Laodikeia Archaeological Site

Founded on the south side of the Lykos River between 261 and 253 BC by Antiochos II, who named it after his wife Laodike, the city appears in ancient texts as Laodikeia on the Lykos. In Seljuk and Ottoman times it was still remembered as Ladik. It became fully Roman in 130 to 129 BC and, though repeatedly shaken by earthquakes and rebuilt, was finally abandoned after a great quake under Emperor Phokas in the early seventh century.

Excavations show continuous settlement from the Early Chalcolithic (about 5500 BC) to the seventh century AD. Cicero stayed here around 50 BC to handle legal business, when the Romans made it the centre of the Kibyra conventus, and coins minted under Caracalla show its prosperity. Its wealth came from trade at a crossroads, above all textiles, plus marble, grain and livestock. The city was laid out on a grid, spread across roughly five square kilometres.

Laodikeia mattered greatly to Christianity. It became a pilgrimage centre from the fourth century, and its church, one of the Seven Churches of Anatolia named in the Book of Revelation, was built under Constantine. Surviving remains include Anatolia's largest stadium, two theatres, four bath complexes, five agoras, five nymphaea, two main gates, a council building, temples, churches and a monumental street, all encircled by necropolis areas.