Antioch

The area of the later Antioch is a settlement called “Meroe.”

Antioch Founded by Seleucus I Nicator

Seleucus I Nicator, a general of the deceased Alexander the Great, founds Antioch as a Hellenistic Greek city. He names the city in honor of his father, Antiochus, who was also a general of Alexander the great. Seleucus founded 16 cities and called them all Antioch, so this one is called “Antioch on the Orontes” (on the Orontes River), to distinguish it from the others. Seleucus encourages Greeks from around the Mediterranean to settle in the new city.

Peter, Paul, and Other Disciples Move to Antioch

Peter, the Apostle of Jesus, goes to Antioch and establishes the Church of Antioch, where Jesus’ followers are first called Christians. Antioch becomes the new center of Christianity. The Apostle Paul also lives there and uses it as a base for his missionary journeys. According to local lore, the Christians meet in a cave, today a museum called Saint Peter’s Grotto.

Commodus Holds the Olympic Games to Antioch

Roman Emperor Commodus generously supports Antioch and builds a public bath, a xystos, and a covered running track, and begins holding the Olympic Games in Antioch. Commodus

Persians Attack Antioch

The Persians raid Antioch and kill some 100,000 people. The rest are taken as slaves.

Earthquake Hits Antioch and Seleucia Pieria

An earthquake severely damages Antioch and its nearby port city, Seleucia Pieria. Seleucia Pieria is already struggling with the silting of its harbor, and it will never recover.

Persians Attack and Deport the Population

Persian King Khosrau I deports 300,000 of the population to a new city he is building. Antioch’s decline is past the point of no return.

The Sasanians Take Antioch

The Byzantines, in a battle with the Persians just outside Antioch, are defeated. The Sasanians sack Antioch and take control of much of Syria and eastern Anatolia.