Cohors XX Palmyrenorum

The Cohors XX Palmyrenorum ("20th Cohort of Palmyrenes") was an auxiliary cohort of the Roman Imperial army. It was a cohors equitata milliaria, mixed infantry and cavalry regiment, originally recruited from the inhabitants of Palmyra in Roman Syria. There were also a small number (32-36) of dromedarii forces attached to the infantry.[1]

Cohors XX Palmyrenorum
Roman infantry helmet (late 1st century)
Active	Late 2nd century AD to at least c. 257 AD
Country	Roman Empire
Type	Roman auxiliary cohort
Role	infantry/cavalry
Size	1,040 men (800 infantry, 240 cavalry)
Garrison/HQ	Dura-Europos

The unit was probably raised in the late 2nd century, when Palmyra became part of the Roman Empire. At first they served in the province of Dacia. In the early 3rd century they were stationed in Dura-Europos. The headquarters of the Cohors XX Palmyrenorum was the temple of Artemis Azzanathkona aside the Praetorium.[2]

See also

• Feriale Duranum, a standard calendar of religious observances for the military issued to this cohort

Notes

1. Southern, Pat (2007). The Roman Army: A Social and Institutional History. Oxford University Press. p. 123. ISBN 9780195328783.
2. Peter Edwell: Between Rome and Persia. The Middle Euphrates, Mesopotamia and Palmyra Under Roman Control. Routledge, 2008, ISBN 9780415424783, p. 124.

Bibliography

• Robert O. Fink: The Cohors XX Palmyrenorum, a Cohors Equitata Miliaria. In: Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association. Vol. 78, 1947. pp. 159–170.
• Nigel Pollard: Soldiers, Cities, and Civilians in Roman Syria. University of Michigan Press, 2000, ISBN 978-0472111558