Focuses on domestic architecture, presenting the results of the 1973-1979 campaigns in five different
houses within the context of extensive comparative material from
other sites in Syria and the Near East.
Balty, Janine, and Jean Ch. Balty. "Un programme philosophique sous
la cathedrale d'Apamee: L'ensemblc neo-platonicien de l'Empereur
Julien." In Texte et image: Actes du colloque international de Chantilly,
13 au 15 octobre 1982, pp . 167-176 . Paris, 1984. Attempts a global
analysis of the mosaics of the Neo-Platonic school.
Balty, Jean Ch., and Jacqueline Napoleone-Lemaire. L'eglise a atrium
de la Grande Colonnade. Brussels, 1969. The church through its successive architectural phases.
Balty, Jean Ch. "L'eveque Paul et le programme architectural et decoratif de la cathedrale d'Apamee." In Melanges d'histoire ancienne et
d'archeologie offerts d Paul Collart, edited by Pierre Ducrey et al„ pp .
31-46 . Cahier's d'Archeologie Romande de la Bibliotheque Historique Vaudoise, vol. 5. Lausanne, 1976. Interprets the program of
the cathedral's mosaics as influenced by the patronage of Bishop
Paul in the 630s.
Balty, Jean Ch. "Les grandes Stapes de l'urbanisme d'Apam6c-sur1'Oronte." Ktema 2 (1977): 3-16 . Sketches the evolution of town
planning through its four major phases (Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Early Islamic).
Balty, Jean Ch. Guide d'Apamee. Brussels, 1981 . Intended primarily as
a guide to the monuments at Apamea, this book also provides an
extensive bibliography and numerous illustrations; the best introduction to the city.