Charax Spasinu

Charax Spasinu Σπασίνου Χάραξ
City
Hyspaosines (209–124 BC), founder and king of Characene, had his capital in Charax.
Etymology: Palisaded fort
The town of Charax Spa. on the 4th century Peutinger map
Country	Characene

Spasinu Charax /spæsᵻnuː tʃæræks/, or Charax Spasinu, Charax Pasinu, Charax Spasinou (Ancient Greek: Σπασίνου Χάραξ), Alexandria (Greek: Ἀλεξάνδρεια), and Antiochia in Susiana (Greek: Ἀντιόχεια τῆς Σουσιανῆς) was an ancient port at the head of the Persian Gulf, and the capital of the ancient kingdom of Characene.

The name Charax, probably from Greek Χάραξ, literally means "palisaded fort", and was applied to several fortified Seleucid towns. Charax was originally named Alexandria, after Alexander the Great, and was perhaps even personally founded by him. After destruction by floods, it was rebuilt by Antiochus IV (175-164 BC) and renamed Antiochia. It was at this time provided with a massive antiflood embankment almost 4½ km long by Antiochus's governor, Hyspaosines, and renamed "Charax of Hyspaosines."

There is a theory that Charax derives from the Aramaic word Karkâ meaning 'castle', but Charax often attested at several other Seleucid towns with the meaning palisade.

According to Pliny the Elder:

Charax was located on a large mound known as Jabal Khuyabir at Naysan near the confluence of the Eulaios/Karkheh and the Tigris Rivers as recorded by Pliny Naysān could be a colloquial Arabic corruption of Maysān, the name of the Characene region during the early Islamic era.