Antioch on the meander

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Antioch or Antiochia on the meander ( Greek  Ἀντιόχεια τοῦ Μαιάνδρου or πρὸς Μαιάνδρω , Latin Antiochia ad Maeandrum ) was an ancient Carian city ​​on the meander in Asia Minor , which was mainly because of the importance of the stone bridge over the regional meander mentioned by Strabo .

location

The city was at the confluence of the Morsynos river (today Dandalas Su) in the meander, on the southern edge of the meander plain. Today the village of Yenişer is located at this point , which in turn is a few kilometers southeast of Kuyucak in the province of Aydın , Turkey , near the present-day city of Başaran. About 30 km south of it, in the Morsynos valley, was the more important ancient city of Aphrodisias . An archaeological survey conducted by Christopher Ratté in 1994 found only a few remains of the city, including parts of the city wall and a citadel, as well as the stadium.

history

The city was founded by the Seleucid ruler Antiochus I probably on the way of a synoicism , but existed as a settlement before. For some time it was also called Pythopolis . Thanks to its bridge and its location on the important trade route along the meander, the hometown of the sophist Diotrephes gained supraregional importance, especially in Roman times , which is reflected in the multiple depiction of the monumental meander bridge on coins of the city in the 3rd century AD. After Titus Livius moved in 189 BC. The consul Gnaeus Manlius Vulso during his fight against the Galatians through the city, which was expanded into a fortress during the imperial era. In the winter of 113 Emperor Trajan visited Antioch, which was likely to have played a central strategic role, especially under the Emperors Decius , Valerian and Gallienus in connection with the Sassanid incursions. In Christian times, Antioch was the seat of a bishopric, and there is still a titular bishopric today . In connection with the Battle of Antioch on the Meander (1211), the city ​​is described as fortified in the Middle Ages ; when it was abandoned is uncertain.

literature

Web links

Remarks

  1. ^ Strabo, Geography 13, 4, 15.
  2. Pliny , Naturalis historia 5, 108; Stephanos of Byzantium , s. Antiocheia .
  3. ^ Livy, Ab urbe condita 38, 13.

Coordinates: 37 ° 52 ′ 24.4 "  N , 28 ° 34 ′ 27.3"  E