Overview of Thyatira
The next city in the postal route and mentioned in Revelation is Thyatira, which is located just east of Pergamum. Today, the modern Turkish village of Thyatira is busy with activity, making it hard for archaeologists to do much excavation. Most of the digging can only be done in vacant lots or yards of houses.
History and Trade in Thyatira
Archaeologically, Thyatira has not been explored much, except for some work done from 1968 to 1971. The city was known for its many trade guilds, especially those related to the textile industry. One of the most successful guilds was the dyers’ guild, which made purple dye. In fact, Lydia, a woman from Thyatira, was known for selling this purple dye. She is mentioned in Acts 16:14 in the Bible when she was converted by Paul in Philippi The Temple and Houses in Sardis.
Purple Dye and Lydia’s Business
The best purple dye was made from the murex shellfish, which could be found along the coast of the eastern Mediterranean. Phoenicians were the first to harvest these shells for the dye, and it became very important for the textile industry in Asia Minor. Purple dye was very expensive because it was the color of royalty. Lydia, who sold purple dye, was likely a wealthy woman, and her business took her as far as Philippi Private Guide Turkey.
Sardis
Overview of Sardis
Sardis is the fifth city mentioned in the Book of Revelation. In the first century, it had a population of about 120,000 people. It was located in the Hermus Valley, which was the largest and most fertile valley in Asia Minor. Sardis was built to the west of its acropolis, which was on a high part of Mount Tmolus. The Pactolus River, known for its gold, flowed beside the Temple of Artemis.
The Earthquake in A.D. 17
According to early sources, a major earthquake struck in A.D. 17, causing a lot of damage. Sardis was one of the cities hit the hardest. Even though the city was damaged, it remained an important place in the region.
