Antioch was an ancient city located in northern Syria at the site of modern-day Antakya, Turkey. Founded around 300 BC, it developed into one of the most significant urban centers in the ancient eastern Mediterranean region.
The city served as the capital of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire and maintained its importance under both the Roman and Byzantine Empires. During the period of the Crusades, Antioch functioned as the center of the Principality of Antioch.