' SELEWCIA, the name of seven ancient eifies of Asia, situated in Syria, Pisidia, Pain phylla, Cilicia, Carla, and Mesopotamia, and founded during the earlier existence of the dynasty of the Seleueidce(q. v.). The most distinguished of these were: 1. SELEUCIA PIERIA, founded by Seleucus Nicator, on the sea-shore, about 4 in. n. of the mouth of the Oron tes, and strongly fortified. It was the sea-port of Antioch, and became of great impor tance during the wars between the Seleucidme and time Ptolemies for the possession of Syria. It rapidly declined under the Roman dominion. The ruins have keen folly explored and described in modern times by Pococke (Observations on Syria) mud Ches. ney (Royal Geographiral Society's Journal, vol. viii.). Its once magnificent pert is in such an extremely good state of preservation as to require few repairs to render it ser ticcable: and the remarkable tunnel of 1088 yards in length, which was exca–aced out of tire solid rock, and formed the only communication between the city and the sea; and the remains of its triple line of walls, of its citadel, temples. amphitheater, necropolis, etc., all attest the former importance and splendor of the city.-2. SELEUCIA ON THE TIGRIS, was also built by Seleucus Nicator, on the w. bank of the Tigris, 40 m. (according• to Strabo 33) n.e. of Babylon, which was despoiled to supply materials for the construc tion of the new city. Situated in a district of great fertility, commanding the great.
trading routes of Assyria, Babylonia, and western Persia, it rapidly rose to great wealth, and splendor, supplanted Babylon as the capital of the eastern portion of the Seleueidc monarchy, and when in the acme of its greatness, contained a population of more than GOQ,000 Even time, it was larger than Antioch in Syria, the greatest commercial emporium of Asia; and down to the period of its final destruction, the number of its inhabitants is said to have never fallen below half a minion. During
the decline of the Seleucide monarchy, it became independent, and formed, from its wealth and splendor, an irresistible bait to the robber-tribes of southern Armenia and Media, who partially plundered it on more than one occasion. But its position on time confines of Persia, which gave it its greatness, was also the cause of its destruction; for when the Seleucide monarchy was swallowed up by the Romans, and the long and desolating struggle between the latter and Persia had commenced, Seleueia placed between two fires, was speedily brought to ruin. It was burned by Trajan (116 a.rt.), and a few years afterward, by Lucius Vents; and when visited by Septimius Severus was as desolate as the mighty city it had supplanted. The emperor Julian, on his expe dition •o the east, found the whole country round it converted into a vast marsh, the haunt of innumerable beasts of chase and wildfowl, and the city itself completely deserted.