Seleucia ( Greek: Σελεύκεια, Seleukeia), distinguished as Seleucia-near-Belus [1] ( Greek: Σελεύκεια πρὸς Βήλῳ, Seleúkeia pròs Bḗlōi, [2] or πρὸς τῷ Βήλῳ, pròs tôi Bḗlōi; [1] Latin: Seleucia ad Belum [3] or juxta Belum [4]) and later known as Seleucobelus (Σελευκόβηλος, Seleukóbēlos) [1] or Seleucopolis, [5] was an ancient Greek and Roman city on the Orontes River. Its location remains uncertain.
The name of the settlement honored Seleucus I Nicator, [6] one of the Diadochi successors to the empire of Alexander the Great, although it may have been a foundation by his son and successor Antiochus. [1] It was distinguished from other cities named Seleucia by reference to "Belus" or "the Belus", a toponym which was variously applied to Syria's Limestone Massif, which lies to the city's north, [7] and to various rivers in Syria. [1] In this case, it appears that the name Belus was a title of the Orontes. [7]
The city was a Hellenistic foundation of the Seleucid Empire. [6] It sat on the Orontes's [6] west bank near its headwaters, positioning it to function as a depot for overland trade in the area.[ citation needed] During the heyday of the Seleucid Empire, it formed a suburb of the nearby and larger settlement Apamea [6] (originally Pella), [8] which Ptolemy placed ½° to its east. [2] The entire area held over half a million people.[ citation needed]
After the 2nd century, it typically appeared under the name Seleucobelus. [1]
The precise location of the settlement remains uncertain, [6] with various scholars placing it near Al-Suqaylabiyah, [9] Jisr al-Shughur or Bara. [7][ citation needed]
Seleucia ( Greek: Σελεύκεια, Seleukeia), distinguished as Seleucia-near-Belus [1] ( Greek: Σελεύκεια πρὸς Βήλῳ, Seleúkeia pròs Bḗlōi, [2] or πρὸς τῷ Βήλῳ, pròs tôi Bḗlōi; [1] Latin: Seleucia ad Belum [3] or juxta Belum [4]) and later known as Seleucobelus (Σελευκόβηλος, Seleukóbēlos) [1] or Seleucopolis, [5] was an ancient Greek and Roman city on the Orontes River. Its location remains uncertain.
The name of the settlement honored Seleucus I Nicator, [6] one of the Diadochi successors to the empire of Alexander the Great, although it may have been a foundation by his son and successor Antiochus. [1] It was distinguished from other cities named Seleucia by reference to "Belus" or "the Belus", a toponym which was variously applied to Syria's Limestone Massif, which lies to the city's north, [7] and to various rivers in Syria. [1] In this case, it appears that the name Belus was a title of the Orontes. [7]
The city was a Hellenistic foundation of the Seleucid Empire. [6] It sat on the Orontes's [6] west bank near its headwaters, positioning it to function as a depot for overland trade in the area.[ citation needed] During the heyday of the Seleucid Empire, it formed a suburb of the nearby and larger settlement Apamea [6] (originally Pella), [8] which Ptolemy placed ½° to its east. [2] The entire area held over half a million people.[ citation needed]
After the 2nd century, it typically appeared under the name Seleucobelus. [1]
The precise location of the settlement remains uncertain, [6] with various scholars placing it near Al-Suqaylabiyah, [9] Jisr al-Shughur or Bara. [7][ citation needed]