page_title: Seleucia Pieria
section_title: Main sites
hierarchical_section_title: Seleucia Pieria / Main sites
caption_attribution_description: English: The Peutinger Map showing Syrian Antioch Alexandria and Seleucia in the 4th century
context_page_description: Seleucia in Pieria, also known in English as Seleucia by the Sea, and later named Suedia, was a Hellenistic town, the seaport of Antioch ad Orontes, the Seleucid capital, modern Antakya. The city was built slightly to the north of the estuary of the river Orontes, between small rivers on the western slopes of the Coryphaeus, one of the southern summits of the Amanus Mountains.
  According to Pausanias and Malalas, there was a previous city here named Palaeopolis. At present, it is located at the seaside village of Çevlik
  near the town of Samandağ in the Hatay Province of Turkey. Seleucia, Apamea, Laodicea, and Antioch formed the Syrian tetrapolis.
context_section_description: The upper city, about 13 km in circumference, is still distinguishable. The lower city, smaller than the preceding one, was more thickly populated. 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 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.
  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.
caption: The Peutinger Map showing Syrian Antioch Alexandria and Seleucia in the 4th century
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