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Thyateira (Θυάτειρα) was an ancient Greek city in Anatolia and one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Its ruins now lay under the modern city of Akhisar, Turkey.
History of Thyateira
Thyateira was founded in the 3rd century BC or earlier. Its original names were Pelopia (Πελόπεια) followed by Semiramis (Σεμίραμις). It was renamed Thyateira in 290 BC by King Seleucus I Nicator, a Macedonian general, successor of Alexander the Great, and the founder of the Seleucid Empire. During the Roman period, the city was famous for its purple cloths.
During the early Christian period, the city had an important church. The Christian community thrived until the 1923 population exchange between Turkey and Greece. Since then the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople has maintained an exarch based in London with the title Archbishop of Thyateira. He’s responsible for the Greek Orthodox Church in Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands.
Thyateira Archaeological Site
A small section of Thyateira was excavated between 1969 and 1971 while the rest sits under the modern city of Akhisar. This excavation can be seen at the Hill Tomb (Tepe Mezarı) archaeological site in the city center. Admission to the site is 15₺ (as of July 2022). Unfortunately it was closed when we arrived, but it can be seen from outside the gates.
The most important ruin at the archaeological site is the Roman basilica. It measures 40 x 10 meters and runs north to south.
The only other significant structure is part of a colonnaded portico that has been reconstructed. It’s estimated to have a length of 100 meters. Not much else is there to see.
Akhisar Museum
The Akhisar Museum is across the street from the ruins but we didn’t have a chance to visit. It includes archaeological and ethnographic sections. Admission is 40₺ (as of July 2023).
