Resafa

Al Resafa الرصافة
Arches in Resafa
Country	Syria
Governorate	Ar-Raqqah Governorate
District	Ar-Raqqah District
Elevation	300 m (1,000 ft)

Resafa (Arabic: الرصافة), known in Roman times as Sergiopolis, was a city located in what is now modern-day Syria. It is an archaeological site situated south-west of the city of Ar Raqqah and the Euphrates.

History

The site dates back to the 9th century BC, when a military camp was built by the Assyrians. During Roman times it was a desert outpost fortified to defend against the Sassanids. It flourished as its location on the caravan routes linking Aleppo, Dura Europos, and Palmyra was ideal. Resafa had no spring or running water, so it depended on large cisterns to capture the winter and spring rains.

North gate of the city of Resafa, site of Hisham's palace and court.

Resafa was planted right in the path of the Persian-Byzantine wars, and was therefore a well-defended city that had massive walls that surrounded it without a break. It also had a fortress. The city is mentioned in the Bible but little else is heard of it until the 4th century when it became a pilgrimage town for Christians coming to venerate Saint Sergius. Sergius was a Roman soldier who was persecuted for his Christian faith. Sergius was brought to Resafa for his execution, and there he became a martyr for the city. A church was built to mark his grave, and the city was renamed Sergiopolis.