Thyatira was the
fourth of the seven
churches of Asia
Minor to receive an
epistle from the St.
John (Rev. 2:18-29).
An important trade
center particularly
for the textile
industry of
Hellenistic and
Roman times, the
city lay along a low
lying corridor that
followed a north
south river bed
connecting the
Caicus and Hermes
River beds (Pergamum
-
Smyrna,
Laodicea Road).
Though the city
existed earlier, it
reached notoriety
when reconstructed
by Seleucus Nicator
about 300 BC.
It was said that
while he designed
the city, he was
informed of the
birth of his
daughter. He name
the city after the
news (thygater is
Greek for daughter).
It was a cultic
center to Apollo
(the sun god), and
apparent home of the
wealthy trade
guilds. It was for
centuries a frontier
fort, first for the
western edge of
Seleucus I or
Syria's territory,
then the eastern
frontier of the
Pergamene Kingdom.
It passed from the
hands of Pergamon to
Rome in 133 BCE.
The city was wealthy
in ancient times,
with its gentle
rolling hills and
fertile valleys.
Ramsey expressed
that the connection
with this inland
road was what made
Pergamon important,
so it gave careful
attention to the
cities that gave
free course to the
trade industry. It
had a garrison
maintained there
(first Seleucids,
then Pergamene, then
Roman). Ramsey notes
that The condition
of
Thyatira was the
best measure of the
power of
Pergamum. It was
considered by some
ancients to be a
city of Mysia, but
to others a city of
Lydia.
The combination of a
low plateau for an
Acropolis and the
sloping valley
surrounding it, gave
an impression of the
city as more
cosmopolitan and
open, as opposed to
the more austere
cliffs at
Pergamum. The
church at
Thyatira,
visited by St. Paul
(Acts 19:10) and
represented by a
convert who was away
doing business in
Philippi (Lydia, cp.
Acts 16:14) was also
more open to heresy.
The letter of St.
John to the church
suggests that her
openess and
gentleness in the
face of heresy
(Jezebel and
Nicolaitines) was
her downfall (Rev.
2:18-23). About 150
AD, Montanus began a
cult practice from
Thyatira,
claiming his
prophetesses spoke
with the voice of
the Holy Spirit
(hence, Montanism).
The city was
wealthy, but did not
reach its zenith
until the C2nd CE.
The trade guilds
that flourished
there included wool
workers, garment
workers, linen
workers, leather
workers, dyers
(purple), bakers,
potters, slave
dealers and bronze
smiths. Each guild
was accompanied by
its patron gods and
in many cases
included immoral
practices in
participation with
the guild members. A
faithful Christian
may have found it
difficult to live
his faith, as well
as practice his
craft.
Points of interest
for the visitor
today include the
ruins of a temple.
Thyatira's
ancient ruins were
left untouched until
Rustem Duyuran began
to excavate the site
from 1968 to 1971.
Numerous
inscriptions were
found (21 sent to
Manisa Museum),
along with the
location of the
colonnaded stoa and
other public
buildings.
