Ancient City of Laodicea

Laodicea on the Lycus was founded in the middle of the 3rd century BC by Antiochus II and named after his wife Laodice. The city stood at a crossroads of trade routes, grew rich on the wool of black sheep and on banking, and in Roman times became one of the largest centres of Phrygia. It is known from the Revelation of John as one of the seven churches of Asia, and the early Christian basilica found here, dating from the beginning of the 4th century, is considered one of the oldest in the world. The earthquake of the year 60 destroyed Laodicea, and the inhabitants rebuilt it anew at their own expense, refusing help from Rome; the city was finally deserted after the tremors of the 7th century. Excavations of the last two decades have raised out of the rubble the long Syria Street with its restored colonnade, two theatres, a stadium, baths, agoras and a monumental nymphaeum. Under the pavement, stone water pipes with limescale deposits have survived; the water was taken from the springs of Hierapolis and was warm and hard. From the site the white plateau of Pamukkale is visible on the other side of the valley. The ruins lie about ten kilometres north of modern Denizli, on a low plateau between two streams.

On the map