Seleucia

Seleucia, the name of several ancient cities in Syria, Pisidia, Pamphylia, Cilicia, Caria, and Mesopotamia, founded during the earlier existence of the dynasty of the Seleucidae (q.v.). Of these two were especially distinguished. (1) SELEUCIA PIERIA, founded by Seleucus Nicator, a few miles north of the mouth of the Orontes in Syria, was the seaport of Antioch, and became of great importance during the wars between the Seleucidae and the Ptolemies for the possession of Syria. It rapidly declined under the Roman dominion. The ruins have been fully explored and described in modern times by Pococke (Observations on Syria) and Chesney (Royal Geographical Society's Journal, vol. viii.). The remarkable tunnel of 1088 yards in length, which was excavated out of the solid rock and formed the only communication between the city and the sea, and the remains of its triple line of walls, citadel, temples, amphitheatre, necropolis, &c. attest the former importance and splendour of the city. (2) SELEUCIA ON THE TIGRIS was also built by Seleucus Nicator, on the west bank of the Tigris, 40 miles (according to Strabo 33) north-east of Babylon, which was despoiled to supply materials for the construction of the new city. Situated in a district of great fertility, and commanding the chief trading routes of Assyria, Babylonia, and western Persia, it rapidly rose to wealth and splendour, supplanted Babylon as the capital of the eastern portion of the Seleucid monarchy, and when in the acme of its greatness contained a population of more than 600,000. When the Seleucid empire fell before the Romans the fate of Seleucia was sealed. It was partly burned by Trajan (116 A.D.), and in 165 was completely destroyed by Avidius Cassius.