George of Antioch was born around 1090. After living first in Syria, where he held financial posts, he moved to Tunisia in the service of the Emir Al Madia. In 1112 he moved to Palermo where he soon became an admiral and official of the first king of Sicily, Roger II. A man of culture, he founded the convent church of San Michele in Mazara del Vallo in 1127, the church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio in 1143 and promoted the construction of the Ponte dell’Ammiraglio, between 1125 and 1135.
