Antioch

Antioch, the ancient capital of the Greek kings of Syria, and long the chief city in Asia, lies in a fertile and beautiful plain, on the left bank of the river Orontes, 14 miles from the sea. In ancient times by its navigable river and its harbour, Seleucia, it had communication with all the maritime cities of the West; while it became on the other hand an emporium for the merchandise of the East, for behind it lay the vast Syrian desert, across which travelled the caravans from Mesopotamia and Arabia. Thus through it passed the high-road between Europe and Asia. It received from Strabo the name of Tetrapolis ('four cities'), on account of three new sites having been built upon successively, and each surrounded with a wall. The city was erected by Seleucus Nicator about 300 B.C., and was the most splendid of the sixteen cities built by him in honour of his father Antiochus. In early times a part stood upon an island which has now disappeared. The rest was built partly on the plain, and partly on the rugged ascent towards Mount Casius (Jebel Okrah), amid vineyards and fruit-trees. The ancients called it 'Antioch the Beautiful,' and 'the Crown of the East.' It was a favourite residence of the Seleucid princes, and of the wealthy Romans, and was famed throughout the world for its splendid luxury. Its public edifices were magnificent. The city reached its greatest glory in the time of Antiochus the Great, and under the Roman emperors of the first three centuries. At that time it contained 500,000 inhabitants, and vied in splendour with Rome itself. Nor did its glory fade immediately after the founding of Constantinople; for though it then ceased to be the first city of the East, it rose into new dignity as a Christian city. It was one of the earliest strongholds of the new faith—indeed, it was here that the name of Christians was first used. During the apostolic age it was the centre of missionary enterprise, and it became the seat of one of the four patriarchs. Ten councils were held here from 252 to 380. Churches sprang up exhibiting a new style of architecture which soon became prevalent; and even Constantine himself spent a considerable time here, adorning it, and strengthening its harbour, Seleucia. The downfall of the city dates from the 5th century. In 538 it was reduced to ashes by the Persian king Chosroes, but it was partly rebuilt by Justinian. The next important event in its history was its conquest by the Saracens in the 7th century. In the 9th century it was recovered by the Greeks under Nicephorus Phocas, but in 1084 it again fell into the hands of the Mohammedans. The Crusaders besieged and took it in 1098. At the close of the 13th century, the sultan of Egypt seized it. At present it forms a portion of Syria, in the province of Aleppo, and has a population of 17,500, mostly Turks employed in silk-culture, eel-fishing, and in the production of corn and oil. Its modern name is Antakieh. It exhibits almost no traces of its former grandeur, except the ruins of the walls built by Justinian, and of the fortress erected by the Crusaders. It suffered from an earthquake in 1872.—ANTIOCH, in Pisidia, founded also by Nicator, was declared a free city by the Romans in the 2d century B.C., and made a colonia under Augustus, with the name Cæsarea. It was often visited by St Paul.