Seleucia Pieria
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Site notes | |
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Condition | In ruins |
Seleucia in Pieria (
According to Pausanias and Malalas, there was a previous city here named Palaeopolis ("Old City"). At present, it is located at the seaside village of Çevlik[1] near the town of
History
Seleucid period
Seleucia Pieria was founded in ca. 300 BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of the successors of the Macedonian conqueror Alexander the Great and the founder of the Seleucid Empire.[3] The Macedonians called the landscape Pieria, after a district in their homeland that was also between the sea and a mountain range (the Olympus).[3]
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
Roman period
Seleucia's importance grew significantly over time, necessitating the enlargement of its harbours several times under Diocletian and 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
Islamic period
Seleucia was captured by the
Seleucia Pieria and Christianity
The city was
The oldest
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 monastic establishments around Seleucia from the 11th to the 13th centuries.[7]
The city is still a
Known bishops
- Eugenius of Seleucia heretical follower of Athanasius, grandson of Empress Theodora[9]
- Dositheus I[10]
- Zenobius, present at the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE.
- Eusebius 350[10]
- Bizus fl 381
- Maximus
- Vasilius of Seleucia, Attendee of Council of Ephesus in 431,[11] 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,[10]
- Theodorus
- Agapoius
- Nicholas
- Ahron (847–874 CE).[12]
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)[13]
Main sites
The upper city, about 13 km in circumference, is still distinguishable. The lower city, smaller than the preceding one, was more thickly populated.[4] Ruins include a necropolis, amphitheatre, citadel, temples, some irrigation works as well as some fortifications.
The highlight of the city is a 1350–1400m-long tunnel/canal complex built during 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
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.
Notable persons
Famous residents include Apollophanes, a physician of Antiochus III the Great (third century), and Firmus who aroused Palmyra and Egypt against Rome in 272 CE.[4]
See also
Notes
- ^ "Seleucia in Pieria, Ancient Warfare Magazine". Archived from the original on 2013-10-30. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
- ^ a b c Meyer, Eduard (1911). Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 24 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 603. . In
- ^ a b c "Seleucia in Pieria". Archived from the original on 2013-10-30. Retrieved 2013-05-01.
- ^ a b c d One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Vailhé, Siméon (1912). "Seleucia Pieria". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 13. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- ^ Page 115 of Volume 5 of Mu'jam al-Buldan, quoting another book Futuh al-Buldan, page 155
- ^ One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Easton, Matthew George (1897). "Seleucia". Easton's Bible Dictionary (New and revised ed.). T. Nelson and Sons.
- ISBN 0-19-504652-8.
- ^ "Seleucia Pieria (Titular See) [Catholic-Hierarchy]".
- ^ Michael the Syrian :102.
- ^ OCLC 955922747.
- ^ Michael the Syrian 79
- ^ Michael the Syrian.
- ^ David M. Cheney, Seleucia Pieria.