SELEUCIA

SELEUCIA. - Maritime city of Syria, mentioned twice in the Bible (I Mach. 11, 8; Act. 13, 4); the most important among the various cities of this name. From the nearby mountain it was also called S. Pieria. Founded by Seleuco Nicatore where Antigonia had previously stood, at the mouth of the Orontes, it was occupied by Tolomeo III, but retaken by Antioco III. Given the need for maritime communications for Antiochia, capital of Syria, the efficiency of the port of S. was maintained through important dredging and canalization works, despite the abundant debris deposited by the river Orontes.

According to Pausanias (VIII, 29), a Roman emperor (perhaps Traiano) made the Orontes navigable as far as Antiochia. The carrying out of harbour works is also documented for later periods, such as the time of Diocleziano and Costanzo II. The various invasions and other causes that brought about the decline of Antiochia acted even more swiftly upon the ancient maritime centre.

It is mentioned only incidentally in Act. 13, 4. It may be supposed that, from the very first evangelization of Antiochia (ibid. 11, 1 sgg.), Christianity was also successfully preached in S.