Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (724 page)

The capital of
UPPER EGYPT
from the time of the 11th Dynasty, situated on the east bank of the Nile with the necropolis opposite on the west bank. The main part of the town is clustered around the great temple of
KARNAK
dedicated to
AMEN
. Thebes reached its peak in the 17th to 19th Dynasties. After
RAMESSES
II, however, it was relegated to being one of several capitals. It was finally destroyed after several sieges and rebellions in the reign of Augustus . See also
LUXOR
.
[Sum.: N. Strudwick and H. Strudwick , 1999,
Thebes in Egypt: a guide to the tombs and temples of ancient Luxor
. London: British Museum]

 
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Large units of the Byzantine armed forces found between the 7th and 10th centuries
ad
.

 
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Optical surveying instrument designed accurately to measure angles. Used in archaeological fieldwork to set out grids and prepare measured surveys of structures or areas of land.

 
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Ostrogoth king born in ad 451 who, with Byzantine support, conquered Italy (489–93), and founded a Gothic kingdom. Long recognized as the greatest of barbarian kings, his realm for a time united Germans and Italians. He died in ad 526. During the reigns of his successors, Theodoric's kingdom was absorbed in the eastern empire.

 
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Count Theodosius was sent by the emperor Valentinian I to restore order in Britain after the Barbarian Conspiracy of ad 367. His measures probably included rebuilding work on Hadrian's Wall, the construction of early-warning signal stations on the Yorkshire coast, and the addition of bastions to the walls of towns. Unlike many army commanders of this time, he was a provincial landowner rather than a career soldier. He was made emperor in ad 379 and reigned until his death in ad 395.

 
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Eastern Roman emperor, son of Arcadius , born
c.
ad 401, who as a child succeeded his father in ad 408. He was dominated by his sister and his wife until the
ad
440s, and at all times by a series of powerful ministers. During his reign successes were achieved in wars against Persia (ad 421–2 and 441) and against John the Usurper (ad 425), but the easterners were unsuccessful against the Vandals (ad 441) and afterwards against Attila. The great walls of Constantinople (after ad 413) are named ‘Theodosian’ after him. He died
c.
ad 450.

 
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