page_title: Temple of the Gadde
section_title: Description
hierarchical_section_title: Temple of the Gadde / Description
caption_attribution_description: English: Relief of Iarhibol, Yale-French Excavations at Dura-Europos
context_page_description: The Temple of the Gadde is a double temple in the Syrian city of Dura-Europos, located near the agora. It was dedicated to the protective deities of Dura-Europos and the nearby city of Palmyra. It was excavated between 1934 and January 1936 by the French/American expedition of Yale University, led by Michael Rostovtzeff.
context_section_description: The age of the temple complex is unknown. It was repeatedly expanded and rebuilt over time. In total, four phases of construction can be discerned. The final phase (IV) is dated to AD 159, since two relief sculptures have inscriptions dating them to this year. Phase III must have ended around AD 150. The two earlier phases (II & I) must have fallen in the previous century, but the exact dates are not known. After AD 159, the temple experienced no further noteworthy additions. Numerous small altars were set up in the temple and a platform was built at the main entrance.
  The temple complex takes up much of the eastern section of insula H1. It measures about 42 metres north-south and 22 metres east-west. It has two parts, each accessed from the road to the east. The southern part is the main courtyard with the chief sanctuary. In the north, there is a further courtyard with various adjoining rooms. A propylon leads into the southern courtyard, on the opposite side of which there is a pronaos and cella (Naos 3) with further rooms. The pronaos is 11.05 m wide and 5.1 m deep. The interior room was originally about 8 m high and decorated with wall paintings, which only survived in tiny fragments. The cella is 4.48 m wide and 4.12 m deep. There were three niches on the western side (opposite the entrance). One part of the room was decorated solely with figural wall paintings, but little of this survives. To the north of the pronaos was a hall with several rows of benches (known as a salle à gradins). Past this hall was the north courtyard, which contained another cella. A foundation deposit was found beneath the sanctuary, consisting of 21 amulets.
  The temple contained a large number of graffiti, all made by inhabitants of Palmyra. The temple thus appears to have been built by Palmyrenes for Palmyrenes living in or visiting Dura-Europos. Palmyrenes are attested in the city from AD 33 onwards. Greek and Latin graffiti have also been found.
caption: Relief with figure of Iarhibol
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