Seleucia Pieria: Harbour of Antioch and the Titus Tunnel
The port from which Paul and Barnabas first sailed, and Vespasian's flood tunnel
Found 1937 — Princeton University Antioch expedition (1937–1939, William A. Campbell) excavated the Doric temple, market gate and houses; the tunnel, never lost, was surveyed by the Hatay Museum and Mustafa Kemal University (2000s–2010s)
Where Çevlik (Seleucia Pieria), Samandağ, Hatay (Turkey)
Dates from City founded c. 300 BCE; tunnel begun under Vespasian (69–79 CE), finished under Antoninus Pius (138–161 CE) · Hellenistic–Roman · Departure on the first journey (Acts 13:4)
Now at In situ; Princeton finds in the Hatay Archaeology Museum and Princeton University Art Museum
How Seleucia Pieria: Harbour of Antioch and the Titus Tunnel was found
The rock-cut channel above the silted harbour bears carved inscriptions naming Vespasian and Titus at one entrance and Antoninus at the discharge end; the Princeton team dug in the upper city while studying the harbour moles.
What it is
A walled port city on the slope above the Orontes mouth, with the remains of two harbour basins, a Doric temple, a market gate and the Beşikli rock-cut tombs. The Titus Tunnel is a 1,380 m flood-diversion system — dam, open channel and two tunnel sections up to 7 m high — cut through solid rock by hand, reportedly by Jewish prisoners of the war of 70 CE, to stop the mountain torrent silting the harbour.
Why it matters for the Bible
Acts 13:4 says Barnabas and Saul 'went down to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus' — this is the harbour. The great tunnel was begun by the same Vespasian and Titus who destroyed Jerusalem, and Josephus and later sources say captives from that war laboured on Roman works; an inscription here in Latin names both emperors. Harbour and tunnel together show the Roman engineering that carried the gospel by sea and the empire's power over Judea in the same generation.
The Hebrew word: mah-CHOHZ
מָחוֹז
מָחוֹז is pronounced mah-CHOHZ and means haven, harbour — 'he brought them to their desired haven' (Psalm 107:30) (Strong's H4231).
People this discovery connects to
- Titus (emperor) — טִיטוּס (TEE-toos) — Latin Titus, destroyer of the Temple, named in the tunnel inscription
Places
- Seleucia — סֶלֶבְקְיָא (seh-lev-ke-YAH) — Greek Seleukeia, city of Seleucus
Events
Departure of Paul and Barnabas for Cyprus · Roman rule after the fall of Jerusalem
Seleucia Pieria: Harbour of Antioch and the Titus Tunnel in Scripture
Acts 13:4 'They went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.'
Questions people ask
What is Seleucia Pieria: Harbour of Antioch and the Titus Tunnel?
A walled port city on the slope above the Orontes mouth, with the remains of two harbour basins, a Doric temple, a market gate and the Beşikli rock-cut tombs. The Titus Tunnel is a 1,380 m flood-diversion system — dam, open channel and two tunnel sections up to 7 m high — cut through solid rock by hand, reportedly by Jewish prisoners of the war of 70 CE, to stop the mountain torrent silting the harbour.
When was Seleucia Pieria: Harbour of Antioch and the Titus Tunnel discovered?
It was found in 1937 by Princeton University Antioch expedition (1937–1939, William A. Campbell) excavated the Doric temple, market gate and houses; the tunnel, never lost, was surveyed by the Hatay Museum and Mustafa Kemal University (2000s–2010s), at Çevlik (Seleucia Pieria), Samandağ, Hatay.
Where is Seleucia Pieria: Harbour of Antioch and the Titus Tunnel today?
In situ; Princeton finds in the Hatay Archaeology Museum and Princeton University Art Museum.
Which Bible verses does Seleucia Pieria: Harbour of Antioch and the Titus Tunnel relate to?
Acts 13:4.
Related discoveries
- נֶצַחNicopolis: Augustus' Victory Monument at ActiumThe 'City of Victory' where Paul planned to winter, and the trophy that founded it
- כּוֹסAntioch-on-the-Orontes: Mosaics and the 'Chalice of Antioch'The city where disciples were first called Christians — and a famous silver cup that is not what it seemed
- מָשִׁיחַCave Church of St Peter, AntiochThe grotto where tradition says the first 'Christians' met
- דַּיָּגAncient Harbors of the Sea of GalileeMendel Nun's sixteen first-century harbors revealed by low water
- צִידֹנִיםTel Dor in the Persian and Hellenistic PeriodsThe Phoenician-ruled harbor city on Israel's coast that supplied cedar and trade to Yehud
- דֶּרֶךְAssos: Temple of Athena and the First American Excavation in the EastThe clifftop port where Paul rejoined his companions on foot
Sources
- Vespasianus Titus Tunnel (Wikipedia)
- Seleucia, Canal and Tunnel of Titus (Livius)
- Seleucia (BiblePlaces)
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