View source for Seleucia Pieria

{{Short description|Hellenistic city, modern Samandağ, Turkey}}
{{Infobox ancient site
  |name = Seleucia in Pieria
  |native_name = 
  |alternate_name = 
  |image    = Roman Sarcophagus, Seleucia Pieria.jpg
  |alt = 
  |caption  = A [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] [[sarcophagus]] on the upper hills of the city
  |map_type = Turkey
  |map_alt = 
  |map_size= 
  |coordinates = {{coord|36|07|26|N|35|55|19|E|display=inline,title}}
  |location = [[Hatay Province]], [[Turkey]]
  |region   = [[Levant]]
  |type     = Settlement
  |part_of = 
  |length = 
  |width = 
  |area = 
  |height = 
  |builder = [[Seleucus I Nicator]]
  |material = 
  |built = 300&nbsp;BC
  |abandoned = 
  |epochs = [[Hellenistic Greece|Hellenistic]] to [[Middle Ages|Medieval]]
  |cultures = [[Greeks|Greek]], [[Ancient Rome|Roman]], [[Arab people|Arab]], [[Turkish people|Turkish]] <!-- please add the rest -->
  |dependency_of = 
  |occupants = 
  |event = 
  |excavations = 
  |archaeologists = 
  |condition = In ruins
  |ownership = 
  |management = 
  |public_access = 
  |website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
  |notes = 
}}

'''Seleucia in Pieria''' ([[Greek language|Greek]] Σελεύκεια ἐν Πιερίᾳ), also known in English as '''Seleucia by the Sea''', and later named '''Suedia''', was a Hellenistic town, the seaport of [[Antioch|Antioch ad Orontes]] ([[Syria Prima]]), the [[Seleucid dynasty|Seleucid]] capital, modern [[Antakya]] (Turkey). The city was built slightly to the north of the estuary of the river [[Orontes River|Orontes]], between small rivers on the western slopes of the Coryphaeus, one of the southern summits of the [[Amanus Mountains]].

According to [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] and [[John Malalas|Malalas]], there was a previous city here named Palaeopolis ("Old City"). At present, it is located at the seaside village of Çevlik<ref name = "AMW">{{Cite web |url=https://www.livius.org/se-sg/seleucia/seleucia_pieria.html |title=Seleucia in Pieria, Ancient Warfare Magazine |access-date=2020-03-26 |archive-date=2013-10-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030042804/http://www.livius.org/se-sg/seleucia/seleucia_pieria.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
near the town of [[Samandağ]] in the [[Hatay Province]] of [[Turkey]].  Seleucia, [[Apamea (Syria)|Apamea]], [[Latakia|Laodicea]], and [[Antioch]] formed the [[Syrian tetrapolis]].<ref name=EB1911>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Seleucia |volume=24 |page=603 |first=Eduard |last=Meyer}}</ref>

==History==

===Seleucid period===
Seleucia Pieria was founded in ca. 300 BC by [[Seleucus I Nicator]], one of the [[Diadochi|successors]] of the [[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Macedonian]] conqueror [[Alexander the Great]] and the founder of the [[Seleucid Empire]].<ref name="livius" /> The Macedonians called the landscape Pieria, after a district in their homeland that was also between the sea and a mountain range (the Olympus).<ref name="livius">{{cite news|url=https://www.livius.org/se-sg/seleucia/seleucia_pieria.html|title=Seleucia in Pieria|access-date=2013-05-01|archive-date=2013-10-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030042804/http://www.livius.org/se-sg/seleucia/seleucia_pieria.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

When Seleucus I was murdered on his way to Macedon in 281 BC, his son, Antiochus I, buried his ashes in a building called "Nikatoreion", situated on Seleucia.

The city was of great importance in the struggle between the [[Seleucids]] and the [[Ptolemies]]; it was captured by [[Ptolemy Euergetes]] in 246 BC.<ref name=EB1911/> As the [[Ptolemies]] ([[Lagids]]) and [[Seleucids]] fought over the city, it changed hands several times until 219 BC, when the Seleucid [[Antiochus III the Great]] recaptured it during the Fourth [[Syrian Wars|Syrian War]] (219–217 BC) his general [[Ardys (general)|Ardys]] is recorded as having distinguished himself during the siege. Then it obtained its freedom and kept it even to the end of the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] occupation. It had long enjoyed the right of coinage.<ref name=Vailhé/>
[[File:Column plinths, Seleucia Pieria.jpg|thumb| [[Column]] [[plinth]]s of possibly the main/harbour street]]
[[File:Caracalla - AR tetradrachm from Seleucia Pieria.jpg|thumb|right|silver [[dram (unit)|tetradrachm]] struck in Seleucia by [[Caracalla]] 215–217 AD]]

===Roman period===

Seleucia's importance grew significantly over time, necessitating the enlargement of its harbours several times under [[Diocletian]] and [[Constantius Chlorus|Constantius]]. These harbours, called the "inner" and "outer" harbours, served from time to time the [[Roman navy]].

Most buildings and structures today date from the Roman period.

===Byzantine period===
During [[Byzantine]] times the city went into a steady decline. The silting up of the city's harbours hastened this process. In the fifth century CE the fight to keep them open was finally given up. It suffered severely in the devastating [[526 Antioch earthquake]].

===Islamic period===
Seleucia was captured by the [[Sassanids]] around 540 CE. While it never recovered as a port-city again, [[Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik]], [[Umayyad]] Caliph from 705 to 715, built a fortress in the city.<ref>Page 115 of [http://ar.wikisource.org/wiki/%D9%85%D9%84%D9%81:%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%AC%D9%85_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%865.pdf Volume 5] of [http://ar.wikisource.org/wiki/%D8%AA%D8%B5%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%81:%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%AC%D9%85_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86:%D9%85%D8%B7%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%B9 ''Mu'jam al-Buldan''], quoting another book [http://ar.wikisource.org/wiki/%D9%85%D9%84%D9%81:%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A8_%D9%81%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%AD_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86.pdf ''Futuh al-Buldan''], page 155</ref>

==Seleucia Pieria and Christianity==
The city was [[Christianized]] early. As the port of Antioch of Syria,<ref name=EB1911/> "Seleucia on sea"—so called to distinguish it from other cities of the same name—is most notable as the precise point of embarkation from which the [[Apostle Paul]] [in 45 CE] and [[Saint Barnabas]] sailed from this port on their first missionary journeys, as chronicled in the Bible ([[Acts of the Apostles|Acts]] 13:4).<ref>{{Eastons |title=Seleucia|inline=1}}</ref> At the end of that same journey Paul must have made landfall at Seleucia before going to Antioch (see Acts 14:26). His route at the beginning of the second journey was by land and probably bypassed Seleucia (see Acts 15:40–41), though on returning, he must have passed through it again (see Acts 18:22). Once more taking a land route when setting out on his third journey, Paul may have missed Seleucia (see Acts 19:1), and at that journey's end he did not return to Antioch and so missed Seleucia again (see Acts 21:7–8). This means that Paul passed through Seleucia at least three times, and probably several more on pre-missionary visits to Antioch of Syria (see Acts 11:26; 12:25).

The oldest [[bishop]] known is Zenobius, present at the [[First Council of Nicaea|Council of Nicaea]] in 325 CE. Other known bishops include [[Eusebius of Seleucia|Eusebius]], an [[Arianism|Arian]], and [[Bizus]] in the fourth century, with twelve others cited by [[Le Quien]] (''Oriens Christianus'', II, 777–780). In the sixth century CE the ''[[Notitiae Episcopatuum|Notitia Episcopatuum]]'' of Antioch, gives Seleucia Pieria as an [[autocephalous]] archbishopric, suffragan of Antioch (''Échos d'Orient'', X 144); the diocese existed until the tenth century CE, and its boundaries are known (''Échos d'Orient'', X, 97). For some Roman Catholic titularies see [[Eubel]], ''Hierarchia catholica medii aevi'', I, 468.<ref name=Vailhé/>

Seleucia Pieria was a diocese of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch, the Syriac (Miaphysitic) Orthodox Church appointed bishops to the city in the eighth and ninth centuries CE, three of whose bishops are known. The last-known Syriac Orthodox bishop of Seleucia, Ahron (847/874 CE), is mentioned in the lists of [[Michael the Syrian]]. There were also [[Georgian Orthodox Church|Georgian]] monastic establishments around Seleucia from the 11th to the 13th centuries.<ref>{{Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium|title=Seleukeia Pieria |last=Mango |first=Marlia M. |authorlink=|url=|volume=|page=|pages=1866–1867}}</ref>

The city is still a [[titular see]] of the [[Roman Catholic Church]], ''Seleuciensis Pierius''; the seat is vacant following the death of the last bishop in 1980.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/d2s74.html|title = Seleucia Pieria (Titular See) &#91;Catholic-Hierarchy&#93;}}</ref>
[[File:Titus Tunnel, Seleucia Pieria.jpg|thumb|right|A section of the [[Titus]] Tunnel]]

===Known bishops===
*Eugenius of Seleucia heretical follower of [[Athanasius (grandson of Theodora)|Athanasius]], grandson of Empress Theodora<ref>[[Michael the Syrian]] :102.</ref>
*Dositheus I<ref name="Le Quien">{{Oriens Christianus|volume=2|article=Ecclesia Seleuciæ Pieriæ|at=cols. 777–780}}</ref>
*Zenobius,  present at the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE.
*Eusebius 350<ref name="Le Quien"/>
*Bizus fl 381
*Maximus
*Vasilius of Seleucia, Attendee of [[Council of Ephesus]] in 431,<ref>Michael the Syrian 79</ref> supporter of Nestorius.
*Basil of Seleucia fl 452.
*Dositheus II fl 553.
*Gerontius fl 448.
*Nonus of Seleucia; from about 505 AD, exiled about 521 for heresy.
*Constantius, a heretic
*Dyonisis fl 553 
*Antonius,<ref name="Le Quien"/>
*Theodorus
*Agapoius
*Nicholas
*Ahron (847–874 CE).<ref>Michael the Syrian.</ref>

===Greek rite bishops===

===Latin titular archbishop===
* Jules Georges Kandela (1959–1980)
* Cardinal [[Fernando Cento]] (1926–1959)
* [[Paul-Eugène Roy]] (1914–1925)
*[[Domenico Serafini]], (1912–1914)
*[[Tommaso Maria Granello]] (1897–1911)<ref>David M. Cheney, [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/d2s74.html Seleucia Pieria].</ref>

==Main sites==
The upper city, about 13&nbsp;km in circumference, is still distinguishable. The lower city, smaller than the preceding one, was more thickly populated.<ref name=Vailhé/> Ruins include a [[necropolis]], [[amphitheatre]], [[citadel]], temples, some irrigation works as well as some fortifications.<!-- previous from Catholic Encyc -->

The highlight of the city is a 1350–1400m-long tunnel/canal complex built during [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] times. It is believed that it was dug to divert the nearby river and prevent the harbour from silting up with time. A further reason is assumed to be to help reduce flooding caused during heavy winter rains. Construction began during the reign of Emperor [[Vespasian]] (69–79 CE) continuing mainly during his son [[Titus]]'s time (79–81 CE).

According to Flavius [[Josephus]], a Roman-Jewish historian (37–ca.100 CE), [[Jewish]] slaves were used as workers. These were working under orders of Emperor [[Titus]], who had captured [[Jerusalem]] in 70 CE. Other POWs were sent to [[Rome]], where they had to build the [[Colosseum]]. According to an inscription, the tunnel/canal was not completely finished until the reign of [[Antoninus Pius]] (138–161 CE). The last workers were [[Roman legionaries]].<ref name="livius" />

Most parts of the tunnel/canal are intact and it can be visited on foot. Rock tombs are found on the wall of the canal.

[[File:Antioch Alexandria and Seleucia.png|thumb|The [[Tabula Peutingeriana|Peutinger Map]] showing Syrian Antioch Alexandria and Seleucia in the 4th century]]

==Notable persons==
Famous residents include [[Apollophanes of Seleucia|Apollophanes]], a physician of [[Antiochus III the Great]] (third century), and [[Firmus]] who aroused [[Palmyra]] and [[Egypt]] against Rome in 272 CE.<ref name=Vailhé>{{Catholic Encyclopedia |wstitle=Seleucia Pieria |first=Siméon |last=Vailhé |volume=13|inline=1}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of ancient Greek cities]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

{{Former settlements in Turkey}}
{{First Journey of Paul of Tarsus}}
{{Hellenistic colonies}}
{{Roman colonies in ancient Levant}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places established in the 4th century BC]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Hatay Province]]
[[Category:Cities in Turkey]]
[[Category:Seleucid colonies in Anatolia]]
[[Category:New Testament cities]]
[[Category:Roman towns and cities in Turkey]]
[[Category:Coloniae (Roman)]]
[[Category:Pieria (Syria)]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Turkey]]
[[Category:Ancient Pieria]]
[[Category:Geography of Hatay Province]]
[[Category:Ancient cities of the Middle East]]
[[Category:Seleucus I Nicator]]