Philadelphia is in a country where erosion (wearing away of the land) is happening, but the soil is very fertile. The land is alluvial, meaning it’s made of rich, natural soil. The city is known for its beautiful laurel trees and many kinds of flowers. I noticed that they grow almost everything you can imagine there. Philadelphia was especially famous for its excellent wine. The hills around the city are covered with vineyards, and the head of Bacchus (the Roman god of wine) was stamped on the city’s coins Introduction to Laodicea.
Why Philadelphia is Called “The City of Brotherly Love”
Many people think the city’s name comes from the Bible, but actually, it was named for the love between two brothers: Attalus II and his brother Eumenes, the king of Pergamum. Attalus loved and was loyal to his brother, and because of this, the city was named “the city of brotherly love.”
The Great Earthquake of A.D. 17
In A.D. 17, a huge earthquake hit Philadelphia and destroyed the city completely. It also destroyed Sardis and many other cities in the Lydian area. At that time, the Roman emperor Tiberius gave a lot of money to help rebuild these cities, and they were restored.
The Church in Philadelphia A Church Without Condemnation
The church in Philadelphia was one of the two churches (the other being Smyrna) that Jesus had no words of condemnation for. Why? Because this church had turned to the Word of God. It’s interesting that, while the churches have disappeared, both of these cities still exist today Istanbul Tour Guides.
The Christian History of Philadelphia
There is something interesting about Philadelphia’s history. There are remains of a Byzantine church there, which shows that Christianity was active in the city until the twelfth or thirteenth century. The people who now care for this area must still be Christians. Although I couldn’t speak to them, they kindly brought me a pitcher of water and a dipper on the very warm day I visited.
