Month: January 2020

Colosse

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse…” – Colossians 1:1,2

A shepherd grazing his sheep at the site of ancient Colosse. His sheep are grazing along the top of an old city wall. Special thanks to my long time friend Ernest for taking this photo. I probably would not have made the effort to find Colosse if it were not for Ernest’s determination to see it.

If it were not for the sign, Colosse would be easy to miss. Unlike neighboring Laodicea and Hieropolis, Colosse has never been excavated.

  • The mound in the foreground are the buried ruins of ancient Colosse.

Colosse is mentioned by name just one time in the Bible, in the salutation of the letter that Paul wrote to the church at Colosse (Colossians 1:2). Colosse, Laodicea, and Hierapolis are all in close proximity to one another. Paul made mention of Laodicea and Hierapolis as he closed out his letter to the church at Colosse (Colossians 4:13).

  • Building stones at Colosse
  • Exposed building stones in the buried ruins of ancient Colosse.
  • Part of a marble column among some of the ruins at Colosse.
  • Not sure what this is. Saw the same thing at Hieropolis. Some sort of drainage?
  • Sheep grazing on top of tel Colosse.
  • Tel Colosse on the right of photo. “Tel” is an archeological term that refers to any man made mound where people once lived.

Hierapolis

For I bear him record, that he (Epaphras) hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. – Colossians 4:13

Roman theater at Hierapolis, constructed in the second century AD.

Hierapolis is a 15 minute drive north of the ruins at ancient Laodicea, and about a 30 minute drive from Colossae. The three cities formed a “tri-city” area. Paul made reference to Laodicea and Hieropolis in his letter to the church at Colossae. The region is known as Phrygia. Paul passed through the area during his third missionary journey. Acts 16:6  ¶Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,”

The modern name for Hierapolis is Pamukkale. Pamuk is the name used for cotton in Turkish as well as in all of the Slavic languages spoken on the Balkan peninsula. The white travertine terraces of Pamukkale are a result of deposits from the hot springs in the area.

  • Ancient columns in Cleopatra’s pool at Pamukkale (ancient Hierapolis).
Travertine terraces at Pamukkale.

Many believe that the apostle Philip was martyred at Hierapolis. There are many ruins on the hill above the ancient theater, including the alleged tomb of the apostle Philip.

  • The alleged tomb of the apostle Philip.
Hierapolis archeological site.

Assos

And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot. And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene. – Act 20:13,14

Ancient Roman theater at Assos.

On the return of the third missionary journey Paul walked the distance from Troas to Assos while the other eight in his party sailed the distance. Those accompanying Paul were “…Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. 5  These going before tarried for us at Troas. – Acts 20:4,5 Luke, the writer of Acts included himself in verse 5.

Not much is said about Assos other than that they all met up there and continued to Mitylene. On a clear day the northern coast of Mitylene island can be seen from Assos on mainland Turkey.

Today the mainstay of Assos seems to be fishing and tourism. Departing from Troas, we spent only a couple hours in Assos before continuing south toward Berga Turkey (ancient Pergamos).

Scenes from Assos.