Liveblogging 300 BC: Spring: Founding of Antioch on the Orontes
Antioch on the Orontes.... Two routes from the Mediterranean, lying through the Orontes gorge and the Beilan Pass, converge in the plain of the Antioch Lake (Balük Geut or El Bahr) and are met there by the road from the Amanian Gate (Baghche Pass) and western Commagene, which descends the valley of the Karasu River to the Afrin River, the roads from eastern Commagene and the Euphratean crossings at Samosata (Samsat) and Apamea Zeugma (Birejik), which descend the valleys of the Afrin and the Quweiq rivers, and the road from the Euphratean ford at Thapsacus, which skirts the fringe of the Syrian steppe. A single route proceeds south in the Orontes valley.
After Alexander's death in 323 BC, his generals divided up the territory he had conquered. Seleukos I Nikator won the territory of Syria, and he proceeded to found four 'sister cities' in northwestern Syria, one of which was Antioch, a city named, according to Suda, after his son Antiochus.... An eagle... had been given a piece of sacrificial meat and the city was founded on the site to which the eagle carried the offering.... Antioch soon rose above Seleukia Pieria to become the Syrian capital...
