Apamea, Syria

Apamea
Greek: Ἀπάμεια
Arabic: آفاميا
View of Apamea ruins
Apamea, Syria is located in Syria
Apamea, Syria
Shown within Syria
LocationHama Governorate, Syria
RegionGhab plain
Coordinates35°25′05″N 36°23′53″E / 35.418°N 36.398°E / 35.418; 36.398
Typesettlement
History
BuilderSeleucus I Nicator
Foundedca. 300 BC
Abandoned13th century
CulturesHellenistic, Roman, Medieval Greek, Arab
Site notes
Conditionruins
OwnershipPublic
Public accessYes

Apamea (Greek: Ἀπάμεια, Apameia; Arabic: آفاميا, Afamia), on the right bank of the Orontes River, was an ancient Greek and Roman city. It was the capital of Apamene under the Macedonians,[1] became the capital and Metropolitan Archbishopric of late Roman province Syria Secunda, again in the crusader period.

Amongst the impressive ancient remains, the site includes the Great Colonnade which ran for nearly 2 km (1.2 mi) making it among the longest in the Roman world and the Roman Theatre, one of the largest surviving theatres of the Roman Empire with an estimated seating capacity in excess of 20,000.

The site is about 55 km (34 mi) to the northwest of Hama, Syria, overlooking the Ghab valley.

  1. ^ (Stephanus of Byzantium s. v.; Strabo xvi. p. 752; Ptolemy v. 15. § 19; Festus Avienius, v. 1083; Anton. Itin.; Hierocles)