Antakya history

Antakya, known in antiquity as Antioch on the Orontes, is a city with a rich history dating back to the Hellenistic era. Its past is a kaleidoscope of great empires, trade caravans, and the birth of world religions that have left an indelible mark on the culture of the entire Mediterranean.

Foundation and Early Period

The city was founded around 300 BC by one of Alexander the Great's generals, Seleucus I Nicator, who named it Antioch in honour of his father, Antiochus. Antioch quickly became the capital of the powerful Seleucid Empire and one of the most important centres of the Hellenistic world. After the Roman conquest in 64 BC, the city did not lose its significance, becoming the capital of the Roman province of Syria and the third-largest city in the empire after Rome and Alexandria.

Key Factors of Development

Antioch owed its rapid growth and prosperity to several decisive factors:

• Strategic Location: The city was situated on the eastern bank of the navigable Orontes River (now the Asi River), approximately 25–30 km from the Mediterranean Sea, ensuring control over trade routes between the East and West.
• Centre of Power: As the Seleucid capital and later the residence of the Roman governor, Antioch was a vital political and military hub of the region.
• Trade Hub: Its location at the crossroads of caravan routes made the city a major centre of commerce, where trade in silk, spices, and luxury goods flourished.

Cultural and Economic Features

Antioch was a true melting pot of cultures, where Greek, Syrian, Roman, and Jewish traditions blended to create a unique atmosphere. At its peak, the city's population exceeded half a million people. The city was famous for its wide colonnaded streets, luxurious villas adorned with magnificent mosaics, and even street lighting, which was a rarity for that time. Antioch also went down in history as one of the most important early centres of Christianity; it was here, according to the New Testament, that the followers of Christ were first called "Christians".

Key Milestones in the History of Antakya

The history of Antakya, ancient Antioch, is a kaleidoscope of eras and civilisations. The city has witnessed the rise and fall of great empires, playing a key role in world history for millennia.

• Around 300 BC — Foundation of the city by Seleucus I Nicator, a general of Alexander the Great, who named it Antioch in honour of his father.
• 64 BC — Antioch becomes part of the Roman Empire and is made the capital of the province of Syria, transforming into one of the largest metropolises of its time.
• Around 40s AD — The city becomes one of the first and most important centres of Christianity, where, according to the New Testament, followers of Christ were first called "Christians".
• 115 AD — A massive earthquake causes significant destruction to the city, after which it was restored under Emperor Trajan.
• 526 AD — A catastrophic earthquake and subsequent fire almost completely destroy Byzantine Antioch, claiming the lives of a vast number of inhabitants.
• 637 AD — The city is conquered by Arab forces and becomes part of the Rashidun Caliphate, receiving the new name Antakya.
• 969 AD — The Byzantine Empire reconquers the city, returning it to its control for over a hundred years.
• 1098 AD — Crusaders of the First Crusade capture the city after a long siege and establish the Principality of Antioch, one of the Crusader states in the East.
• 1268 AD — Mamluk Sultan Baibars captures and destroys Antioch, marking the end of its status as a major political and economic centre.
• 1516 AD — Antakya becomes part of the Ottoman Empire during the reign of Sultan Selim I, remaining a provincial town for the next four centuries.
• 1938 — The independent Hatay State is created in the region with Antakya as its capital.
• 1939 — Following a referendum, the Hatay Republic joins Turkey, and Antakya becomes the administrative centre of the Hatay province.

Main Stages of the City's Development

The history of Antakya is not just a chronology of events, but a series of profound transformations. The city has repeatedly changed its status: from one of the greatest capitals of the ancient world to a quiet provincial centre, only to regain significance in the modern era.

• From World Capital to Spiritual Centre: Founded as Antioch, it rapidly turned into one of the largest metropolises of the Roman Empire. A pivotal turning point was its emergence as a cradle of Christianity, which forever changed the city's cultural code, turning it into a vital spiritual centre of the ancient world.
• Era of Decline and Oblivion: A series of devastating earthquakes in the Byzantine period and the subsequent conquest by the Mamluks in 1268 put an end to its former grandeur. Antioch lost its strategic importance, and the once-great city turned into a small provincial centre for centuries.
• New Stage within Turkey: The modern history of the city began in the 20th century. After a period of French mandate and the brief existence of the Hatay State, the region joined Turkey in 1939. This event defined Antakya's new status as the administrative centre of the Hatay province and kickstarted its modern development.

Architectural Appearance and Urban Planning

The architecture of the city of Antakya represents a unique layering of eras, where ancient heritage intertwines with Eastern traditions. The urban planning history began with the classical Hippodamian system—a clear rectangular grid of streets established during the city's foundation by the Seleucids. However, over the centuries, under the influence of various cultures, the layout transformed, acquiring the features of a typical Middle Eastern city with winding alleys, dead ends, and hidden courtyards creating shade and coolness.

Styles and Historical Eras

In the historical appearance of the city, one can trace the influence of several key architectural trends, each corresponding to a specific period of development:

• Roman Style and Engineering (Antiquity): Characterised by monumentality. Although many above-ground structures of ancient Antioch have vanished, the spirit of this era is preserved in the remains of aqueducts, bridges, and unique hydraulic structures, such as the Titus Tunnel in the vicinity.
• Early Christian and Sacred Architecture: Represented by cave temples. The specific nature of early Christianity required secrecy, which was reflected in the use of natural grottoes. Later, during the Crusader era, elements of Gothic style were added to these sites (for example, the façade of St. Peter's Church).
• Islamic Architecture (Seljuks, Mamluks, Ottomans): The dominant style of the historical centre. These include stone mosques with elegant minarets, hammams, and caravanserais (khans). Residential buildings (traditional Antakya houses) are distinguished by blank external walls and richly decorated inner courtyards.
• Colonial Style and Eclecticism (French Mandate, 1918–1939): During this short but important period, administrative and residential buildings with elements of European modernism and neoclassicism appeared in the city, and some streets were widened and improved according to Western models.

Iconic Buildings and Districts

The architectural landscape of Antakya, located in the south of Turkey, is shaped by several key landmarks that have become symbols of multiculturalism:

• Church of Saint Peter (St. Pierre Kilisesi): A unique monument considered one of the first Christian churches in the world. Its façade, carved into the rock by Crusaders in the 11th–12th centuries, is a rare example of the synthesis of natural landscape and medieval architecture.
• Habib-i Neccar Mosque: A vivid example of historical continuity. Built on the site of an ancient temple and a Byzantine church, it combines features of medieval Islamic architecture and the later Ottoman style.
• Kurtuluş Street (formerly Herod Street): The historical artery of the city. In ancient times, this was the first illuminated street in the world with colonnades. Today, one can see traditional two-storey stone and wood houses with overhanging balconies here, forming the unique atmosphere of the old city.

Notable Figures in the History of Antakya

For millennia, Antakya, ancient Antioch, was a centre that attracted and produced outstanding figures. Its history is inextricably linked with names that left a mark on politics, religion, philosophy, and literature.

• Seleucus I Nicator (c. 358–281 BC) — Founder of the city. As one of Alexander the Great's generals, he founded Antioch around 300 BC and made it the capital of the vast Seleucid Empire. It was his decision that determined the city's future as one of the greatest metropolises of the ancient world.
• Apostle Peter (died c. 64/67 AD) — One of the founders of the Christian community. According to church tradition, Peter preached in Antioch and was its first bishop. The city became a key centre of early Christianity, and it was here, as the "Acts of the Apostles" state, that the followers of Christ began to be called Christians.
• Ignatius of Antioch (Theophorus) (c. 35–107/110 AD) — Bishop and martyr. A disciple of the apostles, he was the third bishop of Antioch and one of the most influential early Christian authors. His epistles, written on his way to execution in Rome, are crucial documents for understanding early church hierarchy and theology.
• Libanius (314–393 AD) — Distinguished rhetorician and philosopher. Born in Antioch, he was the head of a famous rhetorical school that attracted students from all over the East. Libanius was a staunch supporter of Hellenistic culture and one of the last great representatives of pagan antiquity.
• John Chrysostom (c. 347–407 AD) — Archbishop of Constantinople. He was born and began his ecclesiastical career in Antioch, where he became famous as a brilliant preacher, earning the nickname "Chrysostom" (Golden-mouthed). His sermons, delivered in Antioch's churches, are still considered the pinnacle of oratory.
• Ammianus Marcellinus (c. 330 – after 395 AD) — Major Roman historian. A native of Antioch, he was of Greek origin but wrote his main work, "Res Gestae", in Latin. His work is the primary source on the history of the Roman Empire in the second half of the 4th century.
• Yahya of Antioch (c. 980–1066 AD) — Historian and physician. A Christian Arabic-speaking chronicler who lived in Antioch. His work, continuing the "Universal History" of Eutychius, contains valuable information on the history of Byzantium, the Fatimid Caliphate, and the Christian patriarchates of the Middle East.