Hierapolis or Holy City is located in the Büyük Menderes the classical Meander valley adjacent to the modern Turkish city of Pamukkale. The Phrygians built a temple in the first half of the 7th century BC. Hierapolis was founded as a thermal spa early in the 2nd century BC. In 133 BC, when Attalus III died, he bequeathed his kingdom to Rome. Hierapolis thus became part of the Roman province of Asia. In AD 17, during the rule of the emperor Tiberius, a major earthquake destroyed the city. Through Christian apostle Paul, a church was founded here while he was at Ephesus.
|
