Alexander founded this city ~324 BCE at Jebel Kayaber, Iraq—major trade hub linking Mesopotamia, Persian Gulf & India. Geophysical survey revealed organized grid, temples, workshops, harbors. River shifted westward by 3rd century CE, causing abandonment 🏛️
Alexander the Great's Alexandria in the Caucasus located in Iraq
AfghanistanSurvey
Key facts
- Alexandria in the Caucasus was founded by Alexander the Great around 330 BCE
- Located 2 km from Gulf Coast at confluence of Karun and Tigris rivers
- Later renamed Cherax Spasinu, was major center of global trade linking Mesopotamia, Persian Gulf, and India
- Site identified at Jebel Kayaber through aerial photographs from 1960s
- Geophysical survey in 2016 revealed organized streets, walls, canals, and large residential blocks
- Discovery includes vast temple complexes and industrial districts with kilns and smelting furnaces
- Tigris River gradually shifted westward, cutting city off from waterway by 3rd century CE
- City abandoned after losing river and sea access
Site mentioned
Sources
livescience.com
Linked in video description
ncl.ac.uk
Linked in video description
nature.com
Linked in video description
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