The surrounding sea, mountains and winds collaborate to preserve our city from excessive dryness. The abundant waters of a deep stream rush down the sloping terrain outside the Western Wall. Heavy rains have in the past caused it to overflow its banks. The constant influx of stone and silt posed a threat to harbour traffic until the son of Divus Vespasianus, the Emperor Titus, inaugurated a canal begun by his father that effectively solves that problem. An acqueduct further relieves the danger of erosion by conveying mountain water directly into the city for the use of its citizens.

---

As your ship manoeuvres into its final docking position, you may gaze in awe at the engineering skills of Greek and Roman workers who have designed the greatest port on the Syro-Phoenician coast, with not just one but two harbours - Outer and Inner - to insure safety, efficiency and fluidity of traffic. After docking in the Port and having completed formalities at the Customs Office, notice the shipyard, hangars, Imperial Warehouse, private depots and souvenir shop bustling with all manner of lucrative activity. At the same time, admire the magnificent sails and prows of the Roman fleet in whose assiduous vigilance our city takes much pride. Abundant food, drink and lodging can be found in the nearby vicus Macedonius. Be sure to watch for posters announcing games and races at the Hippodrome situated just outside the Gate of Antioch.

---

jewels of Arabia

Egyptian red marble

Afterwards, we invite you to stroll our winding streets as you make your way through the market-places displaying goods made by our own expert Syrian craftswomen. Situated between the harbour and the Antioch Gate, the Great Agora with its elegant statues is well worth several days’ shopping. Rare and much-coveted products from all over the world, notably from the famed, exotic Orient, pour into our stoas to the delight of thousands of eager buyers. Fine silks and cottons, jewels, wild animals, perfumes, spices and rare marbles fit for a palace are just some of the wares for which our markets have justly gained a reputation for excellence.

---

1=The Nikatoreion, shrine of Seleukos I Nikator. 2=Temple of Apollo Daphnaios. 3=Temple of Apollo. 4=Synagogue. 5=Temple of the Dioskouroi. 6=Temple of Zeus Coryphaeus. 7=Temple of Zeus Olympicus. N.B. Emplacements strictly hypothetical. Plan not to scale.

---

A leisurely climb up the Great Stair offers vistas of the Lower City from all possible angles. From here in the Upper City, you have an incomparable panoramic view of the Sea of Cilicia towards the northwest and the Province of Cyprus on the southwesterly horizon. No wonder then that our Founder and first monarch, Seleukos I Nikator (the Victorious) ordained that the greatest temples be built up here where the horizon stretches out so far. One of these is the Temple of the Dioskouroi, but there are also those erected for Zeus Coryphaeus, god of this mountain, Asclepios the Healer and, dominating the entire city, the temple of Zeus Olympicus. The shrine of our Founding Father himself, the Nikatoreion, containing the Royal Archives, sits on a promontory situated north of the Great Agora in the exact centre of the Lower City.

---

No god is without his sanctuary on our mountain, and our tables honour all cuisines, as befits a city of ancient Royal heritage. A tour of the Old Seleucid Fortress recalls a past history of war but also of collecting treasures from all over the East. Later, the advent and glorious reigns of Divus Augustus and his successors bestowed the blessing of universal peace on all civilisation, and part of the Fortress was turned into a museum.

---

Finally, from the terraces of the Western Wall (authorised personnel only), enjoy a spectacular bird’s eye view of the Inner and Outer Harbours (figure, top left) and behind you the sweet-scented forests that sweep along Mount Coryphaeus as well as the course of the River Orontes flowing from the Provincial capital, Antioch.

---

May your sojourn, be it short or long, satisfy your every desire ; may the gods of Seleucia Pieria bring felicity and unending delight to your heart !

---

The Articles of Seleucia Pieria:

---

Write an article for Seleucia Pieria...