Antioch
A site on an artificial elevation at the point where the Tigris and Karun rivers unite. Allegedly founded by Alexander as an Alexandria, but the evidence is unreliable. When known as Charax, and Charax Spasinou, the site was restored by Antiochos IV, the Seleucid ruler, who gave it his name. However, the name Charax continued in use; it is used later as a destination for caravans traveling from Palmyra.
BIBLIOGRAPHYPlin. 6.138; J. B. Chabot, Choix d'inscriptions de Palmyre (1922) 24; Am. 7.7; 1. Hansman, “Charax and the Kharkheh,” Iranica Antiqua 7 (1967) 21-24M; E. Herzfeld, The Persian Empire. Studies in Geography and Ethnography of the Ancient Near East (1968) 9.
D. N. WILBERA city, near modern Yalvaç, described as being “towards Pisidia” (Strab. 12.) and “of Pisidia” (Acts 13:14; Ptol. 5.4.9), in Phrygia Paroreios. Founded before 261 and refounded 25 B.C. as Colonia Caesarea in Provincia Galatia, it became metropolis of Byzantine Pisidia, fell to the Arabs in 712-713, and perished in the 13th c.
The site (46.5 ha) lies on seven hills. The forum (Augusta Platea) has a semicircular rock-cut rear wall (traces of a stoa) and contains foundations of a temple, perhaps of Jupiter. To the W of a stairway is the Tiberia Platea, which yielded the Monumentum Antiochenum. A small theater, a Christian church and basilica (4th c. mosaics), and Decumanus Maximus leading from the triple city gate of Severan times may also be seen. Part of the city wall is preserved at the NW corner of the site. More striking are the remains of an aqueduct to the N and the ruins of the shrine of Mên on the hill of Kara Kuyu to the SE.
Yalvaç museum contains monuments and coins; the Kara Kuyu dedications are in the Classical Museum, Konya, the Monumentum in Ankara, and other inscriptions and sculpture in Afyon and Istanbul (Archaeological Museum).
BIBLIOGRAPHYF.V.J. Arundell, Discoveries in Asia Minor, 2 vols. (1834) MPI; M. M. Hardie, “The shrine of Mên Askaenos,” JHS 32 (1912); W. M. Ramsay, “Religious Antiquities of Asia Minor,” BSA 18 (1911-12) P; “Dedications from the Sanctuary,” JRS 8 (1918) P; D. M. Robinson, “Excavations,” AJA 2d ser. 18 (1924) I; “Roman Sculptures,” AB 9, 1 (1926) MPI; J. Inan & E. Rosenbaum, Roman . . . Portrait Sculpture (1966) I; B. Levick, Roman Colonies (1967) MI; RE Suppl. XI (1968).
The last two with bibliography. B. LEVICK- Paus. 8.29.3