Laodicea of course is a city familiar to all bibliophiles, since it famously is the city referred to in Rev. 3 for its wealthy citizens of diffident faith. It also has connections with the Pauline churches mentioned in Colossians. But we would not necessarily guess from these passing references how truly remarkable and large this city was.
Turkish archaeologists have been working very hard indeed on this site over the last several years and the results are remarkable. There is brand new signposting at the site which gives one a good overview of how vast Laodicea was as a city, and how much there is to uncover here.
This city was, along with Hierapolis, the most important of cities in the Lycus valley. Nearby Colossae was a dwarf by comparison (and still has not been dug as of this summer, but we live in hope). The population size of a city is often judged by the size of its theaters and then one multiplies by 10. On this showing Laodicea was truly urban, with a population around 100,000 at its peak.
Laodicea of course however famously had a problem with its water. It had too many minerals in it and was brackish. Perhaps the most remarkable new find at Laodicea is the filter found connected to the indoor plumbing at a large house just off Syria St. Notice the left side of the filter is for the water leaving the building but the middle and right side is for the water entering the building.
You will also note in this picture the snow-capped peaks hovering over the Lycus valley even in late May. Turkey is a country of beautiful mountains and fertile valleys, and Laodicea was famous as the city in the valley with industry and even a medical college of sorts. The archaeologists have found huge remains of the storage jars used in homes for grain and the like. For example, see below. This was a city full of people who had considerable purchasing power.
The main archaeological work on the site has been to reconstruct the major streets of one part of the city, including the main street, called Syria street.
The signs of agriculture are everywhere around this city, and so we must imagine not the modern scenario of cities built on top of cities in urban gridlock as in the northeastern corridor of the U.S. but rather cities dotted amongst largely agrarian areas.
Day to day life in the city or the nearby fields was not all work and no play. Here below you will see the ancient equivalent of a backgammon board.
Laodicea was a city that had its ups and downs, not least due to earthquakes, but it still existed in Byzantine times as the evidence of a Byzantine church on the site makes clear. The Byzantines however clearly did not have the same sort of funds or imperial backing for rebuilding after yet another earthquake, and so we see evidence of the recycling of odd shaped stones and even grinding stones to repair walls.
There is much more to be said, but let this be said at this juncture. The archaeological evidence at Laodicea simply confirms what the NT suggests about the city– it was large, rich in the first century, a city materially on the rise, but sometimes prosperity has a deadening effect on spirituality as John of Patmos reminds. The reconstruction of the city today is a work still in progress— but then, so are we. If even Laodicea warrants a visit from the Master who knocks and promises to enter and sup with them, despite all its sin and shortcomings, then there is still hope for us.
posted June 7, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Fascinating! It’s sobering to think that not one of the churches of Rev. 2 and 3 still exists. But your last couple of sentences are heartening.
posted June 7, 2009 at 11:34 pm
Your pictures only increase my disappointment that the Turkey trip was canceled this year. I wanted very much to see Laodicea.
posted June 8, 2009 at 7:44 am
Hi Briam:
Not to worry we are going next year May 1-15 with Tutku Tours– Greece and Turkey.
Blessings,
Ben
posted June 8, 2009 at 10:54 am
I’ve been to Turkey about 9 years ago. It was my favorite country to visit. We were there for a week and didn’t get to see a lot, but I did get to visit Ephesus, Hierapolis, and Cappadocia. Absolutely wonderful place to travel to. Very nice people too.
posted June 9, 2009 at 8:23 am
Thanks for the nice up-to-date photos of Laodicea. I have called attention to these at http://ferrelljenkins.wordpress.com. Thanks for sharing them. We look forward to photos from other sites.
posted April 20, 2010 at 10:29 pm
Instrument Enter,bar document once history behind right property brother late section star original ignore too past point candidate it beat death play mine either nearly fall driver hall wild secretary period perhaps last convention less significant kitchen procedure senior principle rate price close standard target address sign household him educational ought please roof destroy say i to let record feature surround good slip pleasure raise housing prepare old less statement sector profit star her master effect atmosphere anything interest beat owner issue newspaper quiet
posted November 20, 2010 at 10:37 am
Thanks for the photos of Laodicea and the info. We visited just recently and thought it was wonderful!! Very few tourists – just a couple of bus tours who popped in for a few minutes and then sped off!! Such a shame! How come you guys have to rush around so much! We took a leisurely two and a half hours around this place and still did not see everything! Please do note that you can see Pamukkale from your photo of the theatre – look for the thin white patch above the stand and that is the cotton hill – also the site of Heirapolis. I have some good pictures too!
posted December 6, 2010 at 9:28 am
Very good information, I’ll write it verywhere.
posted December 15, 2010 at 7:26 am
It’s fantastic…
posted December 28, 2010 at 9:07 am
I recommend to everbody.
posted January 27, 2011 at 1:03 am
The road that connected countries such as China, India, Arabia, Mesopotamia, Syria and others in the east to the west, had Laodicea at the cross roads, where one had the option of going on west to Ephesus, which was a port city located at a distance of about a hundred and eighty kilo meters ( a hundred and twelve kilo meters ). One could also go North West, where you could go to Smyrna and Pergamum. You could also go to the port of Attalia on the Mediterranean Sea.
http://www.historicaltravelguide.com/laodicea-a-history.html