[MAP] THE 7 CITIES

The City of Philadelphia [Brotherly Love] Modern Allahshehir

BACK

This Macedonian city came under the jurisdiction of Sardis. It was located on the slopes of mount Tmolis, near modern Allahshehr. Allahshehir stands on elevated ground in the valley of the Kuzuçay (Cogamus in antiquity), at the foot of the Bozda? (Mount Tmolus in antiquity). commanding the extensive and fertile plain of the Gediz River, (Hermus in antiquity) presents at a distance an imposing appearance. It has several mosques and churches. From one of the mineral springs comes a heavily charged water popular around Turkey.

Philadelphia, "city of brotherly love," Philadelphia had several temples. It was probaly founded by Eumenes King of Pergamum (197-160 BC) and was probably named after his brother Attalus (later reigned 159-138 BC), who through loyalty won the title Philadelphus (brother love). Lacking an heir, Pergamum King Attalus III, Philometer bequeathed his kingdom, including Philadelphia, to his Roman allies when he died in 133 BC. Rome set up the province of Asia in 129 BC by combining Ionia and the former Kingdom of Pergamum.

Located along the Cogamus River, the valley connects with the Hermus River basin to the northwest, where Sardis stood 26 miles away. The valley road was the lifeline connection between the Phyrgian territory to the east and the harbors of the Aegean to the west.  

It lies along a fault line. The region is highly volcanic and was constantly subject to earthquakes which probably resulted in much poverty. Even so it was renowned for its extensive luscious vineyards and was never entirely deserted. The earthquakes are amply recorded in history, a severe on occurring in 17 AD, which destroyed this city and eleven others. Sardis fared worse from the initial quake, but Philadelphia shook more frequently from severe aftershocks, traumatizing the population. Strabo noted the city was “ever subject to quakes”. After Emperor Tiberius aided in their rebuilding, it took the new name of “Neocaesarea” (New Caesar). Under Vespasian’s rule (69-79 AD), it changed names to “Flavia”.

In this radically pagan city there was a Grecian Jewish community with a synagogue and a faithful Christian church.

By the third century, paganism had held on in the face of a Christianizing Empire, and the city became known as “little Athens” for its dedication to deities. None of these names or epithets lasted, and today the modern city is called Alasehir.  

Coins were minted with Bacchus head depicted on them. The temple to Bacchus was above the town. The result of the frequent earthquakes have made archaeology difficult. However, illustrated below are significant remains of a temple further south at Eremos, which is most likely similar to those in Philadelphia.

A temple to Zeus. Located at Eromos

Note the placards on the columns. On each one is the name of the benefactor who donated the column. Seven were donated by a magistrate, Leo Quintus and five by another magistrate, Menecrates, who was also a physician.

The image of Zeus was probalby placed in the centre enclosure.

Temple of Zeus which might have been constructed during the reign of Hadrian (A.D. 117-138). It is evidently located outside of and north of the city. If there was also a temple outside the city of Lystra it might account for why the its citizens were going to worship Paul "before their city" near "the gates" Acts 14:13.

[TO THE TOP]

BACK