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Prehistory
The Greeks settle on an earlier pre-Greek settlement, in the area that will become Laodicea.
261—253 BC
Original City of Laodicea is Founded
Laodicea is founded by Antiochus II, king of the Seleucid Empire. He names the city (and several other cities) Laodicea, after his wife Laodice. To distinguish this city from the others, it is called “Laodicea on the Lycus,” since it is on the Lycus River.
c. 213 BC
Antiochus III Relocates Jews to Laodicea
Antiochus III (The Great) brings 2,000 Jewish families to Phrygia and Laodicea from Babylonia, Mesopotamia. These are the original Jewish inhabitants of Laodicea.
188 BC
Antiochus III Defeated at the Battle of Magnesia
The Romans, allied with King Eumenes II, ruler of Pergamum, defeat Antiochus III at the Battle of Magnesia. In the Treaty of Apamea that follows, Antiochus III surrenders all territory west of the Taurus Mountains, which includes Laodicea, to Eumenes. Laodicea comes under the rule of Pergamum.
133 BC
The Romans Take Control, Laodicea Thrives
King Attalus III of Pergamum, who had no heir, bequeaths his kingdom to his allies, the Romans. The Romans take control of Laodicea, along with the rest of his kingdom. Under Roman rule, Laodicea is given the status of a free city, and thrives with its advantageous position on a major trade route. It becomes one of the most important and wealthy cities in Asia Minor, and famous for its production of black wool. Rome makes it a regional capital over 23 other cities.
1st Century BC
Laodicea Thrives Under the Romans
Laodicea is a center for the art, architecture, culture, and philosophy of the Greeks, who were greatly admired by the Romans. It also has a great medical school. Wealthy citizens embellish Laodicea with fine monuments. The city mints its own coins.
c. 60 AD
Paul the Apostle Mentions Laodicea in his Epistle to the Colossians
Specifically, Paul mentions Epaphras, a servant of Christ, who is working hard for the church in Laodicea and Hierapolis. He also mentions another named Nympha, who holds church meetings in her house in Laodicea.
60 AD
Earthquake Destroys Laodicea
A major earthquake hits the region, completely destroying Laodicea. The citizens, refusing imperial aid from Rome, begin to rebuild the city by their own means.
c. 96 AD
John Writes the Book of Revelation
John, who many believe to be the John who was one of the original twelve disciples of Jesus, has been banished to the island of Patmos off the Aegean coast of Asia Minor. He has a series of apocalyptic visions and dictates them to his assistant, Prochorus. In one of his visions, the glorified Christ gives him a message for the church of Laodicea and six other churches in Asia Minor. Christ criticizes the Laodicean church for being lukewarm—neither hot or cold, and for thinking of themselves as being rich when spiritually, they are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. Christ tells them to buy gold refined in the fire from him, and white clothes, and a salve for their eyes so they can see (Revelation 3:14—22).
1st Century AD
Martyrdom of Lulianos and Paphos
Lulianos and Paphos, two Jewish brothers with Greek names, are living in Laodicea when a non-Jewish child is found slain. The Jews are blamed for the murder. The governor threatens to kill every Jew in the city unless someone confesses to the murder. No one confesses, and the governor is about to kill all of the Jews. To save the others, Lulianos and Paphos confess to the crime, even though they are innocent. They are executed, and the rest of the Jewish community is spared.
1071 AD
Battle of Manzikert and Sack of Laodicea
The Seljuk Turks defeat the Byzantine Empire (the Eastern Roman Empire), at the Battle of Manizikert in present-day Malazgirt, in Eastern Türkiye. The Seljuk victory opened the door for their expansion into Asia Minor. Eventually the Seljuks reach Laodicea and take the city.
1119 AD
The Byzantines Recapture Laodicea
The army of the Byzantine Empire attacks and recaptures Laodicea from the Seljuk Turks. Defensive walls and fortifications are built around the city.
13th Century AD
Laodicea is Abandoned
After repeated attacks and plundering by the Seljuk Turks and the Mongols, the last surviving inhabitants of Laodicea abandon the city.
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Ken Grubb
Ken Grubb is an American travel writer, retired Special Investigator for the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI), and former adjunct instructor for the University of Maryland at NATO bases in Izmir and at Incirlik Air Base, Türkiye. He’s a former managing partner of Turkey Central LLC, where he assisted people worldwide in visiting and living in Türkiye. Ken’s passion is the ancient Christian history of Türkiye and Greece, focusing on the places where the stories of the New Testament took place. He’s lived in Türkiye for more than 20 years.
