Antioch on the Maeander

Antioch or Antioch on the Meander (Greek Ἀντιόχεια τοῦ Μαιάνδρου or πρὸς Μαιάνδρω, latin Antioch ad Maeandrum ) was an ancient Carian city on the Meander in Asia Minor, which was mainly due to their mentioned in Strabo stone bridge over the meanders of national importance.

Location

The city lay at the mouth of the river Morsynos (now Dandalas Su ) in the meander, on the southern edge of the Mäanderebene. Today is at this point the village Yenişer, which in turn lies a few kilometers southeast of Kuyucak in the province of Aydın, Turkey, near the present town Başaran. Around 30 km south, in Morsynos Valley, was the more important ancient city of Aphrodisias. An archaeological survey conducted by Christopher Ratté 1994 could find only a few remnants of the city including parts of the city wall and a citadel, as well as the stadium.

History

The city was probably founded by the Seleucid ruler Antiochus I, by way of synoecism, but existed as a settlement previously. Some time they also carried the name Pythopolis side. Thanks to its bridge and its location on the major trade route along the meander became the hometown of the Sophists Diotrephes especially in Roman times national importance, which is reflected in the multiple imaging of the monumental Mäanderbrücke on coinage of the city in the 3rd century AD. According to Livy drew 189 BC the consul Gnaeus Manlius Vulso during his struggle against the Galatians through the city, which was built in the imperial period to the fortress. In winter 113, Emperor Trajan visited Antioch, which should have been given a central strategic role, especially under the emperors Decius, Valerian and Gallienus in connection with the Sassanideneinfällen. In Christian times Antioch was bishop's see, today is a titular. The city is connected with the Battle of Antioch ( 1211 ) described in the Middle Ages as fixed; when it was abandoned, is uncertain.