Sardis, Thyatira, Philadelphia, Smyrna

The Mountains, the buildings, the Bethany - at Sardis

So, what is left at some of the less famous cities of the 7 churches? Well in some cases, we might not have known what was there in the first place. Sardis was once the capital of the kingdom of Lydia, where coins are believed to have first been used. But now in Sardis there are mostly Roman ruins, with the rebuilt entrance to the old gymnasium being the most impressive building. However, there are also impressive ruins from a Jewish synagogue with some well-preserved mosaics adorning the floor.

Rebuilt entrance to the Sardis gymnasium

At the site of ancient Philadelphia, the city of Alaşehir now bustles. There is remarkably little to indicate that an old city is buried beneath the ruins of the modern one. (And I don't currently have a picture from there.)

Ruins at Thyatira

The ruins at Thyatira (modern Akhisar) are also sparse, although slightly more plentiful. This is the city where Lydia (whom Paul met in Philippi) was from. She was a seller of purple/indigo, which is quite natural since Thyatira was know for its dyeing and indigo trade.

Bethany & I at Thyatira... resting on a random fallen column

The final city that we saw on this particular day was ancient Smyrna/modern Izmir. Here part of the ancient agora has been restored, and it is quite interesting since it is actually a two-story marketplace. That is why in the picture below we are looking down on the arches of the first level. There isn't much of the ancient to see here either.

Arches of ancient agora in Smyrna/Izmir

What came to mind while we saw these cities? These places brought to more reality the fact that by the time John penned the Revelation most of the churches in this area were under some form of persecution. The message to each of these churches was "Hold fast; be faithful." And as with those churches that were receiving the completion of the canon, if we are faithful to what is written in the Word, we will have done all that is required.


Related posts: Seven Churches Intro and Miletus; Colossae, Laodecia, Hierapolis; Pergamum; previous trip to Hierapolis; previous trip to Ephesus; trip to Cappodocia