The ancient Syrian city of Antioch was founded in 300 BC and was an important center of Hellenistic culture. It was the capital of the Seleucid Empire and later became part of the Roman Empire. The city of Emesa, also known as Homs, was an ancient city located in western Syria. It was an important religious center for the worship of the sun god Elagabalus and was the birthplace of the Roman emperor of the same name.