Seleucia on the Tigris

Seleucia on the Tigris, ancient city of Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), built by King Seleucus I, sometime after 311 bc, on the west bank of the Tigris River, north-east of Babylon, which was despoiled to supply materials for the construction of Seleucia. Its location gave Seleucia control of shipping on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers as well as the commerce of Mesopotamia. The city rapidly acquired wealth and splendour, becoming an important centre of Hellenistic culture. When in the 2nd century bc Mesopotamia fell to Parthia, Seleucia continued as a major centre of trade and by the 1st century ad had a population of 600,000. In ad 116 the city was partly burnt by the Roman Emperor Trajan, and in ad 164 it was razed by the Roman general Avidius Cassius in his campaign against the Parthians. The destruction of Seleucia marked the end of Hellenistic civilization in Mesopotamia.