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Bosra (Busra)

Bosra: ancient city, legionary base of III Cyrenaica, capital of the Roman province Arabia (modern Busra).

Nabataean inscription ("Nathar'el, son of Nathar'el")

The name "Bosra" means (in Nabataean and Palmyrene) "fortress"
Settled since Early Bronze Age
Caravans between Red Sea (along the King's Road) to northern Syria
D12: contact with Egypt (mentioned Saqqara, later Karnak and Amarna)
Gap in our knowledge (probably Aramaean, cf. Aram-Damascus)
Nabataean, second city of the kingdom (after Petra itself); part of the final stages of the Incense Route
Nabataean Gate

106 CE: annexed by Trajan; Bosra Traiana, capital of Arabia
Base of Legio III Cyrenaica in the north (seventeen hectare, a bit small twenty is common); city itself more to the south
115 CE: earthquake and reconstruction
Second century: theater, several cisterns, baths, perhaps the hippodrome
Early third century: central arch
Colonia (recognized by Heliogabalus?)
Third century: circus
5,000 inhabitants

Bosra, Tombstone of optio Q. Calpurnius of III Cyrenaica	Bosra, Dedication by III Cyrenaica	Bosra, Tombstone of centurio Aelius Vitalinius Valentinus of III Cyrenaica	Bosra, Nabataean Arch
Bosra, Nabataean Arch, capital	Bosra, Cathedral	Bosra, Baths	Bosra, Birket el-Haj
Bosra, Central Baths	Bosra, Central Gate	Bosra, Hippodrome	Bosra, Episcopal Palace

J. Dentzer-Feydy e.a., Bosra. Aux portes d l'Arabie (2007)

Bosra, Theater	Bosra, Theater, Stage, Decoration	Bosra, Theater	Bosra, Theater
Bosra, Theater, Stage	Bosra, Theater, Stage, Corridor	Bosra, Theater, Inscription "Vict Augg" (EDCS-11301143)	Bosra, Theater, Stage, Game