Show riches of ancient antioch revealed explorers are busy in once gay capital of syria washington antioch Ant loch which has yielded many rich treasures of 0 antiquity ty again Is the scene of 0 explorations which recently uncovered a picture gallery in the form of 0 a paneled mosaic floor modern antioch Ant loch a drab city of 30 OW inhabitants lying about 15 miles tip lip the orontes river from the mediterranean Is a mere shadow of the gay eay city that once was the capital of the great empire of Se leucus Ni cator favorite of alexander the great and later capital of the roman empire in the orient says a bulletin from the national geographic society traditionally antioch owes its location to the flight of an eagle an V tig onla built in 13 C a few miles north of antioch Antio cli was planned to be the fountainhead of government commerce and industry in the near east while Se leucus was offering sacrifices at an altar in the city an eagle swooped down caught a piece of meat from the altar and flew to the banks of the orontes river Se leucus interpreted the eagles act as an omen that the gods goda wished him to found a capital on the river the outstanding feature of the new city was the four rulle mile main street that connected the east and west gates on each side rose double rows of lofty marble columns between which ben eur bur drove his charlot chariot and caesar paraded in triumph flanking the street was a marble paved covered promenade adorned with statues and ings in marble and bronze beyond the promenades rose the handsome facades of government buildings at night the main street was wa a great white way despite its gayety gaiety however Zo however wever Anti ochs path was often strewn with sorrow borrow its walls were frequently pounded by jealous enemies while the columned highways walls gates and handsome buildings are memories a large part of the modern city Is built of the stones that once witnessed the processions professions process ions and charlot chariot races of Arit loch the Glor glorious lous antioch has been succeeded commercially merc merci ally lally by aleppo today its largest industries are shoe and soap making and hide tanning |