Laodicea on the Lycus ( Greek : Λαοδίκεια πρὸς τοῦ Λύκου Laodikeia pros tou Lykou ; Latin : Laodicea ad Lycum , also transliterated as Laodiceia or Laodikeia ) (modern Turkish : Laodikeia ) was a rich ancient Greek city in Asia Minor, now Turkey, on the river Lycus (Çürüksu). It was located in the Hellenistic regions of Caria and Lydia , which later became the Roman Province of Phrygia Pacatiana . It is now near the modern city of Denizli .
45-642: (Redirected from Laodikeia ) Laodicea ( / ˌ l eɪ . ə d ɪ ˈ s iː ə / ) may refer to: Places [ edit ] Turkey [ edit ] Laodicea on the Lycus , in Phrygia Laodicea Pontica , in the Pontus Laodicea Combusta , in Pisidia Syria [ edit ] Laodicea ad Libanum , near Homs Laodicea ad Mare ,
90-584: A bouleuterion . An inscription shows the ensemble was built for Hadrian 's visit in 135. In 2019 a statue of Roman emperor Trajan was unearthed at the site. Asopus Asopus ( / ə ˈ s oʊ p ə s / ; Ancient Greek : Ἀ̄σωπός Āsōpos ) is the name of four different rivers in Greece and one in Turkey . In Greek mythology , it was also the name of the gods of those rivers. Zeus carried off Aegina , Asopus' daughter, and Sisyphus , who had witnessed
135-609: A stadium , baths , temples, a gymnasium , two theatres and a bouleuterion (Senate House). On the eastern side, the line of the ancient wall may be distinctly traced, with the Ephesus gate's remains; streets traverse the town, flanked by colonnades and numerous pedestals. North of the town, towards the Lycus, are many sarcophagi , with their covers lying near them, partly embedded in the ground, and all having long been rifled. The West theatre has been recently restored (2022) with virtually complete banks of stone seats. Originally built in
180-556: A titular see , listed as Laodicea in Phrygia by the Catholic Church , which has appointed no further titular bishops to the see since the transfer of the last incumbent in 1968. Sixty canons of a Council of Laodicea , written in Greek, exist. The testimony of Theodoret asserts this assembly was actually held, the date of this assembly being much discussed. Some have even thought that
225-671: A certain Epaphras from Colossae, who worked hard for the Christians of the three Phrygian cities of Colossae , Laodicea ad Lycum and Hierapolis . Asking for greetings to be sent to the Laodicean Christians, the writer requests that his letter be read publicly at Laodicea ( Colossians 4:16 ) and that another letter addressed to the Laodiceans (see Epistle to the Laodiceans ) be given a public reading at Colossae. Some Greek manuscripts of
270-536: A daughter Harpina and state that according to the traditions of the Eleans and Phliasians, Ares lay with her in the city of Pisa and they had a son, Oenomaus , who Pausanias says founded the city of Harpina named after her, not far from the river Harpinates. The Bibliotheca refers to Ismene daughter of Asopus who was wife of Argus Panoptes to whom she bore Iasus , the father of Io . We find first in Pindar 's odes
315-485: A group sculpture in the sanctuary of Hippodamia at Olympia donated by the Phliasians. It included Nemea, Zeus seizing Aegina, Harpina , Corcyra, Thebe, and Asopus himself. It seems the Phliasians were insistent that Thebe belonged to their Asopus. According to Pherecydes , Asopus also fathered Philyra who became the mother of Hypseus by Peneus . In some sources, Pronoe who was the mother of Phocus by Poseidon
360-575: A list. Pausanias mentions three supposed daughters of Phliasian Asopus named Corcyra, Aegina, and Thebe according to the Phliasians and notes additionally that the Thebans insist that this Thebe was daughter of the Boeotian Asopus. He mentions no dispute about the others which suggests that in his time the assignment of Aegina to the Phliasian Asopus was generally admitted. Pausanias also describes
405-430: A narrow valley, which was taken advantage of for this purpose and was closed up at both ends. Towards the west are considerable remains of an underground passage by which chariots and horses could be admitted into the arena, with a long inscription over the entrance. Immediately north of the stadium lies a gymnasium complex coupled with twin baths peculiar to the region. It is linked to the south agora on its north side and
450-486: A second time as supposed mortal kings who gave their names to the corresponding rivers. Indeed, logically, since the children fathered by gods on various daughters of either Boeotian or Phliasian Asopus were mortal in these tales, then the daughters themselves must have been mortal, and therefore either the mother of these daughters (often given as Metope daughter of river Ladon ) or their father Asopus must have been mortal, or both of them. The Bibliotheca informs that
495-562: A taste for the arts of the Greeks , as is manifest from its ruins, and that it contributed to the advancement of science and literature is attested by the names of the sceptics Antiochus and Theiodas , the successors of Aenesidemus (1st century BC), and by the existence of a great medical school. Its wealthy citizens embellished Laodicea with beautiful monuments. One of the chiefs of these citizens, Polemon (r. 37 BC - 8 AD), became King of Armenian Pontus (called after him "Polemoniacus") and of
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#1733202179781540-531: A thunderbolt, whence ever after Asopus is lame and flows very slowly, a feature ascribed to both the Boeotian and Phliasian Asopus. In these tales Asopus discovers the truth about the abduction from Sisyphus , King of Corinth in return for creating a spring on the Corinthian Acropolis . This spring, according to Pausanias was behind the temple of Aphrodite and people said its water was the same as that of
585-454: A wealthy city. In 220 BC, Achaeus declared himself king of the region but was defeated by Antiochus the Great in 213 BC. Antiochus transported 2,000 Jewish families to Phrygia from Babylonia . Many of Laodicea's inhabitants were Jews from this time, and Cicero records that Flaccus later confiscated the considerable sum of 9 kg of gold, which was being sent annually to Jerusalem for
630-492: Is near Boeotia, but Salamis and Aegina are regions that would perhaps associate better with the Phliasian Asopus. Korkyra ( Corfu ) is definitely Corinthian rather than Boeotian. Sinope is surely the colony of Sinope on the Black Sea (founded from Miletus). It is notable that tradition as it comes down to us does not record any children resulting from a union of gods with Thebe, Plataea, Thespia or Tanagra and only Diodorus mentions
675-656: The Apostolic Constitutions of the last quarter of the 4th century (a man named Nymphas or, according to the best manuscripts, a woman named Nympha is mentioned in Colossians 4:15 ); and Diotrephes ( 3 John 9 ). After these three comes Sagaris, martyr (c. 166). Sisinnius is mentioned in the Acts of the martyr Saint Artemon, a priest of his church. Nunechius assisted at the Council of Nicaea (325). Eugenius, known by an inscription,
720-594: The First Epistle to Timothy end with the words: "Written at Laodicea, metropolis of Phrygia Pacatiana". Laodicea is also one of the seven churches of Asia mentioned in the Book of Revelation . The first three bishops attributed to the see of Laodicea are very uncertain, their names recalling people mentioned in the New Testament: Archippus ( Colossians 4:17 ); Nymphas, already indicated as bishop of Laodicea by
765-478: The Hellenistic period, it held 8000 spectators and was used until the 7th c. AD. Also, much of the vast 35,000 m west (or central) agora has been restored with many of its tall 10.8 m columns. The 100 m long and 11 m high back wall is covered with frescoes and is considered important for world archaeology. Particularly interesting are the remains of an aqueduct starting several km away at
810-788: The Temple . After the Battle of Magnesia in 188 BC, when the Romans defeated the Seleucids, the Treaty of Apamea was signed, which gave control of the whole of western Asia Minor to the Kingdom of Pergamon . With the death of its last king, its territory was bequested to Rome in 133 BC. It received from Rome the title of free city . It suffered greatly during the Mithridatic Wars but quickly recovered under
855-515: The Baspinar spring in Denizli and possibly having another more distant source. Unusually, to cross the valley to the south of Laodicea, instead of the usual open channel carried above the level of the city on lofty arches as was the usual practice of the Romans, an inverted siphon was employed consisting of a double pressurised pipeline, descending into the valley and back up to the city. The water pressure in
900-609: The Emperor Manuel I Komnenos . In 1206–1230, it was ruled by Manuel Maurozomes . The city was destroyed during the invasions of the Turks and Mongols . With its large Jewish community, Laodicea very early became a seat of Christianity and a bishopric . The Epistle to the Colossians mentions Laodicea as one of the communities of concern for Paul the Apostle. It sends greetings from
945-592: The Lycus Epistle to the Laodiceans , an apocryphal epistle attributed to Paul the Apostle Council of Laodicea , a synod held about 363–364 CE A Laodicean , an 1881 novel by Thomas Hardy Laodice (disambiguation) Ladoceia , a town of ancient Arcadia, Greece Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Laodicea . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change
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#1733202179781990-672: The Lycus was built on the site of an earlier pre-Hellenistic settlement, on a hill above the Lycus river , close to its confluence with the Maeander . Laodicea was founded by Antiochus II Theos , king of the Seleucid Empire , in 261-253 BC in honour of his wife Laodice , together with several other cities of the same name. According to Pliny the Elder , the town was originally called Diospolis , "City of Zeus ", and afterwards Rhoas . It soon became
1035-501: The act, told Asopus that he could reveal the identity of the person who had abducted Aegina, but in return Asopus would have to provide a perennial fountain of water at Corinth, Sisyphus' city. Accordingly, Asopus produced a fountain at Corinth, and pursued Zeus, but had to retreat for fear of Zeus' terrible thunderbolt. As mythological entities, the Boeotian river Asopus and the Phliasian river Asopus are much confounded. They are duplicated
1080-604: The archaeological site was inscribed in the Tentative List of World Heritage Sites in Turkey . It contained one of the Seven churches of Asia mentioned in the Book of Revelation . Laodicea is situated on the long spur of a hill between the narrow valleys of the small rivers Asopus and Caprus , which discharge their waters into the Lycus. It lay on a major trade route and in its neighbourhood were many important ancient cities; it
1125-513: The city by their own means. The martyrdom of Lulianos and Paphos is believed to have happened here. The Byzantine writers often mention Laodicea, especially in the time of the Komnenian emperors . In 1119, Emperor John II Komnenos and his chief military commander, John Axouch , captured Laodicea from the Seljuk Turks in the first major military victory of his reign. It was fortified by
1170-435: The city. In 2015, a rare marble block was found with the inscription of the water law. Issued in 114 AD, it regulated the use of water imported from the mountains to Laodicea on pain of 5 to 12.5 thousand denarii fines imposed for polluting water, destroying channels, or opening water pipes. The stadium/hippodrome near the city's southern extremity is in a good state of preservation. The seats are arranged along two sides of
1215-415: The coast round Trebizond . The city minted its own coins, the inscriptions of which show evidence of the worship of Zeus , Æsculapius , Apollo , and the emperors. The area often suffered from earthquakes, especially from the great shock that occurred in the reign of Nero (60 AD) in which the town was completely destroyed. However, the inhabitants declined imperial assistance to rebuild and restore
1260-503: The council must have preceded that of Nicaea (325), or at least that of Constantinople (381). It seems safer to consider it after the latter. The canons are, undoubtedly, only a resume of an older text and appear to be derived from two distinct collections. They are of great importance in the history of discipline and liturgy; some Protestants have invoked one of them in opposition to the veneration of angels . The existing remains attest to its former greatness. Its many buildings include
1305-575: The dominion of Rome. Towards the end of the Roman Republic and under the first emperors, Laodicea benefitted from its advantageous position on a trade route and became one of the most important and flourishing commercial cities of Asia Minor, in which large money transactions and an extensive trade in black wool were carried out. Its renowned wealth is referred to in the Bible. During the Roman period, Laodicea
1350-590: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Laodicea&oldid=1243240942 " Categories : Disambiguation pages Place name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Laodicea on the Lycus Since 2002, Pamukkale University has continued archaeological excavations, followed by intensive restoration work. In 2013
1395-519: The otherwise unknown sons Phaiax , son of Poseidon by Corcyra, and Syrus sprung from Apollo by Sinope and that this child of Sinope is opposed by a conflicting tradition that Sinope tricked Zeus, Apollo and Halys and remained a virgin. Later texts mostly indicate Zeus' abduction of Aegina, presented as a solitary abduction. Asopus is often clearly the Phliasian Asopus (so indicated by Pherecydes ) but not always so. Asopus chases after Zeus and his daughter until Zeus turns upon him and strikes him with
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1440-711: The present city of Latakia Other countries [ edit ] Laodicea (Arcadia) , in Greece Laodicea (Mesopotamia) , in Iraq Laodicea in Media, former name of Nahavand , Iran Laodicea in Phoenicia, former name of Beirut , Lebanon Biology [ edit ] Laodicea (cnidarian) , a genus of hydrozoans in the suborder Conica See also [ edit ] Laodicean Church , early Christians in Laodicea on
1485-505: The river Asopus was a son of Oceanus and Tethys or, according to Acusilaus , of Poseidon by Pero (otherwise unknown to us), or according to yet others of Zeus by Eurynome ; it is uncertain whether he knows there is more than one river named Asopus. Pausanias writes that during the reign of Aras , the first earth-born king of Sicyonian land, Asopus, said to be son of Poseidon by Celusa (this Celusa otherwise unknown but possibly identical to Pero mentioned above), discovered for him
1530-597: The river called Asopus and gave it his name. Diodorus Siculus similarly presents Asopus (here son of Oceanus and Tethys) as a settler in Phlius and wife of Metope daughter of Ladon , presumably here and elsewhere the Arcadian river Ladon. Pausanias mentions his daughter Nemea , eponym for the region of the same name (possibly the mother of Archemorus in Aeschylus ' lost play Nemea ). Pausanias and Diodorus Siculus also mention
1575-457: The seer Acraephen (otherwise unknown) tells him that the gods Eros and Aphrodite persuaded the four gods to come secretly to his house and steal his nine daughters. He advises Asopus to yield to the immortals and cease grieving since he is father-in-law to gods. This hints that perhaps, for Corinna, Asopus himself is not a god. Asopus accepts Acraephen's advice. Of these daughters, Thebe, Plataea, Thespia and Tanagra are properly Boeotian. Euboea
1620-415: The siphon at the bottom of the valley was a challenge without strong piping. The low arches supporting the siphon commence near the summit of a low hill to the south of the city where the header tank was located and thence continue to the first terminal distribution tank (castellum aquae) at the edge of the hill of the city, whose remains are visible to the east of the stadium and South Baths complex. The water
1665-712: The sisters, Aegina and Thebe , here the youngest daughters of Boeotian Asopus by Metope who came from Stymphalia in Arcadia . Both are abducted by the god Zeus, one carried to the island of Oenone later to be named Aegina and the other to Dirce 's water to be queen there. Corinna , Pindar's contemporary, in a damaged fragment, mentions nine daughters of Boeotian Asopus: Aegina , Thebe , and Plataea abducted by Zeus; Corcyra , Salamis , and Euboea abducted by Poseidon ; Sinope and Thespia (who has been dealt with above) abducted by Apollo ; and Tanagra abducted by Hermes . Asopus cannot discover what has become of them until
1710-526: The small city of Cleonae on the road from Corinth to Argos according to Pausanias), Ornia (possible eponym of the small town of Orneai south of Phlius ), and Asopis . But Asopis may mean Asopian and be an epithet for one of the other known daughters. Ovid in his poem Metamorphoses twice calls Aegina by the name Asopis . Indeed, in his very next section Diodorus discusses Asopus' daughter Harpina who has been discussed above. Apollodorus claims Asopus had twenty daughters but he does not provide
1755-617: The spring Peirene , the water in the city flowing from it underground. Diodorus Siculus who, as mentioned, places his Asopus in Phlius, gives him twelve daughters. Diodorus' list omits the Plataea and Boeotia included by Corinna's list of nine daughters. But it introduces Chalcis which was the chief city of Boeotia and may represent Boeotia. To make up the twelve Diodorus' list also adds Peirene (the famous spring in Corinth), Cleone (possible eponym of
1800-420: The west of the terminal is a small fountain next to the vaulted gate. The aqueduct appears to have been destroyed by an earthquake , as the remaining arches lean bodily on one side without being much broken. A second distribution terminal and sedimentation tank are visible 400 m north of the first, to which it was connected via another siphon of travertine blocks, and this one was bigger and supplied most of
1845-474: Was 17 km west of Colossae , 10 km south of Hierapolis . and 160 km east of Ephesus . It was situated in the ancient region of Phrygia , although some ancient authors place Laodicea in differing provincial territories, not surprising because the precise limits of these territories were both ill-defined and inconstant; for example, Ptolemy and Philostratus call it a town of Caria, while Stephanus of Byzantium describes it as belonging to Lydia. Laodicea on
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1890-423: Was a daughter of Asopus. Both Apollodrus and Diodorus also mention two sons of Asopus, the first named Ismenus and the second named Pelagon (by Apollodorus) or Pelasgus (by Diodorus). Nothing else has survived about this Pelagon. Of Ismenus, Diodorus states only that he emigrated to Boeotia and settled near the Boeotian river, which was afterwards named Ismenus from his name. Another son, Hypseus who fought in
1935-419: Was heavily charged with calcareous matter, as several arches were covered with a thick encrustation where leaks occurred later. The siphon consisted of large carved stone pipes; some were much incrusted, and some completely choked up. The terminal tank has many clay pipes of various diameters for water distribution on the north, east, and south sides, which were replaced in time because of the choking by sinter. To
1980-570: Was probably his successor. Constantius transferred the Arian Cecropius to the See of Nicomedia. When Phrygia was divided into two provinces, Laodicea became the metropolis of Phrygia Pacatiana : it figures under this title in all the Notitiae Episcopatuum . Some twenty incumbents are known besides those already enumerated; the last occupied the see in 1450. Since then, the bishopric has become
2025-482: Was the chief city of a Roman conventus , which comprised 24 cities besides itself; Cicero records holding assizes there c. 50 BC . Strabo (64 BC - 24 AD) attributes the celebrity of the city to the fertility of the soil and the wealth of some of its inhabitants, amongst whom may have been Hiero of Laodicea, who adorned the city with many beautiful buildings and bequeathed to it more than 2000 talents at his death. The wealth of its inhabitants engendered
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