REMAINS OF THE PALACE OF ANTIOCH. ANTIOCH, the capital of Syria, was built by Seleucus Nicator, who erected into an independent monarchy the dominions conquered by Alexander in Western Asia, and who named it after his father Antiochus. It then became the seat of this new empire, and as such, as well as from its commodious and central situation, it grew to be one of the largest and most important cities in the world; nor does it appear that it declined, but rather that it increased, when it became the capital of the Roman provinces in Asia. It ranked third, after Rome and Alexandria, among the cities of the empire. Strabo's account of the city may be taken to represent it as it appeared at the time when the believers in Christ received the name of Christians first at Antioch, and when it received repeated visits from the ardent Apostle of the Gentiles. It then consisted of four distinct quarters, each having a wall of its own, and the whole inclosed by a common wall. These quarters marked the successive additions which the city received from the time of Seleucus, the founder, to that of Antiochus Epiphanes. He adds, that the town was little inferior in extent to Seleucia on the Tigris, and Alexandria in Egypt. Several of the Roman emperors were fond of spending their time at Antioch, as, besides the recommendations of its genial and salubrious climate, it abounded in all the conveniences, luxuries, and pleasures of life; the city being also renowned for its frequent festivals, and for the passion of its inhabitants for the games of the circus and the amusements of the theatre. M |