Ancient Coin Stories

Manbog annexed to the Assyrians.

The Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III conquers Manbog. Byblos becomes a tributary.

Alexander the Great sends an exploratory mission to the Arabian Peninsula while preparing for his campaign in Mesopotamia.

Alexander plans an expedition to Arabia to explore and possibly conquer parts of the peninsula, but dies before they leave.

Apamea on the Axios founded as a Macedonian military camp with a name of Pella.

Demetrios Poliorketes leads a campaign against the Nabataeans in Arabia, but is forced to withdraw.

Antigonos Monophthalmos founds Antigoneia in Syria.

The Macedonian camp of Pella is fortified by Seleukos I Nikator and renamed Apameia in honor of his wife Apama.

Seleukos I Nikator founds the city of Charax Spasinu (near modern-day Basra, Iraq) as a port city to facilitate trade between Mesopotamia and Arabia.

Seleukeia Piera is founded by Seleukos I Nikator.

Antioch founded by Seleukos I Nikator of the Seleukid dynasty.

The ashes of Seleukos I Nikator are burned by Antiochos I Soter at Seleukeia Piera.

Seleukeia Piera is captured by Ptolemy III Euergetes.

Antioch becomes the capital of the Seleukid Empire.

Antiochos III recaptures Seleukeia Pieria.

A major earthquake strikes Antioch. Alexander Balas aids in the rebuilding.

Apamea on the Axios becomes the primary base for the usurper Diodotus Tryphon.

Pompey winters at Antioch and destroys Apamea.

The hippodrome is completed in Antioch and fits 80,000 fans.

The Roman general Crassus sacks the temple at Manbog on his way to the Parthians.

Apameia on the Axios remains under siege by Julius Caesar until Cassius’ arrival.

Julius Caesar visits Aigai during his campaign in the east. He also visits Antioch and declares its freedom.

An army under the Pompeian general Quintus Labienus and Partians briefly occupy Apameia on the Axios.

Antigonos II Mattatias is taken to Antioch and executed. This ends the Hasmonean line.

Germanicus dies in Antioch.

An earthquake destroys much of Antioch. The city is rebuilt by Caligula.

Citizens of Apameia on the Axios spare the Jews living among them despite orders for their execution.

While being visited by the Emperor Trajan, Antioch is severely damaged in an earthquake. The same earthquake heavily damages Apameia on the Axios.

Lucius Verus stays in Antioch, overseeing the Parthian campaign while indulging in luxury, reportedly earning a reputation for extravagance.

Birth of Aurelia Lucilla to Lucilla and Lucius Verus in Antioch.

The Emperor Commodus choose to hold the Olympic Games in Antioch.

Julia Domna commits suicide in Antioch after the death of her son Caracalla.

Legions supporting Elagabalus defeat Macrinus and Diadumenian at the Battle of Antioch.

Severus Alexander begins a campaign against the Sassanids from Antioch.

Antioch is attacked by Shapur I. Roughly 100,000 inhabitants are slaughtered, many of them at the theater.

Valerian I recovers Antioch and returns Syria to Roman control.

Constantius II raises Constantius Gallus to Caesar and marries him to his sister Constantina. Constantius Gallus takes up residence in Antioch.

Jovian arrives to Antioch where the people are enraged. He orders the Library at Antioch burnt.

An uprising occurs in Antioch against Theodosius.

A significant earthquake causes much damage in Antioch.

One of the worst earthquakes in history kills roughly 250,000 people in Antioch.

Before Antioch can fully recover from a devastating earthquake two years earlier, another hits.

The Sassanian Persian King Khosrow I captures and sacks Antioch. The city is extensively plundered and many of its inhabitants are deported.

Yet another earthquake causes major damage in Antioch.