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Apamea

Apamea in Google Earth

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Names

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
Introduction
Introduction

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.

Apamea from The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites
Aerial Views, Plans, and Illustrations
Aerial Views, Plans, and Illustrations

Aerial Views

  • Apamea in Google Earth
  • Qalaat al-Madiq in Google Earth

Plans

Site Plans

  • Site plan of Apamea from Wikipedia

Illustrations

  • 12th century citadel Qal'at al-Mudiq in Apamea from Hillenbrand (2000)

Chronology
2nd century CE Earthquake

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).

Jordan Valley Quake of 659/660 CE

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.

1156-1159 CE Syrian Quakes

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.

Notes and Further Reading
References

Bibliography from Meyers et al (1997)

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.

Wikipedia pages

Apamea



Qalaat al-Madiq