Founded in 300 BCE by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great’s generals, Antioch on the Orontes (modern-day Antakya, Turkey) served as a vital hinge between the Mediterranean and the Far East. Often called the "Queen of the East," it rose to become the third-largest city in the Roman Empire, trailing only Rome and Alexandria in size and magnificence. Its strategic location on trade routes like the Silk Road fueled a cosmopolitan culture that profoundly shaped early Christian history and Hellenistic Judaism.
Under Roman rule beginning in 64 BCE, Antioch became the capital of the province of Syria. At its zenith, the city housed up to 500,000 residents and was renowned for its architectural splendor, including: antioch
: Paved with granite and marble, this massive artery connected the city's highlands to the sea. Founded in 300 BCE by Seleucus I Nicator,