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Apr 17, 2017 · Feride Yalav-Heckeroth 17 April 2017. One of Turkey’s most popular summer towns and provinces used to be known as Smyrna, with a history that extends back to ancient times. An ancient Greek settlement, Culture Trip takes a look at the history of Smyrna and its remnants in modern-day Izmir.
- Ephesus-Selçuk
- Smyrna-Izmir
- Pergamum-Bergama
- Thyatira-Akhisar
- Sardis-Sart
- Philadelphia-Alaşehir
- Laodicea-Denizli
- Lessons from Rocks
Ephesus was the fourth largest city of the Roman empire in the first century. A thriving commercial center and port city, Ephesus was also the home of a temple to the goddess Artemis. The amphitheater in Ephesus, which could hold up to twenty-five thousand people, was the venue of the angry riot against Christians in Acts 19. In Revelation, Jesus c...
The ruins of Smyrna’s marketplace are nestled in a city block of the thriving seaport city, Izmir. One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities of the world, Izmir is now home to more than four million people. When we pulled up to the ruins of ancient Smyrna’s marketplace, high school students spilled out from their school. They seemed ambivalen...
The ruins of Pergamum sit atop a hill overlooking the modern-day city of Bergama. A state-of-the-art cable car carried us to the top of the hill where we viewed extensively excavated ruins. Pergamum was a principal city of the Roman empire in the first century. The most striking remnant is the steep theatre built into the side of the hill. But it w...
In the book of Acts, Lydia was a wealthy benefactress and convert to Christianity. A seller of purple cloth, Lydia’s original home was the city of Thyatira. The ancient coins of Thyatira show a multitude of guilds including linen weavers, bronze workers, potters, and bakers. Thyatira was the only city of the Seven Churches built on flat ground with...
We parked our car—the only vehicle in the gravel lot at the ruins of Sardis—and climbed out to view the extensive excavations. The legendary, wealthy King Croesus, who amassed gold from a nearby river, reigned from Sardis in the 500s BC. Ruins from an Artemis temple—originally dating from the fifth century BC and rebuilt by Alexander the Great one ...
Little remains from ancient Philadelphia. Not established until the mid-100s BC, the city of Philadelphia was the newest of churches Jesus addressed in Revelation. The modern city of Alaşehir stands on top of Philadelphia. You have to look carefully to find any signs of the city’s former life. Crumbling Byzantine walls blend into its cityscape. One...
Ongoing excavations of the city of Laodicea began only recently, in 2003. The work continues to uncover an expansive, wealthy city. Laodicea was built on a major highway and became a commercial and banking center. It was known for ear and eye medicine and for its black wool. The water was tepid and unpleasant, but nearby Hierapolis gushed hot therm...
In the subsequent days after our trip, I’ve processed a few lessons to learn from these ancient ruins and from the letters to the seven churches.
Smyrna among the cities of Ionia and Lydia ( c. 50 AD) Smyrna ( / ˈsmɜːrnə / SMUR-nə; Ancient Greek: Σμύρνη, romanized : Smýrnē, or Σμύρνα, Smýrna) was a ancient greek city located at a strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. Due to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence, and its good inland ...
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- Ephesus. The first church is in Ephesus, where St John lived. Because Ephesus was an important Roman city, the Church congregation here is believed to have been quite strong, with Christianity eventually becoming the city’s chief religion.
- Smyrna – Izmir. Smyrna in ancient times was a very wealthy and powerful city, indeed it vied with Ephesus and Pergamon for influence in the region. Today, Smyrna is located within modern-day Izmir, a city that has almost continuously been inhabited for centuries.
- Pergamon. Pergamon is one of Turkey’s most interesting and visited ancient sites. Dating as far back as the Archaic Period, the surviving structures include the Theatre, the Temples of Athena and Dionysus and the Gymnasium.
- Thyateira – Akhisar. The fourth Church, ancient Thyatira now lies within Akhisar. Once a city famed for bronze work and weaving, this modern city is now one of Turkey’s largest tobacco and olive oil growing regions.
- Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7) We spent our first full day touring in and around what is widely considered the archeological gem of Turkey: the ancient city of Ephesus.
- Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11) Restored market arches and a working fountain at the ruins of Smyrna. Archeologists believe more important ruins of the ancient city of Smyrna are buried under a huge parking garage.
- Pergamum (Revelation 2:12-18) Pergamum’s Red Basilica, a Roman-era temple to Egyptian gods that was converted into a Christian church several centuries later.
- Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29) Just a few ruins from ancient Thyatira are visible in the modern city of Akhisar.
May 29, 2019 · Old Smyrna, also known as Old Smyrna Höyük, is one of several archaeological sites within the modern day limits of Izmir in Western Anatolia, in what is today Turkey, each reflecting early versions of the modern day port city.
Smyrna is the second church mentioned in Revelation. It’s another port city about forty or fifty miles north of Ephesus along modern-day Turkey’s coastline. Today the ancient city of Smyrna is contained within the modern metropolis of Izmir, a thriving city that’s home to more than four million people.
