Two Greek Votive Inscriptions from Singara (Modern Balad Sinjar) in the Duhok National Museum

Abstract

Two Greek votive inscriptions from Singara (modern Balad Sinjar), now in the Duhok National Museum (inv. nos. 206–207), date to the 3rd–mid 4th century CE and represent the first securely attributable Greek epigraphic evidence from the site. One dedication honors the Syrian deity Azizos, set up by the cavalryman Flavius Annianus, likely of Cappadocian origin, highlighting the syncretism of local Semitic deities with Greco-Roman religious practice and their appeal to Roman soldiers. The second ex-voto is dedicated to Silvanus by Marrius Gaianus, probably a standard-bearer of Legio I Parthica Severiana, illustrating the transplantation of Western Roman cults to the Eastern provinces. Together, these inscriptions illuminate Singara’s strategic role as a fortified Roman frontier colony, the integration of local and military personnel into religious life, and the cultural and military exchanges between Roman soldiers and indigenous populations. Their preservation in Duhok highlights the importance of museum preservation amid Iraq’s looting and instability.