After leaving Pamukkale, we drove about five miles south and bumped into a sign along the road that said "Laodicea." We were intending to tour Colosse, which was another ten miles down the road, but hey, who could resist seeing one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Needless to say, I love Turkey!!!!!!!!! We found out later that Colosse, near the modern city of Honuz, is just an unexcavated mound, and so we spent all of our available time walking around Laodicea.
Laodicea was built on top of a low-lying hill, with the Lycus River on one side and another stream on the other. It was pretty significant in its day. There is an ampitheatre on the north which holds an estimated 12,000 spectators, and another on the west with seating for 8,000. On the south is the largest stadium in Asia Minor, with the capacity to seat 20,000 spectators.
As you can see from the third picture below, the white cliffs of Pamukkale are visible across the Meander valley. One would think this would have something to do with the message to the Laodicean church: "I know thy works, that thou art neither hot nor cold: I would thou wert hot or cold. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spue thee out of my mouth ....." (Rev. 3:15, 16). The water flowing down the Pamukkale hillside is indeed lukewarm, neither hot nor cold. It is very pleasant to swim in, but not to drink.
The reconstructed temple
The travertine cliffs of Pamukkale are visible across the valley.
Going native with the locals.
2 theaters & a stadium - the arts & sports hub for Asia Minor? And probably financed with public funds like today.
ReplyDeleteYou've got to wonder where the missing parts of the stone buildings ended up.
Maybe some architect designed a building nearby, and the builder saw a cheap way to obtain material .... Actually, it was very common for succeeding generations to reuse the rock chiseled by their ancestors. I remember that the top of the colosseum in Rome was used as spoillus on other projects.
ReplyDeleteI suppose the Romans financed the theaters, but only after taking the country with the sword, hauling off some of the citizens for slaves, and exacting tribute from the remaining population. Or maybe they sold tax free municipal bonds to finance the project.