# House of Nebuchelos

> urban house located in Block B8 in the ancient city Dura-Europos

**Wikidata**: [Q131385225](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131385225)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/house-of-nebuchelos

## Summary
The House of Nebuchelos is an urban house located in Block B8 of the ancient city of Dura-Europos in modern-day Syria. Also known as the House of the Archives or House of Nebuchelus, it was excavated in 1931 during the Yale-French Excavation Season Four and contains an office space.

## Key Facts
- Located in Block B8 of Dura-Europos, an ancient city in modern Syria
- Also known as House of the Archives or House of Nebuchelus
- Excavated during the Yale-French Excavation Season Four in 1931
- Contains an office space, classified as a room where people perform office work
- Discovered in March 1931
- Destroyed/abandoned circa 256 CE
- Depicted in drawings by Michael Rostovtzeff (1931) and Henry Detweiler
- Described in the publication "La Maison des archives à Doura Europos" by Rostovtzeff & Welles (1931, pp. 162-188)
- Associated with significant figures including Maurice Pillet, Charles Bradford Welles, and Nebuchelos

## FAQs
### Q: What is the House of Nebuchelos and where is it located?
A: The House of Nebuchelos is an urban house located in Block B8 of the ancient city of Dura-Europos, which is situated in modern-day Syria. It is also known as the House of the Archives or House of Nebuchelus.

### Q: When was the House of Nebuchelos discovered and by whom?
A: The House of Nebuchelos was discovered in March 1931 during the Yale-French Excavation Season Four at Dura-Europos. It was excavated by Maurice Pillet, Charles Bradford Welles, and their team.

### Q: What makes the House of Nebuchelos unique?
A: The House of Nebuchelos contains an office space, distinguishing it from typical residential houses in Dura-Europos. Its alternative name "House of the Archives" suggests it served a special administrative function in the ancient city.

### Q: What happened to the House of Nebuchelos and when did it cease to exist?
A: The House of Nebuchelos was abandoned and destroyed circa 256 CE, likely during the Sasanian conquest of Dura-Europos which took place around that time.

## Why It Matters
The House of Nebuchelos is significant for providing insights into urban life and administrative functions in the ancient city of Dura-Europos. As both a residence and an office space, it exemplifies the dual-purpose architecture common in Roman-era cities in the Near East. Its preservation despite the Sasanian conquest of 256 CE offers archaeologists a snapshot of life in this multicultural trading hub at a pivotal moment. The house's detailed documentation since 1931 has contributed substantially to our understanding of Roman urban planning and domestic architecture, serving as a valuable reference point for similar structures across the Roman Near East.

## Notable For
- Being one of the documented houses from Dura-Europos with confirmed office space functionality
- Its detailed documentation since 1931, including drawings by Michael Rostovtzeff and Henry Detweiler
- Its preservation despite the Sasanian conquest of Dura-Europos in 256 CE
- Its alternative name "House of the Archives," suggesting an administrative function
- Being featured in the Yale-French Excavation reports and continuing to be studied in academic contexts

## Body
### History and Discovery
The House of Nebuchelos was discovered in March 1931 during the Yale-French Excavation Season Four at Dura-Europos. The excavation was conducted by Maurice Pillet and Charles Bradford Welles, with Nebuchelos being a significant figure associated with the property. The house is situated in Block B8 of the ancient city, which is located in modern-day Syria.

### Architecture and Classification
The House of Nebuchelos is classified as an urban house, feature, cultural property, house, office, and cultural heritage. It belongs to the subclass of physical locations. The house contains an office space, which is defined as a room where people perform office work. This distinguishes it from purely residential structures and suggests it served both domestic and administrative functions.

### Documentation and Publication
The house has been extensively documented since its discovery. It was depicted in drawings by Michael Rostovtzeff in 1931 and by Henry Detweiler in "Private Graffiti? Scratching the Walls of Houses at Dura-Europos" (drawing 23). Its architectural features and significance were described in the publication "La Maison des archives à Doura Europos" by Rostovtzeff & Welles (1931, pp. 162-188), which forms part of "The Excavations at Dura-Europos: Preliminary Report of the Fourth Season of work October 1930-March 1931."

### Chronological Context
The house was abandoned and destroyed circa 256 CE, likely during the Sasanian conquest of Dura-Europos. This destruction event, while tragic for the original inhabitants, preserved the structure in a remarkable state that has allowed for detailed archaeological study. The house represents an important snapshot of life in Dura-Europos during the Roman occupation of the Near East.

### Geographic Location
The House of Nebuchelos is located in Dura-Europos, which is situated in Al-Salihiyah, Syria. Its precise location is documented in Block B8 of the ancient city. The geographic data is referenced in the Pleiades database (places 451190288 and 980015057), which provides authoritative spatial information for ancient locations. The geoshape of the house is recorded as Data:Block-B8.map.

## References

1. [Source](https://pleiades.stoa.org/places/451190288)
2. [Source](https://pleiades.stoa.org/places/980015057)
3. The Excavations at Dura-Europos: Preliminary Report of Fourth Season of Work, Oct 1930-March 1931