Antioch (anc. Antiochia; Turk. Antakia or Antakieh), a city of Syria, was the most magnificent of 16 cities of the same name built by Seleucus Nicator, about"300 B. C, in memory of his father Antiochus. It was distinguished by the appellation Epidaphnes, which it received from the neighboring grove of Daphne, containing a magnificent temple of Apollo. (See Daphne.) Antioch was advantageously situated, in communication with all the trade of the Mediterranean, and conveniently approached by caravans from the east. It was the flourishing capital of the Seleucid empire, and subsequently the favorite residence of wealthy Romans. In the time of Chrysostom its free population was computed at 200,000, and the Christian church, which had been established here soon after the martyrdom of Stephen, then numbered 100,000. The inhabitants were distinguished both for their intellectual and their luxurious character. A high Greek civilization was mingled with various Asiatic elements; a passionate love of frivolous amusements was closely associated with a strong tendency to metaphysics and a solemn faith in astrology.

To their addiction to scurrilous wit and the invention of nicknames may be attributed the appellation "Christians" first given in this city to the followers of Jesus Christ. For 000 years Antioch deserved the title which Pliny gave it of " queen of the East." About 145 B. C. tens of thousands of the inhabitants, who had revolted against Demetrius II. and besieged him in his palace, perished in a bloody struggle with the Jewish force sent for his rescue by Jonathan, one of the Maccabees. In A. D. 115 Antioch was almost utterly ruined by an earthquake, but was rebuilt in its ancient splendor by the contributions and influence of the emperor Trajan. In 155 it was destroyed by fire, and restored by Antoninus Pius. On the decline of the Roman empire it suffered severely in the wars with Persia, being sacked by Sapor L, Chosroes L, and Chosroes II. In 331 it was visited by a famine so dreadful that a bushel of wheat sold for 400 pieces of silver. The same calamity befell the city in the reign of Julian, and again in that of Tlieodosius. The inhabitants were severely punished by Theodosius in 387 for resisting the payment of an extraordinary tribute. In the years 458, 52G, and 587 Antioch was visited by earthquakes, and on each occasion nearly ruined.

That of 526 was the most destructive of life of any on record. Gibbon states that 250.000 persons perished. In 638 it fell into the hands of the Saracens, about 975 was reannexed to the Byzantine empire, in 1098 was taken by the crusaders, and in 1268 its power was extinguished by Sultan Bibars. (See Bohemond.) The bishop of Antioch in the 5th century received the title of patriarch, and ranked next to the bishops of Rome, Constantinople, and Alexandria. In the Greek church he still ranks immediately after the patriarchs of Constantinople and Alexandria. In the Roman Catholic church four bishops bear the title of patriarch of Antioch, those of the Maronite, United Greek, United Syrian, and Latin rites. None of the present patriarchs of Antioch reside in Antakieh. - Anta-kieh, or modern Antioch, is situated on the S. bank of the Orontes, which at this place is about 120 feet wide, 55 m. W. of Aleppo; pop. about 12,000. S. of the city is a high mountain, the sides of which Ibrahim Pasha fortified to command the town. It has a number of insignificant mosques with low minarets, and several Christian churches. Most of the Christians in Antioch and the neighboring mountains are Armenians, among whom the American missionaries have made many converts.

Silk is much cultivated here, and exported in a raw state to France. Oil, soap, and leather are also manufactured, and grain, honey, and butter are exported in large quantities. The fertile plains of Antioch are quite uncultivated, being subject to raids by the Turcoman robbers, who are more dreaded by the peasantry than the Bedouins; but on the hills around are numerous plantations of figs, olives, and vines. Large herds of horses in a half wild state roam the plains; they are reared by the Turcomans for the Syrian markets. In 1822 the town again suffered severely from an earthquake; and on April 3 and 10, 1872, heavy shocks occurred, overthrowing part of the walls, rending the ancient Roman bridge in several places, and destroying a great number of the houses in the city and in the surrounding villages and several thousand lives.

City of Antioch.