Seleucia

Seleucia, founded by Seleucus I Nicator around 305 BCE, was a major Mesopotamian city on the Tigris River. As the first capital of the Seleucid Empire, it was a hub of Hellenistic culture and trade. The city was home to significant domestic and civic structures, including palaces and council chambers, and hosted religious structures like temples. Under Parthian rule from 141 BCE, Seleucia continued to thrive, ultimately becoming one of the largest cities in the Western world with a population of 600,000. Notable events include the relocation of Babylon's inhabitants, a massacre of Babylonian Jews, and its destruction by Roman forces led by Avidius Cassius in 165 CE. Its legacy includes its role in early Christian synods, contributing to the Church of the East's development.