Hatra and the Hybrid camel

[guy]

 Comparing the two-humped camels (a–b) with dromedaries (c) on the same lintel (photographs courtesy of the Aliph-ISMEO project at Hatra).

Restoration and reevaluation of archaeological evidence of a temple in Hatra, Iraq (after recent vandalism by ISIS) has led to new discoveries.

Closer examination of the ancient temple led to some interesting observations. A sculpted frieze on the temple wall showed hybrid camels, previously thought to be Bactrian camels, instead. The hybrid is hardier for the long-distant caravans on the Silk Road than the pure-breed Bactrian. The hybrids, therefore, would have been more useful than the pure breed camel and played an important role in the economy of Hatra.

First, some background: Hatra was a Parthian city that was a flourishing trade and religious center during the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. Hatra was also a fortified city that withstood Roman sieges from both Trajan (116/117 AD) and Septimius Severus (198/199).

 

A hybrid camel is a hybrid between the Bactrian camel and the Dromedary camel.

Although local breeders could raise Dromedary camels, they had to import the Bactrian female camels from distant Central Asia.
 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_camel

 

Quote

While larger and stronger, hybrids (see picture below) resemble dromedaries in that they have one hump, although this is normally asymmetrical, often with a small indentation between 40mm and 0.12m deep. This indentation divides the rear portion of the hump, which is often 2–3 times as large as the front, from the front part. (Potts Reference Potts2004: 156)

Quote

Potts also notes the greater strength and load-bearing abilities of hybrid camels, which are able to carry 400–500kg—double that of a dromedary and more than double that of an ordinary Bactrian camel. [The hybrid produced a] camel breed with higher milk production capabilities than the Bactrian camel as well as the ability to survive the harsh climate of Central Asia essentially in a free-range situation … [in] hot summers and snowbound winters with severe subzero temperatures.

 

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/iconographic-evidence-of-hybridisation-between-camelus-bactrianus-and-camelus-dromedarius-at-secondcentury-ad-hatra-iraq/A4DECADBFE3919190B9E14E78CA290F7

 

I never thought about camels before reviewing this article, but it does show that the ancient Parthians developed camel breeding to improve their trade.

    Bactrian camel

 

     Dromedary camel

An interesting article on Hatra:

https://www.ancientpages.com/2020/12/12/hatra-ancient-powerful-caravan-city-that-could-withstand-invading-roman-armies/

 

 

 

 

Edited January 30, 2022 by guy