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Did they speak Arabic in Antioch?

While it's impossible to say with absolute certainty what languages were spoken in Antioch throughout its long history, here's what we know:

* Antioch was a multicultural city: It was a major center of trade and a melting pot of cultures from the time of its founding in the 3rd century BC until its fall in 638 AD. This means a variety of languages would have been spoken.

* Greek was likely the main language: As a Hellenistic city, Greek was the official language of administration and commerce. It was also the language of literature and education.

* Aramaic was likely spoken by many: This Semitic language was widely spoken in the region, particularly by Jews and Christians. It's likely Aramaic was used in everyday life alongside Greek.

* Arabic likely gained prominence later: After the Arab conquest in the 7th century AD, Arabic gradually became more prominent in the region. It is unlikely, however, that Arabic was a major language in Antioch during its early history.

* Other languages were present: Antioch attracted people from various parts of the Roman Empire, meaning Latin, Syriac, and other languages might have been spoken in smaller communities.

In summary, while Greek was probably the dominant language in Antioch, Aramaic was also widely spoken, and Arabic likely gained prominence only after the Arab conquest. It's safe to say that Antioch was a multilingual city throughout its history.

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