Syria

The empire's most important eastern command — four legions at its Trajanic peak, more than any other province — because it borders Parthia. Hadrian, its sitting legate in 117, is at Antioch the moment Trajan dies at Selinus and will be acclaimed emperor here within the day, the succession settled before Rome even hears the news. A massive earthquake had struck Antioch itself just two years earlier, in December 115, with Trajan barely escaping the collapsing building he was staying in.

Cities on the map

• Palmyra — Caravan city on the trade route between Rome and the Silk Road. Great colonnaded street, Temple of Bel.
• Baalbek — Roman Heliopolis. Temple of Jupiter — one of the largest sanctuaries in the empire. Still under construction in Trajan's day.

15 places on the map

• Castra Zeugma · Fort
• Circus Antiochiae · Circus
• Heliopolis · Quarry
• Portus Seleuciae Pieriae · Naval Base
• Raphanaea · Fort
• Templum Apollinis Daphnaei · Temple
• Templum Atargatis, Hierapolis Bambyce · Temple
• Templum Baalshamin, Palmyrae · Temple
• Templum Bacchi, Heliopolis · Temple
• Templum Beli, Palmyra · Temple
• Templum Iovis Heliopolitani · Temple
• Templum Melqarti, Tyri · Temple
• Theatrum Antiochiae · Theater
• Tower of Elahbel · Mausoleum
• Vallis Sepulcrorum · Necropolis

Sources

• Cassius Dio, Roman History 68.24–25 (Antioch earthquake), 69.1–2 (accession)