Charax Spasinou:
Deep in the deserts of Iraq, the lost city of Charax Spasinou has finally been found.
- It was an ancient port city located at the confluence of the Tigris and Choaspes rivers, near the modern border of Iraq and Iran.
- Founded during the Hellenistic period, it was initially established by Alexander the Great.
- It was reportedly founded in 324 BCE.
- The city was later rebuilt by Hyspaosines, who became its first king and is recognized for founding the kingdom of Characene with Charax Spasinou as its capital.
- Due to its favourable location, Charax became a very important harbour in the Persian Gulf area and a major trading point between Mesopotamia (a region in the Middle East) and India.
- The city was home to a succession of local rulers who minted coins from the late second century BC to the third century AD.
- Charax’s prominence waned around AD 224–28 with the rise of the Sassanian Empire, marking the end of Characene’s political significance.
