| Al Resafa الرصافة |
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|---|---|
| Arches in Resafa | |
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Al Resafa
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Syria |
| Governorate | Ar-Raqqah Governorate |
| District | Ar-Raqqah District |
| Elevation | 300 m (984 ft) |
Resafa (Arabic: الرصافة [reṣafa]), 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.
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.
Resafa was planted right in the path of the Roman–Persian wars, and was therefore a well-defended city that had massive walls that surrounded it without a break. It also had a fortress. In the 4th century, 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.
Resafa probably corresponds to the Akkadian Raṣappa and the Biblical Rezeph (Septuagint Ράφες), where it is mentioned in Isaiah 37:12.[1]