LANDS AND PLACES
Several geographical features influenced the settlement of Ephesus.Located in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), the city stoodin the coastal region where the Cayster River and the Aegean Sea once met, thus enabling trade over both land and water. The archaeological remains of Ephesus occur primarily on two hills named Mount Koressos and Mount Pion and span three historical periods: the archaic period (900–560 BC), the Greco-Lydian period (560–290 BC), and the Greco-Roman period (290–through the New Testament era). During the New Testament period, Ephesus was the fourth largest city in the Mediterranean world and had a population of approximately 200,000.
Archaeologists have excavated several buildings along one of the main streets, Curetes Street, at the base of MountPayanir. The ruins include the bouleuterion, the council or assembly house, and the pyrtaneion, the seat of government.Ephesus had several temples, including ones dedicated to Domitian and Hadrian.It also had the largest Greek temple in antiquity, theArtemision, dedicated to Artemis and one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.Other temples in Ephesus include ones for Hestia and Serapis as well as a sanctuary of Zeus and Mother Goddess.
Another impressive feature at Ephesus was its theater. Construction began in the Hellenistic period, possibly the second century BC, and underwent remodeling and reconstruction during the reign of Claudius, Nero, and Trajan.Thestructure could seat approximately 25,000 people.The chief religion in Ephesus was the cult of Artemis (Diana),as evidenced by the Artemision. The worship of Artemis influenced many socio-political aspects of the city (cf. Acts 19:28).
The New Testament mentions the city of Smyrna only in the book of Revelation (Rev. 1:11; 2:8-10). Located on the coast of Asia Minor approximately 56 kilometers north of Ephesus, it occupies a site at the base of Mount Pagros by the mouth of the Melas River.Aeolianimmigrants from Greecefounded the old city during the tenth century BC. Later, during the archaic period, it became an Ionian city. Eventually, Antigonus established the Hellenistic settlement. By the Roman period, Smyrna was a thrivingRoman city and, according to the classical writer Strabo, recognized for its beauty.
Scientific explorations have revealed some parts of ancient Smyrna. Excavations have uncovered the Greco-Roman portions of the state agora, which include a courtyard, a vaulted basement, and a two-story portico. Other artifacts included busts of the imperial family, marble images of Roman gods, as well as various inscriptions.
Ancient Pergamum stood about three kilometers north of the Caicus River and 24 kilometers from the coast. Buildings on its acropolis included the palace, an impressive library, the Athena temple, and the Trajaneum. The New Testament mentions the city only twice (Rev. 1:11; 2:13).
Multiple German teams have excavated the acropolis of Pergamum since 1878. Their efforts revealed several monumental structures. For example, the Altar of Zeus has a large colonnaded court. One of its notable features is an impressive image of the gigantomachy, a mythic battle of Uranus against his children, the olympian gods.The library of Pergamum, also located on the acropolis, was one of the most impressive in the ancient world.The second largest library next to that of Alexandria, itcould have held approximately 200,000 volumes.
The city’s other monumental structures include a theater, three gymnasia, and several temples. The theater,aesthetically situated on the side of a hill, could seat 10,000 people. On the northern hill of the acropolis stood temples dedicated to Demeter and Persephone. The most massivestructure found at Pergamum was the Red Basilica, a temple dedicated to the Egyptian gods Serapis, Isis, and Harpocartes. Finally, Pergamum had the Asklepieion, one of the most important ancient centers of healing and second only to that of Epidaurus.The city of Epidaurus introduced the cult of Asclepius during the third century BC.
Originally a Macedonian colony, Thyatira was located in western Asia Minor near the Lycus River. It appears four times in the New Testament, first in the story of Lydia of Thyatira, a Christian woman and a seller of purple dye (Acts 16:14, 15) and three times as one of the seven churches of Revelation (Rev. 1:11; 2:18, 24).
Thyatira was one of the leadingcenters for the wool trade, as revealed by inscriptional evidence referring to a wool guild as well as dyers and fullers, all fitting the context for the story of Lydia in Acts 16:14.Few archaeological remains have survived at Thyatira.Most of what we know about it comes from numismatic evidence such as images of a temple of Apollo and Athena.
Located about72 kilometers east of Smyrna, Sardis was the capital of Lydia from approximately 680 to 547 BC. It only appears in the New Testament as one of the seven churches that John wrote to(Rev.1:11; 3:1, 4).Excavations of Sardis began during the early twentieth century and were resumed at various times since then. They have uncovered hundreds of sculpture pieces. Major structures include a theater, a stadium, and a gymnasium.Cybele and Artemis were the patron deities of Sardis, though the city’s main temple was dedicated to Artemis.
The discovery of a synagogue and Jewish inscriptions indicate that Sardis had a thriving Jewish population. Excavations in 1962 revealed a vastmarble hall that had undergone four stages of renovation and reconstruction.
Philadelphia appears only twice in the New Testament (Rev. 1:11; 3:7). Situated east of Smyrna and on the route to Thyatira, it was founded by Eumenes II, king of Pergamum from 197–159 BC, and named after Attalus II, the brother of Eumenes. Philadelphia did not figure prominently in ancient texts, and the archaeological remains are few and limited to images of temples on coins.
The New Testament mentions Laodicea a total of six times: four times in Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians (Col. 2:1; 4:13, 15, 16); and twice in the book of Revelation (Rev. 1:11; 3:14).Eight cities named Laodicea existed during the Greco-Roman period. The ancients referred to the Laodicea mentioned in Colossians and Revelation as Laodicea ad Lycum, situated in the Lycus valley in the region of Phrygiaand 17 kilometers from the city of Colossae.During the years 261–253 BC, Antiochus II constructed Laodiceaabove the ruins of another ancient city calledDiospolis(“city of Zeus”). Laodicea became known for its wealth because itwas a center for banking. Earthquakes plagued the city. One in AD 60 severely damaged it. However, it managed to recover without any financial assistance from elsewhere.
Excavations that tookplace during 1961–1963 exposed the nymphaeum and the aqueduct supplying water toit. A nearby spring filled the aqueduct, which led to a water tower. The tower fed a water basin in the nymphaeum, a grotto or shrine dedicated to minor women divinities who lived in nature, in this case, probably water.Scholars have suggested that the “eyesalve” mentioned in Revelation 3:18 could have been made from the Phrygian stone, thoughwe have no conclusive evidence to support this.
Bruce, “Laodiceam,” Anchor Bible Dictionary, 229, 230.
Gasque, “Philadelphia,”Anchor Bible Dictionary,304, 305.
Pedley,“Sardis,”Anchor Bible Dictionary, 984, 985.
Oster, “Ephesus,”Anchor Bible Dictionary,542-549.
Potter, “Smyrna,”Anchor Bible Dictionary,73, 74.
Stambaugh, “Thyatira,” Anchor Bible Dictionary,546.
Yamauchi, New Testament Cities in Western Asia Minor: Light from Archaeology on Citiesof Paul and the Seven Churches of Revelation.