The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1909-10-29

If communication for commercial and military enterprises
being by the armies of xerxes Alexander the
Great Frederick Barbarossa and Others The ruins
Iaodcea lie upon commanding elevation which gives
view of the surrounding country About eight miles
distant stands Mount Cadmrs, white with while all
that is left of Colossae rests at it's base.
On the other hand beyond the fertile valley OF the Lycus
may gmmerng in the sunlight the huge cascades
plunge the plateau where the city of Herapos
is situated Nesting of the HILL which the
acropolis once stood, little village of Gonje, while
away to south, range OF Bahia Dash
in the background is the larger Turkish town of Denz
Both of these places have been practically built from the
ruins of Laodicea.
In the spring Of year the valleys and slopes about
Laodcea with verdre and the surrounding coun
try, viewed from the ruins presents picture not un'
friendly the In fact the fields cultivated up to
the walls of the city But within the city limits which prob
ably two miles square, there is not enough
vegetation feed hungry goat 1t is of desola
on where only snakes lizards turtles and prowlng jack
ais seek refuge in suberranean caverns The tomb
cutter from Deniz is regular visitor Occasionally
a camel caravan may be seen vending its way slowly
through ruined streets But otherwise is place long
since rejected and shorn OF every symbol OF former great
Yet Laodcea was once chief emporium of central
Minor 1t the seat of of the Seven Churches
something like 1400 this city deemed one OF
important to not only from military
point but also from the standpoint of the sneWs
wherewith conduct The opuent citizens of Lao
fell prey to the greed of Roman Tartar and
Turkish conquerors In times of the hardshps caused
by earthquakes felt severely the pestence
of people attached to their city that
they rebuilt repeatedly out of their and each
time in greater SpendOr than before 1t was only Wnen
scarcely left the other and when
Turks, about 1880 A. d. slaughtered sold the inhab
tans slavery that the city became what is to-day
one vast field studded with heaps of ruins.
Considering the ravages caused by earthquakes, time
war, Laodcea however at present, is still in
remarkable state of preservation The stadium almost
intact The steps repose the sides of hill, which forms
natural base for this monument The plan of the gymna
well preserved that almost the entire building
can Two theaters of which devoted to
music are practically complete Scattered the field
of entanged ruins no end of temples with
columns still in place The ancient aqueduct
partially and shows clearly how the water
conducted long distance the hydrostatic prn
cipe of its seeking its level The aqueduc is
lofty archway characterize those of Roman origin
throughout Asia Minor and Italy but is built close to the
and the water conducted to the city in massive
stone pipes up hill and down from distant mountain
of the little river of Asopos stand the broken
piers bridge which led to Christian cemetery
neighboring hill opposite the city, The ancient pagan
metropolis situated just outside the city limits
where village of Gonel stands Many interesting
sarcophag; have been found and removed to various
Laodicea had three gateways which pierced
solid walls which extended around the circumference