Laodicea Background

7/28/2019 Laodicea Background

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14 "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'Thewords of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, R thebeginning of God's creation.15 "'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot.

Would that you were either cold or hot!16

So, because youare lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit youout of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I haveprospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that youare wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 Icounsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so thatyou may be rich, and white garments so that you mayclothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may notbe seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you maysee. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so bezealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door andknock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, Iwill come in to him and eat with him, and he with me . 21

The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me onmy throne, as I also conquered and sat down with myFather on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hearwhat the Spirit says to the churches.

'“

ESV



Laodicea was one of three biblical cities in the valleyof the Lycus River, a tributary of the Meander.

Colossae was 9 miles east, Hierapolis was 6 milesnorth. The site once occupied by the city is a nearlysquare plateau rising about 100 feet above the valleyfloor, one mile from the bank of the Lycus. Laodicea

was located 45 miles southeast of Philadelphia anddominated the ancient highway from Ephesus (1oomiles to the west) through the Meander and Lycusvalleys to Syria. Originally called Diospolis and Rhoas,Antiochus II Theos (286-246 BC), the ruler of Syria,colonized it between 261 and 246 BC, and renamed itfor his first wife, Laodice (whom he later repudiated

and banned to Ephesus).



In 190 BC Laodicea came under the rule of Pergamum, then after 133 BC it was controlled by

Rome and made a free city. About the end of thefirst century BC it was one of the principal cities of Asia Minor, famous for fabrics, sandals andmedicine. Laodicea (full name: "Laodicea adLyceum," "Laodicea on the Lycus") was also a majorbanking center where, in 51 BC, the Romanstatesman and philosopher Cicero cashed drafts en

route to his native Cilicia (St. Paul's home province).



In the 1st century AD Laodicea was inhabited by itsindigenous population of Greek-speaking Syrians,

Greeks, Romans and Romanized natives along withan important Jewish colony. These Jews regularlysent a contribution of gold to Jerusalem Temple.According to Cicero, in 62 BC the Roman governor

Flaccus confiscated 20 pounds of gold.



Christianity came early to the city. Paul implies aclose relationship between the churches in Laodiceaand Colossae. The church in Laodicea was probablyfounded by Epaphras from Colossae and the faithfulof Laodicea met in the home of Nympha (Colossians4:15). Additionally Paul sent greetings to Archippus,

who may have been from Laodicea (Colossians 4:17).



Google Earth view of the enormous, flat mound of Laodice a, 3.7 miles from the modern city of Denizli,between the narrow valleys of the small rivers Asopus and Caprus. The whole area of the ancient city iscovered with ruined structures. The sites of several temples, with bases of columns can be seen. On the eastthe line of an ancient wall can be traced, with the remains of a gateway; there is also a street within andwithout the city, flanked by ruins of a colonnade and numerous pedestals. Note, too, the caveas of two

theaters on the north side (top), and the remains of the city's stadium and a bathhouse on the south side.Laodicea contains monumental remains just under the surface awaiting excavation.


http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/laodicea-background 8/19view from the mound of Laodicea toward the mountains rising above the Lycus River valley.



architectural fragments atop the large mound of Laodicea. No extensive excavations have beendone at the site. But, since 2000 the Archaeology Department of Pamukkale University (near

ancient Hierapolis) has been conducting varying levels of fieldwork. Archaeology teams haveunearthed a 1,500-year-old cloth-dyeing center and a large villa.



in recent years the city's main street (Cardo Maximus?) has been partially restored. Beneath theroad is a sewer system for carrying dirty water from homes and businesses.



view north across the cavea of the city's Roman period theater (8,000 seats?). Though a shadowof its former self it still has near-perfect acoustics.



the larger of the city's two theaters (15,000 seats?), dating to the Hellenistic period, is on the

north side of the mound. The fact that the city had two theaters is an indication of its prosperity.The seats were engraved with their owner's names.



on the south side of the plateau is a large stadium that also served as an amphitheater. It wasdedicated by a wealthy citizen to the Roman emperor Vespasian and was used for both athletic

and gladiatorial contests. The stadium had seats for 40,000, with space for an extra 15,000 on itsnorth slope.



view north of an unexcavated Odeum. Possibly covered by a roof, it was used for lectures and

concerts. It could have also served as a bouleuterion , a meeting place for the Laodica city council(Greek boule ).



view south at some of the arches that were part of the gymnasium/bathhouse , located north of the stadium. It was dedicated to the emperor Hadrian and his wife Sabina around 124 AD.


http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/laodicea-background 16/19rooms of a large home uncovered near the agora (marketplace).



part of the double aqueduct that brought water from the south to Laodicea. This section wasmade of individual stone blocks, hollowed out then sealed together with plaster and olive oil.

The water was so concentrated with minerals that the Roman engineers designed vents, cappedby removable stones, so the aqueduct pipes could be periodically cleared of deposits.



, mineral-encrusted water pipes in a 16-foot-high water tower on the south side of the mound,

near the stadium and bathhouse. The aqueduct that carried water into the city ended here.From here the lukewarm mineral water was distributed throughout the city.



view across the Lycus River valley of the layers of white limestone formed by mineral-laden hot

springs on the side of the hill below the site of Hierapolis (modern Pamukkale, "cotton castle" inTurkish) 6 miles north of Laodicea

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