Buried Roman Soldiers of Dura May Be Victims of Ancient Iranian Chemical Weapon

The Circle Of Ancient Iranian Studies ^ | Thursday, 10 March 2011 | CAIS

[OddLane]

LONDON, (CAIS) -- Almost 2,000 years ago, 19 Roman soldiers rushed into a cramped underground tunnel, sent to defend the Roman-occupied Syrian city of Dura-Europos from an army of Persians digging to undermine the city's mudbrick walls. But instead of Persian soldiers, the Romans met with a wall of noxious black smoke that turned to acid in their lungs. Their crystal-pummelled swords were no match for this weapon; the Romans choked and died in moments, many with their last pay of coins still slung in purses on their belts.

Nearby, a Persian soldier — perhaps the one who started the toxic underground fire — suffered his own death throes, grasping desperately at his chain mail shirt as he choked. [Image of skeleton of Persian soldier]

These 20 men, who died in 256 CE, may be the first victims of chemical warfare to leave any archaeological evidence of their passing, according to a new investigation. The case is a cold one, with little physical evidence left behind beyond drawings and archaeological excavation notes from the 1930s. But a new analysis of those materials published in January in the American Journal of Archaeology finds that the soldiers likely did not die by the sword as the original excavator believed. Instead, they were gassed.

[Grizzled Bear]

This means “The Dutch Oven” predates the Dutch!

Please add me to your ping list!

[Ramius]

Done! It’s not a high volume ping list, but they’re usually pretty interesting. :-)

[osagebowman]

Cool ping, thanks. The crystal pommel sword resembles a falcion type sword. The No.3 sword looks like the old 1832 foot artillery (sort of borrowed from the earlier French artillery sword).

[Ramius]

Well done, Mr. Bowman. Especially for an archery guy. :-)