Throughout its long history of waging war around the Mediterranean Sea, Rome came into conflict with many rival states. After centuries of fighting in the Near East, the Romans faced one final major enemy in the region: the Sassanid Empire. These Persians would prove to be a fearsome opponent for the Romans, who struggled to hold their territory in the Near East.

Theme: The last great enemy - Rome and the Sassanid empire

• Paul McDonnell-Staff, 'Introduction to the theme'
• Christian Koepfer, 'Puzzling equipment - The Dura Europos finds in a wider context'
• Patryk Skupniewicz, 'King, knights and pawns - Sassanid society and the army it spawned'
• Ardeshir Radpour, 'The soldier - Sassanid medium cavalry'
• Sheda Vasseghi, 'Epitome of a king - Shapur II: a Persian perspective'
• Ian Hughes, 'Belisarius undone - The battle of Callinicum'
• Ross Cowan, 'Cataphracts and siege craft - Adapting to the enemy in the Sassanid wars'
• Robert Vermaat, 'The tactic - The late Roman fulcum'

Features

• David Karunanithy, 'Like an actor on stage: Demetrius Poliorcetes at Rhodes'
• Duncan Campbell, 'The debate: Smoke and mirrors - Archimedes' inventions'