Rabana-Merquly: a fortress in the kingdom of Adiabene in the Zagros Mountains

Abstract

The mountain fortress of Rabana-Merquly was a major regional centre of the Parthian period (first century BC) in the Zagros Mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan. The iconography of two rock-reliefs that show an unnamed ruler suggests an association with the vassal kingdom of Adiabene. The exceptional preservation of the fortress's stone walls, undamaged by later agriculture in this highland location, provides an almost complete example of a large, fortified site with two main intramural settlements. Through its ability to control the surrounding landscape, Rabana-Merquly highlights the role of client states on the peripheries of the Parthian and Roman Empires and illuminates the practicalities of territorial control by state authorities in hinterland regions.

A Possible Parthian-Era Anahita Sanctuary at Rabana in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

“…11). Amongst the pot-spreads were found two iron arrowheads (Brown et al 2022: fig. 6C), the forms of which are compatible with a Partho-Roman date (Sermarini 2022).…”

“…A citadel with barracks at Merquly supports this defensive characterisation (Brown et al . 2022: 926, 929; Saber et al 2014). Rabana-Merquly undoubtedly played a military, diplomatic and economic role in relation to neighbouring highland pastoralists (Brown and Amelirad 2023: 218).…”

“…The main components of the 'sanctuary' described below cover an area of approximately 0.25 hectares. MICHAEL BROWN AND REBIN RASHID Our current understanding of the Rabana 'sanctuary' is based upon fieldwork conducted between 2017 and 2022 as part of a broader program of investigation across the Rabana-Merquly settlement complex (Brown et al 2018;Brown 2020;Brown et al 2020;Brown et al 2022). 1 In addition to surveying structures already visible on the surface, targeted excavations have been used to examine key architectural features in more detail.…”

“…2020: 99–103; Brown et al . 2022: 930–931; Khounani and Mohammadifar 2018; Rasheed 2001). The iconography of these figurative sculptures suggests an affiliation to the kingdom of Adiabene, a vassal of the Parthian (or Arsacid) empire that controlled much of north-east Mesopotamia in the late first millennium B.C.–early first millennium A.D. (Fig.…”

“…2020: 103–106; Brown et al . 2022: 931–933).

Figure 1.General plan of Rabana-Merquly (map by M. Brown; © Rabana-Merquly Archaeological Project).

Figure 2.Rabana rock-relief (illustrations by M. Brown; © Rabana-Merquly Archaeological Project).

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