Hatra الحضر
A round, fortified desert city of the 2nd century AD, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A round, fortified desert city of temples with great arches and carved faces, which resisted two Roman sieges. Listed by UNESCO in 1985.
Hatra was a wealthy caravan city ruled by Arab kings in the Parthian era. Its round walls enclosed a great temple complex where Greek and Roman styles blended with Mesopotamian and Arab traditions, with tall vaulted halls and carved faces of gods and kings.
The city resisted sieges by the Roman emperors Trajan and Septimius Severus before falling to the Sasanians in the 3rd century AD. Listed by UNESCO in 1985, it was damaged in 2015 and is being restored. Hatra is about 110 km south-west of Mosul and is usually combined with Ashur in one day.
Visit with our tour: Hatra & Ashur Historical Tour →
Travel tips
- Bring water and sun protection: the site is in open desert.
- Visiting may need advance permission, which we arrange.
Questions & answers
Where is Hatra?
Hatra is in Mosul, Nineveh Governorate, Iraq. The map on this page shows its location.
How can I visit Hatra?
Hatra is included in our Hatra & Ashur Historical Tour tour (1 day). You can book it on WhatsApp, and we arrange the guide, transport and any permissions.
Learn more
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