The ruins of the 2,300-year-old city of Dura-Europos, famous in Syria, may have a perfect “twin brother” across the border in Iraq.
The archaeological site of Dura-Europos in Syria serves as a window into the world of ancient Greek, Parthian, and Roman periods.
In recent years, access to Dura-Europos has become difficult due to ongoing conflicts. However, a recently published study in the Journal of Near Eastern Studies reveals a surprising “pathway.”
Not far from there, another ruin appears as a desert mirage of Dura-Europos.
A section of Dura-Europos, thought to be the perfect twin version of the mysterious ancient city of Anqa across the Syria-Iraq border – (Photo: SCITECH DAILY).
According to SciTech Daily, this is a cluster of structures that is much less prominent than Dura-Europos. Its remains consist only of a large earth mound, a polygonal wall inside, and a large outer defensive wall.
The site is almost symmetrically located opposite Dura-Europos across the Syria-Iraq border, in the Al-Qaim district of Anbar Province, Iraq.
“The reflective city” is named Anqa.
According to a research team led by archaeologist Simon James from the University of Leicester (UK), Anqa is located at a point where the floodplain of the Euphrates River has significantly narrowed. Therefore, this city would control the route between the densely populated area of the upstream valley and the trade route downstream connecting Syria, Northern Mesopotamia, and Babylonia, making it a site of great economic and strategic significance in ancient times.
This ancient city was completely overlooked by archaeologists until 1850, when an English expedition arrived.
A more thorough study was conducted in the late 1930s, including aerial photographs of the standing architectural structures.
However, due to geopolitical factors, including the imperial interventions in the region in the early 20th century, Anqa has remained forgotten.
According to the new study, Anqa is actually the same size, composition, and likely has archaeological value equivalent to the famous ruins across the border.
Although the visible remains on the surface are not as extensive as those of the “twin brother,” if excavated, the “reflective city” Anqa has the potential to become another “Pompeii of the Middle East,” as some have likened Dura-Europos to.
