Archaeology
Syrian AntiochAntioch on Orontes, Antiokheia on OrontesPlace descriptionAntioch on the Orontes was connected to the Mediterranean by the Orontes River. It was founded by Seleucus 1 Nicator, one of the generals of Alexander the Great. He named it after his father Antiochus. It soon became the capital of the Seleucid kingdom. Antioch was enlarged by Antiochus 1 Soter, Seleucis II Callinicus and Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The streets of Antioch were laid out on a hippodamian plan by the architect, Xenarius. According to Strabo, the city was composed of the native and Greek sections separately walled. During the reign of Seleucus II Callinicus, another city wall and a new section of the town was built on the Orontes, a large island at the north of the city. The project was finished by Antiochus III. Antiochus IV Epiphanes added a fourth quarter and Antioch was consequently known as Tetrapolis. At about 4 miles west beyond the suburb, Seleucus I founded a great temple dedicated to the Pythian Apollo. Little is known about the Hellenistic remains of the city. The remains of a Greek theatre can still be found on the flank of Silpius. A royal palace was probably located on the Orontes Island. The city was captured by Tigranes of Armenia in 83BC, but he was later defeated by Pompey in 66BC. Subsequently, Pompey made Antioch the capital of the province of Syria. Julius Caesar and Augustus also erected various buildings there including a basilica for the promotion of the cult of Roma and a great temple dedicated to Jupita Capitolinus. Agrippa and Tiberius enlarged the theatre, but the final construction is dated to the time of Trajan. A circus and a number of baths were also built. A colonnaded street of almost 2 miles long was constructed by Herod the Great and Tiberius. The street had triumphal arches at each end, a large forum and a nymphaeum. Herod also erected a stoa in the east. Under the encouragement of Agrippa, a new suburb south of the stoa grew. The walls of the Antioch were approximately 8 miles in length. Other buildings included an amphitheatre and several temples. Antioch was the third largest city in the Roman world after Rome and Alexandria. Claudius held the Olympic Games of Antioch every five years. New aqueducts, bearing the names of Caesars, were the work of Hadrian. Septimius Severus granted the title of Roman colony to the city. During the Byzantine period, the city continued to be a prestigious and prosperous centre of learning and culture. Earthquakes damaged the city for several times. Caligula donated large sums of money for its recovery. During Trajan’s visit to the city in AD115, it experienced one of its most devastating earthquakes. The most serious one occurred in AD528, and it killed 250,000 people. This earthquake damaged most of the buildings and walls of the city. Between AD253 and 540, Antioch was attacked by the Persians for three times. Although a small scale reconstruction took place during the reign of Justinian, Antioch never regained its importance. In the 7th century AD, the Muslim Arabs conquered the city and captivated a lot of people away. The city was under the Arab control for the next three hundred years. |