There were several cities of this name, but the Scripture
speaks only of that in Phrygia, upon the river Lycus, near Colosse. Its
ancient name was Diospolis: it was afterward called Rhoas. Lastly,
Antiochus, the son of Stratonice, rebuilt it, and called it Laodicea,
from the name of his wife Laodice. It became the mother church of
sixteen bishoprics. Its three theatres, and the immense circus, which
was capable of containing upward of thirty thousand spectators, the
spacious remains of which (with other ruins buried under ruins) are yet
to be seen, give proof of the greatness of its ancient wealth and
population; and indicate too strongly that in that city where Christians
were rebuked, without exception, for their lukewarmness, there were
multitudes who were lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. The
amphitheatre was built after the Apocalypse was written, and the warning
of the Spirit had been given to the church of the Laodiceans to be
zealous and repent. There are no sights of grandeur, nor scenes of
temptation around it now. Its own tragedy may be briefly told. It was
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot; and therefore it was loathsome in
the sight of God. And it has been blotted from the world. It is now as
desolate as its inhabitants were destitute of the fear and love of God.
It is, as described in his Travels by Dr. Smith, utterly desolated, and
without any inhabitant except wolves, and jackals, and foxes.” It can
boast of no human inhabitants, except occasionally when wandering
Turcomans pitch their tents in its spacious amphitheatre. The finest
sculptured fragments are to be seen at a considerable depth, in
excavations which have been made among the ruins. And Colonel Lake
observes, There are few ancient cities more likely than Laodicea to
preserve many curious remains of antiquity beneath the surface of the
soil. Its opulence, and the earthquakes to which it was subject, render
it probable that valuable works of art were often there buried beneath
the ruins of the public and private edifices.”
speaks only of that in Phrygia, upon the river Lycus, near Colosse. Its
ancient name was Diospolis: it was afterward called Rhoas. Lastly,
Antiochus, the son of Stratonice, rebuilt it, and called it Laodicea,
from the name of his wife Laodice. It became the mother church of
sixteen bishoprics. Its three theatres, and the immense circus, which
was capable of containing upward of thirty thousand spectators, the
spacious remains of which (with other ruins buried under ruins) are yet
to be seen, give proof of the greatness of its ancient wealth and
population; and indicate too strongly that in that city where Christians
were rebuked, without exception, for their lukewarmness, there were
multitudes who were lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. The
amphitheatre was built after the Apocalypse was written, and the warning
of the Spirit had been given to the church of the Laodiceans to be
zealous and repent. There are no sights of grandeur, nor scenes of
temptation around it now. Its own tragedy may be briefly told. It was
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot; and therefore it was loathsome in
the sight of God. And it has been blotted from the world. It is now as
desolate as its inhabitants were destitute of the fear and love of God.
It is, as described in his Travels by Dr. Smith, utterly desolated, and
without any inhabitant except wolves, and jackals, and foxes.” It can
boast of no human inhabitants, except occasionally when wandering
Turcomans pitch their tents in its spacious amphitheatre. The finest
sculptured fragments are to be seen at a considerable depth, in
excavations which have been made among the ruins. And Colonel Lake
observes, There are few ancient cities more likely than Laodicea to
preserve many curious remains of antiquity beneath the surface of the
soil. Its opulence, and the earthquakes to which it was subject, render
it probable that valuable works of art were often there buried beneath
the ruins of the public and private edifices.”