seleucia Summary and Overview
Bible Dictionaries at a Glance
seleucia in Easton's Bible Dictionary
the sea-port of Antioch, near the mouth of the Orontes. Paul and his companions sailed from this port on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:4). This city was built by Seleucus Nicator, the "king of Syria." It is said of him that "few princes have ever lived with so great a passion for the building of cities. He is reputed to have built in all nine Seleucias, sixteen Antiochs, and six Laodiceas." Seleucia became a city of great importance, and was made a "free city" by Pompey. It is now a small village, called el-Kalusi.
seleucia in Schaff's Bible Dictionary
SELEU'CIA , the seaport of Antioch, and the place at which Paul and Barnabas embarked on their first missionary journey. It was on the Mediterranean, about 5 miles north of the river Orontes and 16 miles west of Antioch. Seleucia lay on the slope of Mount Coryphaeus, and was founded by Seleucus Nicator, died b.c. 280. To distinguish it from other cities named from the same founder, it was sometimes called "Seleucia ad Mare," or "Seleucia by the sea," and, from Mount Pierus, it was called "Seleucia Pieria." The city appears to have been a very beautiful one under the rule of the Seleucidae. The harbor was excellent, enclosing a basin of 47 acres. The masonry is yet in good preservation, although the port is choked with sand and mud. There is still a gateway at the south-eastern corner of the city, through which Paul and Barnabas probably passed. The Arabs called it Selukiyeh, and the city is now in a desolate condition, only a small village existing near its site, and called El-Kaluni.
seleucia in Fausset's Bible Dictionary
Antioch's seaport. The Orontes passes Antioch, and falls into the sea near Seleucia, 16 miles from Antioch. Paul and Barnabas at their first missionary tour sailed from that port (Acts 13:4), and landed there on returning (Acts 14:26). Named from the great Alexander's successor, Seleucus Nicator, its founder, who died 280 B.C. The two piers of the old harbour still remain, bearing the names of Paul and Barnabas; the masonry is so good that it has been proposed to clear out and repair the harbour.