Special Exhibitions
Antioch Exhibition
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Special Exhibitions |
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Antioch Exhibition |
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The City of Antioch Antioch was built on the eastern banks of the Orontes River and terraced on the lower slopes of Mount Silpios. Roman Antioch was the capital of Roman Syria, and one of the most beautiful cities of the Empire. At its height in the 4th century AD, the city covered three square miles with a population of 300,000. Largely Greek-speaking, Antioch was steeped in Hellenic culture and was often compared to the city of Athens.Ancient literary texts recorded the existence and appearance of this fabulous city. In the 1930s, excavators were especially inspired by In Praise of Antioch, a document by the 4th-century Greek orator and native of the city, Libanios. They hoped to find the major Roman and Christian monuments (the Great Church of Constantine, the imperial palace, and the forum). However, because the heart of the ancient city was deeply buried by silt and covered by the modern town of Antakya. The focus of the excavations thus shifted to the surrounding residential areas that were surprisingly found to be rich in floor mosaics. Page 1 of 6 | On the next page: Water At Antioch |
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