Timeline of Antioch (Antakya)
A detailed timeline of Antioch, from ancient Antioch-on-the-Orontes to modern Antakya.
| 333 BC | Alexander the Great passes through Syria |
| 323 BC | Death of Alexander the Great |
| 300 BC | Antioch founded by Alexander's Seleucus in May; it becomes centre of Seleucid Kingdom and important trading centre |
| 300-64 BC | Seleucid rule. Temple of Athena and Temple of Ares probably built in this period. |
| 246-44 BC | Brief occupation by Egyptians |
| 188 BC | Seleucid empire pays tribute to Rome after military defeat |
| 175-64 BC | Antiochus IV Epiphanes expands and beautifies the city. Charonion carved. |
| 166 BC | Introduction of gladiatorial games |
| 96-83 BC | Political instability: six kings in 12 years |
| 83-69 BC | Antioch occupied by Tigranes II of Armenia |
| 64 BC | Annexed by Romans under Pompey; becomes capital of province of Syria |
| 47 BC | Julius Caesar visits Antioch, builds a Kaisarion basilica, amphitheater and theater |
| 40-39 BC | Occupation of Antioch by the Parthians |
| 37-36 BC | Antony and Cleopatra may have wed in Antioch |
| 31 BC -14 AD | Public buildings of Augustus and Tiberius |
| 34 or 36 | Beginning of Christian mission at Antioch |
| 41-54 | Foundation of the Olympic Games at Antioch under Claudius |
| c.47 | Beginning of Paul’s missionary journeys based at Antioch |
| 66/67 | Outbreak of violence against Antiochene Jews |
| 70-80 | Theater built at Daphne with spoils of Jewish wars |
| 68/75-c.116 | Ignatius is bishop of Antioch. He struggled with Judaizing Christians and Docetists, and taught Christology emphasizing both natures. |
| c.80-90 | Gospel of Matthew probably written from Antioch |
| c.90 | Gnostic Menander works magic in Antioch |
| 1st C AD | Evil Eye Mosaics |
| 115 AD | Earthquake; Trajan almost killed |
| 117-38 | Hadrian improves water supply system |
| Early 2nd C | House of Menander at Daphne (inhabited to 4th C) |
| Early 2nd C | House of the Drinking Contest, with the Judgement of Paris and a dialogue of Aphrodite and Adonis (Louvre) |
| 161-65 | Co-emperor Lucius Verus resides at Daphne |
| c.169-c.188 | Theophilus is bishop of Antioch. Wrote To Autolycus (c. 180), which is mainly Jewish apologetics, but introduces Trinitarian concept and viewed Christian scriptures as inspired. |
| 192 | Antiochenes and Pescennius Niger, governor of Syria, challenge imperial authority of Septimus Severus; city is punished and Olympic Games suspended |
| Late 2nd-early 3rd C | House of the Buffet Supper at Daphne |
| 2nd-3rd C | House of the Boat of Psyches |
| c. 200 | Roman church-order forbids Christian magistrates to order an execution, on pain of excommunication (Ox. Hist. Classical World, 824). (This policy is mentioned by Libanius, Or. 30, as ironic in light of the fact that Christians would kill and destroy outside the law). |
| 212 | Caracalla returns imperial favors to city and restores Olympic Games |
| 215-17 | Caracalla and his mother, Julia Domna, rule from Antioch. Origen visits Antioch at her request. |
| 217 | Julian Domna starves herself shortly after the death of Caracalla |
| 235-60 | Anarchy and invasion; Antioch captured by Sapor I; several Christians carried into captivity, including bishop. |
| 260 | St. Babylas, bishop of Antioch, dies in prison under Decius |
| c.260-68 | Paul of Samosata is bishop of Antioch |
| 266-72 | Antioch ruled by Queen Zenobia of Palmyra |
| 272 | Aurelian defeats Zenobia and recaptures Antioch |
| 284-305 | Public buildings and economic revival under Diocletian |
| 306 | Constantine becomes western emperor |
| April 311 | Edict of Galerius |
| 311 | Maximin said Antioch’s people petitioned him to continue persecutions (Lane Fox, Pagans and Christians, 634, no citation) Renewed persecution by Maximin in Syria and Egypt (NPNF Athanasius timeline) |
| 312 | Constantine’s conversion |
| 313 | Edict of Milan |
| 314 | Birth of Libanius |
| 324 | Constantine becomes sole emperor |
| Nov 8, 324 | Constantine began construction of Constantinople (P&C 635) |
| Dec. 20, 324 | Anti-Arian bishop of Antioch died, bishop Eustathius consecreated, Ossius intervened in the troubles (P&C, with note referring to Barnes, 53 for evidence in detail) |
| Spring 325 | Series of gold coins at Antioch survives which are stamped with Adventus Augusti, “on the coming of the Emperor.” |
| April 325 | Council at Antioch organized and presided over by Ossius. Acts of this unexpected council published in 1905. (P&C 642). Three Arian-inclined bishops were provisionally excommunicated until the planned council of Ancyra, one was Eusebius of Caesarea. (P&C 653) |
| April 325 | Constantine delivers Oration to the Saints in Antioch as the council drew to its close before Easter, according to Lane Fox (P&C, 635) |
| Early May 325 | Constantine wrote letter to bishops changing venue from Ancyra to Nicea |
| June 325 | Council of Nicea; Eustathius is anti-Arian bishop of Antioch. |
| 326 | Council in Antioch deposes Eustathius, brought great disorder to the city |
| 336 | Libanius leaves for Athens to complete his education. |
| 337-61 | Reign of Constantius II. The earliest known hermit in Syria settled between Imma and Berea in this period. (Liebe 234) |
| 338 | Constantius is in Antioch as emperor of the East; Antioch is used as headquarters in the war against Persia |
| 340 | Libanius opens his own school of literature and oratory in Constantinople; has immediate success. |
| 341 | Great Church of Antioch completed |
| 346 | Libanius transfers his school to Nicomedia due to jealousy of rivals in Constantinople |
| 344/7-407 | Life of John Chrysostom |
| c.350 | Relics of martyr Babylas moved to Daphne next to the temple of Apollo and spring of Castalia |
| 354 | Libanius returns to Antioch; stayed for the rest of his life (d. 393). Among his pupils were John Chrysostom, Theodore of Mopsuestia, Basil the Great, and Gregory of Nazianzen. |
| 356 or 360 | Libanius delivers the Antiochikos (Oration 11) for the local Olympic Games, establishing his reputation. |
| Nov 3, 361 | Constantius dies |
| Dec 11, 361 | Julian’s triumphal entry into Constantinople |
| Christmas Eve 361 | Lynching of Bishop George of Alexandria (r.357-61) upon news of death of Constantius |
| 361-63 | Reign of Julian; efforts at revival of paganism |
| Winter 361-62 | Drought and resulting shortage of wheat in Antioch |
| Early 362 | Council of Alexandria after Athanasius’ return dealt with, among other things, schism of bishops in Antioch. Attempted to unite Paulinus and Meletius and their followers, but in the meantime Paulinus was appointed, and now there were two “Nicene” bishops in Antioch. Schism lasted for 50 years. |
| July 362 | Julian arrived in Antioch. At once began to visit temples and shrines on proper occasions, especially temples of Zeus, Zeus Philios, Tyche, Demeter, Hermes, Pan, Ares, Calliope and Apollo, sacrificed under the trees in the palace garden, and ascended Mt. Casius to sacrifice to Zeus (Julian, Misopogon, 346b-d; Libanius, Or. 1.121f; 15.79; Amm. Marc. 22.14.4). Festival of Adonis sufficiently alive at this time for him to be met by wailing women on 18 July. |
| 362 | Julian orders relics of St. Babylas moved away from Oracle at Daphne. Was carried by a procession of Christians singing psalms. (Philostorgius, Hist. ecc. 7.8; Socrates, Hist. eccl. 3.18; Sozomen, Hist. eccl. 5.19). |
| Oct 22, 362 | Temple of Apollo in Antioch catches fire; roof and statue of Apollo are burned. Julian suspects Christians; the Great Church is closed and liturgical vessels given by Constantine and Constantius are confiscated. (Theophanes, Chronicle, p. 50, 14ff, ed. De Boor; Theodoret, Hist. eccl., 3.12.4; Philostorgius, HE 7.20; Sozomen HE 5.8 9 (last two seem exaggerated, according to Downey, 170). |
| Dec 362 – Jan 363 | Two Christian soldiers tried and executed by Julian in Antioch |
| Feb 363 | Julian posts his Misopogon outside palace in Antioch |
| March 5, 363 | Julian left Antioch for Persia; said he would not return but go to Tarsus after the campaign; dies in battle. |
| 363-64 | Reign of Jovian (just 9 months), who was a Christian but tolerated pagans |
| 364-78 | Reign of Valens in East, headquartered at Antioch (brother Valentinian I ruled the West). Constructed Forum of Valens at Antioch. Still an official policy of religious tolerance, but Valens made magic a capital offense. |
| 371 | A group at Antioch attempted to determine the name of the next emperor through divination using a suspending string and got THEOD. Libanius and a friend got the same result with a fowl pecking at grains. Valens found out; tortures and executions followed. Books dealing with magic were seized and burned. (Amm. Marc. 21.1.5ff, esp. 28ff) |
| 4th C | Antiochene school of biblical exegesis and theology developed; Diodore of Tarsus (d. c.390) one of its first representatives |
| 376 | Christmas comes to Antioch (Liebe 231) |
| 380s | By this time monks were settled in large numbers in the desert just beyond the inhabited areas of Syria. In the next hundred years or so Syria was covered with monasteries. |
| 382 | Anti-pagan legislation under Theodosius (CTh 16.10.8) |
| c.383 | Monks destroyed pagan temples in Antioch. Libanius suggests only four of the great temples remained now. (Zeus, Athena, Dionysus, Fortuna) (For the Temples, Orat. 30.51) Temple of Justice/Nemesis in stadium at Daphne had been destroyed by 387 (Or. 29.7) Sanctuaries on hills around Antioch still intact by 388 (Or. 56.22) |
| 384 or 386 | Libanius writes to Theodosius For the Temples (Oration 30) |
| 386-97 | John Chrysostom’s career at church of Antioch |
| Christmas 386 | John Chrysostom tries to show Jesus was really born on Dec 25, the day of Sol Invictus (Hom. in nat. Christi) |
| 386-87 | John Chrysostom preaches sermons Against the Jews |
| 387 | Riot of the Statues in Antioch |
| 391 | New synagogue built at Apamea (mosaics with Greek inscriptions including Hellenistic names) – by the end of the 5th C its site was occupied by a church (Liebe, 232-33). |
| Feb 391 | Sacrifices in Rome banned (CTh 16.10.10) |
| June 391 | Sacrifices in Alexandria banned (CTh 16.10.11) |
| June/July 391 | Overthrow of the Serapeum by Theophilus and his monks (Sozomon HE 7.14) |
| 392 | Theodosius forbids pagan cults (CTh 16.10.12) |
| 393 | Death of Libanius |
| 397 | Chrysostom made Patriarch of Constantinople |
| 399 | Theodosius rules destruction of temples (16.14.16) |
| Late 4th C | Bath C rebuilt on the Orontes island after being destroyed in 115 AD earthquake. Geometric mosaics. |
| Late 4th or 5th C | Mosaic of Beribboned Lion at Daphne |
| 408 | Theodosius orders destruction of altars and confiscation of buildings (16.10.19) |
| 410 | Rome falls to Alaric |
| 413 | Porphyrius could only be consecrated bishop of Antioch when most people had gone to Daphne to watch the Olympic Games (Pall., Dial. 16:53) |
| c.419 | St. Simeon the Stylite climbs up on his pillar, where he would stay for the next 40 years |
| 431 | Nestorius condemned at the Council of Ephesus |
| 451 | Council of Chalcedon |
| c.451 | Death of Nestorius |
| 458 | Great earthquake under Leo I |
| 459 | Death of Simeon the Stylite; relics brought to Antioch |
| 5th C | Mosaic floor of Phoenix with rams’ heads border (Louvre) |
| 5th C | Palestine and then Cyprus detached from Patriarchate of Antioch (Late Antiquity, 304) |
| 484 | Pretender emperor Leontius reigns from Antioch; ousted by Zeno |
| Late 5th C | Megalopsychia Mosaic, with important border of Antioch scenes, installed in a villa at Daphne |
| c.500 AD | Worcester Hunt Mosaic in Daphne (Worcester Art Museum) |
| 507 | Circus riots; the synagogue at Daphne is burned |
| 512 | Severus (c.465-538), a monophysite, becomes bishop of Antioch (an irony given traditional Antiochene theology of two natures) |
| 525-26 | Fire and earthquake in Antioch |
| Nov 29, 528 | Great earthquake in Antioch leaves 5,000 dead. City is renamed Theopolis, “City of God.” |
| 540 | Antioch captured and sacked by the Persians |
| 542 | Bubonic plague epidemic in Antioch |
| 540-65 | Major rebuilding effort under Justinian, focusing on defenses and infrastructure |
| 553 | Theodore condemned |
| 562 | Five pagan priests prosecuted in Constantinople, two are from Antioch (Wallace-Hadrill, 17, citing Downey, History of Antioch, 559, who says this is one surviving record of many such trials) |
| 578 | Still trials of practicing pagans (Encyc. Early Xnty) |
| 588 | Octagonal Great Church was destroyed by an earthquake (Late Antiquity, 304) |
| 6th C | Mosaic welcome inscription quoting 1 Sam 16:4 |
| 6th C | Many liturgical vessels found from this period |
| 611-28 | Antioch occupied by Persians |
| 638 | Antioch captured by Arab caliphate. Was made a city secondary to a military district. |
| 7th C | A monk on Mt. Sinai took his life in despair over the scale of apostasy to Islam; which was probably related to the Monophysites former alienation from and harassment by the Christian government (Ox. Hist. Classical World, 828). |
| 969 | Byzantine Emperor Nicephorus II Phocas recaptures Antioch |
| 1084 | Antioch taken by Seljuk Turks |
| June 3, 1098 | Antioch captured by Crusaders under Bohemond |
| June 14, 1098 | Discovery of the “Holy Lance” |
| 1098-1268 | Frankish principality of Antioch |
| 1268 | Antioch captured by Mamlukes under Bibars |
| 1517 | Ottoman Turks capture Antioch |
| 1932-39 | Archaeological excavations of Antioch |
| 1939 | France allows Antakya to join Turkey |
