This city was long an inconsiderable place; but it increased towards the
age of Augustus. The fertility of the soil, and the good fortune of some
of its citizens, raised it to greatness. Several persons bequeathed
large sums to it; amongst whom may be particularly mentioned, Hiero,
Zeno the rhetorician, and Polemo his son. The first bequeathed it no
less than 2000 talents.
In ancient times Laodicea collected a very considerable revenue from its
flocks of sheep, celebrated for the fineness of their wool. "Under the
reign of the Cæsars," says an elegant writer, "the proper Asia alone
contained five hundred populous cities, enriched with all the gifts of
nature, and adorned with all the refinements of art. Eleven cities of
Asia had once disputed the honour of dedicating a temple to Tiberius,
and their respective merits were examined by the senate. Four of them
were immediately rejected, as unequal to the burthen; and among these
was Laodicea, whose splendour is still displayed in its ruins, and had
received, a little before the contest, a legacy of above 400,000_l._ by
the testament of a generous citizen. If such was the poverty of
Laodicea, what must have been the wealth of those cities whose
pretensions were admitted?"
It was first called Ramitha; but being, in process of time, greatly
embellished by Seleucus Nicator, he took advantage of his benefaction,
and called it Laodicea in honour of his mother. Cæsar afterwards named
it Juliopolis. It was in process of time included in the empire of
Saladin, conquered by Sultan Selim, and not long after nearly destroyed
by an earthquake.
It was rebuilt by a Turkish Aga. "It is thus a curiosity in its way,"
says a French Geography, "being indebted for its revival to a race of
people who usually confine their exertions to the work of destruction."
The ruins of this city have been described by several travellers. We
shall select the details left by Dr. Chandler and Mr. Kinneir. The first
ruin, says the former, is the remains of an amphitheatre, of an oblong
form, the area of which is about one thousand feet in extent, with many
seats remaining. At the west end is a wide vaulted passage, about one
hundred and forty feet long, designed for the horses and chariots; near
it is an arch, with an inscription on the mouldings, in large Greek
characters, "_To the Emperor Titus Cæsar Augustus Vespasian, seven times
consul, son of the Emperor, the God, Vespasian; and to the people_," &c.
By another ruin is a pedestal, with an inscription: "_The senate and
people have honoured Tatia, daughter of Nicostratus, son of Pericles, a
new heroine, both on account of the magistracy and ministries and public
works of her father, and on account of her great uncle, Nicostratus, who
lately, besides his other benefactions, was priest of the city, and
changed the stadium into an amphitheatre._"
On the north side of the amphitheatre is the ruin of an ample edifice.
In consists of many piers, and arches of stone, with pedestals and
marble fragments. On the west side lies a large stone with an
inscription: The city "_has exalted Ased, a man of sanctity and piety,
recorder for life; on account of the services he has performed to his
country_."
There are remains also of an Odeum. The seats remain in the side of the
hill. The whole was of marble. The proscenium lies a confused heap of
ruins. Sculpture had been lavished upon it, and the style savoured less
of Grecian taste than of Roman magnificence.
Beyond the Odeum are seen some marble arches, of, it is supposed, a
gymnasium. Westward are three other marble arches, crossing a dry
valley, as a bridge. There are also traces of the city walls, with
broken columns and pieces of marble. Within, the whole surface is filled
with pedestals and columns.
According to Mr. Kinneir, the greatest ornament is a triumphal arched
structure, of a square plan, between thirty and forty feet in height,
and encircled near the top with a handsome entablature. The arches, four
in number, are in the Roman style of architecture, supposed to have been
erected in honour of Cæsar, the patron of the city; or Germanicus, who
died at Daphne, and was greatly beloved by the Syrians. The corners are
adorned with handsome pilasters of the Corinthian order, and one of its
fronts exhibits a basso-relievo with martial instruments; hence another
traveller is inclined to suppose that it formed part of a temple
dedicated to Mars. At no great distance from this, stands a mosque,
evidently built from the ruins of another ancient edifice, of which
several columns of a portico still stand; and amidst rocks and crags
along the sea-shore may be observed a prodigious number of small
catacombs, Dr. Shaw mentions several rows of porphyry and granite
pillars.
We cannot close this account without citing what has been recently said
of the inhabitants and environs of this city:--"The environs of Ledikea
having many olive grounds, gardens, little country retreats, and places
of pleasure, the inhabitants are all fond of rural recreation; and those
who cannot find time for a longer excursion, seat themselves along the
sides of the public roads, both in the morning and in the evening, to
enjoy the freshness of the air, and, as they themselves say, to lengthen
out their days by delight[338]."