Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1909-10-28
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Of communication for commercial and military enterprises
being used in turn by the armies Of xerxes, Alexander the
Great, Frederick Barbarossa and many others. me runs
of Iaodicea lie upon a commanding elevation, which gives
a fine view of the surrounding country. About eight miles
distant stands Mount Cadmus, white with snow, Whlle all
that is left of Colossae rests at its base.
On the other hand, beyond the fertile valley of the Lycus
may be seen, ~glimmering in the sunlight, the huge cascades
which plunge over the plateau where the city of Hierapoils
is situated. Nesting at the foot of the hill, upon winch the
acropolis once stood, is the little village of Gonjeli, while
away to the south, with the mountain range Of Baba Dagn
in the background, is the larger Turkish town OF Denlzfi.
Both of these places have been practically butt from the
ruins of Laodicea.
In the spring of the year the valleys and slopes about
Laodicea are green with verdure and the surrounding coun-
try, as viewed from the ruins, presents a picture not I'M
friendly to the eye. In fact, the fields are cultivated up to
the walls of the city. But within the city limits, which prob
ably cover an area two miles square, there Is not enough
vegetation to feed a hungry goat. 1t Is a scene OF desola-
ton, where only snakes, lizards, turtles and proving Jack-
ais now seek refuge in subterranean caverns. The tomb
stone cutter from Denizli is a regular visitor. Occasionally
a camel caravan may be seen vending its way slowly
through the ruined streets. But otherwise it is a place long
since rejected and shorn of every symbol of former great
ness.
Yet Laodicea was once the chief emporium of central
Asia Minor. 1t was the seat of one of the Seven Churches.
For something like 1,400 years this city was deemed one OF
the most important to possess, not only from a military
point of view, but also from the standpoint of the snews
wherewith to conduct war. The opulent citizens of Lao
dicea often fell a prey to the greed of Roman, Tartar and
Turkish conquerors. In times Of peace the hardship caused
by earthquakes were felt as severely as was the pestilence
OF war. Yet the people were SO aLtacneu 10 their CITY tnAI
they rebuilt it repeatedly out of their own means and each
time in greater splendur than before. 1t was only when
Tamerlane scarcely left one stone upon the other and when
the Turks, about 1890 A. D., slaughtered or sold the inhabi-
tants into slavery that the city became what 1t is to-day
one vast field studded with heaps of ruins.
Considering the ravages caused by earthquakes, time
and war, Laodicea, however, even at present, is still in a
remarkable state of preservation. The stadium is almost
intact. The steps repose in the sides of a hill, which forms
a natural base for this monument. The plan of the gymna-
SUM is so well preserved that almost the entire building
can be seen. Two theaters, one of which was devoted to
music, are practically complete. Scattered over the field,
in one mass Of entangled ruins, are no end of temples with
the base OF columns still in place. The ancient aqueduct
is partially preserved and shows clearly how the water was
conducted from a long distance upon the hydrostauc prin-
ciple of it's seeking its own level The aqueduct is not a
lofty archway, such as characterize those OF Roman origin
throughout Asia Minor and Italy, but 5s built close to the
ground, and the water was conducted to- the city in massive
stone pipes UP hill and down from a distant mountain range.
In the bed Of the little river of Asopos stand the broken
piers of a bridge which once led to a Christian cemetery on
a neighboring hill opposite the city. The ancient pagan
metropolis was situated just outside the city limits, near
where the village of Gonjeli now stands. Many interesting
sarcophagi have been found and removed to various mu-
Laodicea once had three gatewaFs- which pierced
the solid walls which extended around the circumference