Antakya, the biblical
Antioch, is situated on the Asi River (Orontes) in a fertile surrounding.
Antakya was once the capital of the Seleucid kings and the life they lead in
Antakya was renowned for its luxury and pleasures during Roman times. The city
was the center of Christianity and had been visited by St.Barnabas, St.Paul and
St.Peter. The city was also famous as a center of artistic, scientific and
commercial activities.
The Hatay Museum deserves
a particular interest, in that it houses one of the richest collections of Roman
mosaics in the world.
A little outside the city
is the holy site where St.Peter's Grotto is situated. The cave church is the
place where St.Peter preached and founded the Christian community. It was
declared as a holy place by Vatican in 1983. The Iron Gate of Antioch is to the
south of the grotto among the ruins of the city. One can sense these far off
times since little has changed since that time. The Castle of Antioch will give
you a panoramic view over.
Antakya is steeped in
history and mythology at every step Harbiye, 8 km. after Antioch, is the place
where Apollo fell in love with Daphne and tried to have her, but Mother Earth,
in order to save Daphne, turned her into an elegant tree. The site is full of
these trees accompanying the orchid gardens, and waterfalls where you may have a
pleasant meal. St. Pierre Church, Haron Carving are the main historical remains.
For both beach and
sightseeing opportunities Samandag is perfect. Seleuica Pieria, 6 km south of
Samandag, is the ancient city which was a busy port at the time when Paul and
Barnabas made their first missionary journey from here. The Titus-Vespasianus
Tunnel which was built to divert the rain waters, even by today's standard, is a
superb example of engineering. Near by there are 12 rock tombs to be visited.
A drive to Kapisuyu
village will provide you with a fascinating scene from the Zeus Temple. There is
an excellent view from there of the harbor, sandy beach and fertile plain lying
below.
There are many picnic and
camping areas. Hunting, fishing and thermal springs' facilities are the other
attractions.
Time Line of Antioch (Hatay)
Located at the northeast corner of the Mediterranean Sea, at
the point where the coast abruptly turns south towards Sinai. Founded in 300
BCE, it became the capital of the Seleucids. In later times, it continued to be
a significant provincial city. See also, the Eastern Orthodox Patriarchs,
the Jacobite
Patriarchs , and the Melkite
Patriarchs of Antioch.
Founded and made capital of the Seleucid
Empire....301-145
To
Egypt...............................................145
To the Seleucid
Empire.............................145-83
To
Armenia..........................................83-73
To the Seleucid
State...............................73-64
To
Armenia..........................................64-63
To the Roman
Republic...............................63-27
BCE
To the Roman Empire.............................27 BCE-260 CE
To Persia..........................................260-261
To
Palmyra.........................................261-272
To the Roman Empire................................272-395
To the Byzantine Empire............................395-637
Occupied by Persia...........................540, 611
To the Caliphate...................................637-969
To the Byzantine Empire............................969-1078
To Marash.........................................1078-1085
To the Rum Seljuqs................................1085-1086
To the Great Seljuqs..............................1086-1098
Principality of Antioch
De Hauteville
Mark Bohemond I...................................1098-1111
Tancred FitzRobert de Hauteville, Prince of
Galilee, regent
1100-1103, 1108-1112. See also Edessa.
Fulk de Anjou (K. of
Jerusalem 1131-43), regent 1131-1136
Poitiers (Aquitaine)
Raymond I.........................................1136-1139 and
then...
Chatillon
Reynald the Wolf (also held Krak des
Moabites)....1153-1160
Poitiers (Aquitaine)
Bohemond III the Stammerer........................1163-1201
with...
Raymond I (II)....................................1193-1194 d.
1197
Bohemond IV One-Eye (in Tripoli
1187-1201)........1201-1205 d. 1233
Raymond II (III)..................................1205-1208 d.
1219
Bohemond IV One-Eye (restored)....................1208-1216 d.
1233
Raymond II (III)
(restored)........................1216-1219
Bohemond IV One-Eye (re-restored).................1219-1233
Bohemond V (in Tripoli
1233-1251).................1233-1251
Bohemond VI (in Tripoli
1251-1275)................1251-1268 d. 1275
To Mamluk
Egypt...................................1268-1517
To Ottoman
Turkey.................................1517-1918
To
France.........................................1918-1938
Republic of Hatay.................................1938-1939
To
Turkey.........................................1939-
Aravelian
A
principality within the ancient Kingdom of Armenia, in North-Eastern Anatolia. It
was largely autonomous between 400 and 800 CE.
To
Armenia.........................................384-c. 428
Phapag.............................................fl. c. 451
with...
Phabak and...
Varonden and...
Tal
To Persia.....................................c.
500 ?-c. 590
?
To
Persia..........................................628-654
Katchean......................................fl. c.
640
To the Caliphate...................................654-c. 860
To Armenia thereafter...
Arzawa
An ancient state, located in Western Anatolia.
The exact location is unknown, but it was probably located in the vicinity of
Ephesus. The populations was Luwian, and spoke an Indo-European language related
to Hittite.
Kupanta-Kurunta....................................fl. c. 1430 BCE
followed by...
Madduwatta of Zippasla
Tarhundaradus......................................fl. c. 1350
To Persia by 540, general western Anatolian sequence
thereafter; see Ephesus.
Atarneus
An ephemeral Greek statelet in Asia Minor,
centered around the polis of Assos in the Troad.
Tyrants of Assos
Eubolos the Banker............................c. 370's-350's
Hermeias the Eunuch...........................c. 350's-344
Hermeias was the eunuch slave of his predecessor. He
was a student of Plato and a friend of Aristotle, who lived in Assos from
347-344 and married Hermeias' niece and adopted daughter.
To
Persia..........................................344-333
To Macedon 333; See
Trojan chronology
thereafter.
Baluni
A principality of
Armenia, in northeastern Anatolia, autonomous from around 400-800 CE
To
Armenia.........................................384-c. 428
Varazchapuh........................................fl. c. 445
Arzak..............................................fl. c. 451
with...
