Seleukeia Pieria, also known in English as Seleucia by the Sea, and later named Suedia, was a Hellenistic town and the seaport of Antioch, the Seleucid capital. It was founded in ca. 300 BC by Seleucus I Nicator. The Macedonians called the landscape Pieria, after a district in their homeland that was also between the sea and a mountain range (the Olympus).
During Roman times, Seleucia's importance grew significantly, necessitating the enlargement of its harbours several times under Diocletian and Constantius. These harbours, called the "inner" and "outer" harbours, served from time to time the Roman navy. Most buildings and structures today date from the Roman period.
During Byzantine times the city went into a steady decline. The silting up of the city's harbours hastened this process. In the fifth century the fight to keep them open was finally given up. It was captured by the Sasanids around 540 AD. While it never recovered as a port-city again, Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik, Ummayad Caliph from 705-715, built a fortress in the city.
During Roman times, Seleucia's importance grew significantly, necessitating the enlargement of its harbours several times under Diocletian and Constantius. These harbours, called the "inner" and "outer" harbours, served from time to time the Roman navy. Most buildings and structures today date from the Roman period.
During Byzantine times the city went into a steady decline. The silting up of the city's harbours hastened this process. In the fifth century the fight to keep them open was finally given up. It was captured by the Sasanids around 540 AD. While it never recovered as a port-city again, Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik, Ummayad Caliph from 705-715, built a fortress in the city.
Modern location: Çevlik, Turkey
(1)
Caracalla
An
AR
Tetradrachm
struck 215-217 AD
in
Seleukeia Pieria
Obverse: laureate head right; AVT·K·M·A·_·ANTΩNEIN_OC CE_B
Reverse: eagle facing, standing on thunderbolt, head right, wreath in beak; ΔHMAPX·EΞ·_VΠATO ?
Diameter:
25 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 13.8 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 13.8 g
No notes for this coin
Bellinger 76; Prieur 1188 var. (distribution of obv. legend).
(2)
Seleukeia Pieria
.jpg)
An
AE
unit
struck 312-280 BC
in
Seleukeia Pieria
Obverse: Laureate head of Zeus right
Reverse: Winged thunderbolt; ΣEΛEYKEΩN / (HYP)?
Diameter:
24 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 11.4 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 11.4 g
No notes for this coin
SNG Copenhagen 390; SNG München 966
(3)
Seleukeia Pieria
An
AE
unit
struck 79-80 AD
in
Seleukeia Pieria
Obverse: Turreted, veiled, and draped bust of Tyche right, palm over shoulder; HΠP (date) behind
Reverse: Thunderbolt on cushioned stool; all within wreath.
Diameter:
20 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 6.56 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 6.56 g
Pseudo-autonomous issue. Time of Titus, AD 79-81. L. Ceionius Commodus, magistrate. Dated CY 188 (AD 79/80).
RPC II 2025A; SNG Copenhagen 401.
(4)
Trajan
An
AE
unit
struck 101-117 AD
in
Seleukeia Pieria
Obverse: laureate head right; ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΚΑΙϹ ΝΕΡ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟϹ ΑΡΙϹΤ ϹΕΒ ΓΕΡΜ ΔΑΚ
Reverse: Baetyl with fillet attached within square shrine with pyramidal roof surmounted by an eagle; ϹΕΛΕΥΚΕωΝ ΠΕΙΕΡΙΑϹ / B / ΖΕΥС / ΚΑСΙΟС
Diameter:
23 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 12.9 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 12.9 g
No notes for this coin
RPC III, 3768; BMC 37; CRS 420/53a