or Osrhoene
Ancient kingdom, northwestern Mesopotamia .
Located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, it was situated across the modern frontier of Turkey and Syria, with its capital at Edessa (modern F816; anl 0131; urfa , Tur.). Founded in 0441; 136 BC, it commanded strategic trade and military routes (1st century BC2nd century AD). At different times it was allied with either Parthia or Rome . The kingdom was abolished by the Roman emperor Caracalla in AD 216. In the 4th7th centuries AD it was dominated by the wars between the Byzantine Empire and the Persian S 0101; s 0101; nian dynasty. Under various Arab dynasties, it became a centre of reaction against Hellenism and the headquarters of Chaldean Syriac literature and learning. It fell to the Muslims in 638.