BIBLICAL TURKEY A GUIDE TO THE JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN SITES OF ASIA MINOR Mark Wilson Table of Contents Author’s Introduction General Introduction Abbreviations Maps Turkey’s Seven Regions with Biblical Sites Jewish Communities in Asia Minor Paul’s Anatolian Journeys John’s Seven Churches of Asia Peter’s Communities Chapter 1: East Region (Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi) Natural Sites Mount Ararat (Ağrı Dağ) Euphrates River Tigris River Ancient Voice: The Gilgamesh Epic Ancient Regions Ararat, Urartu Togarmah Ancient Cities Tushpa Sidetrip: Urartian Fortresses and Ahtamar Church Chapter 2: Southeast Region (Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesi) Natural Sites Mount Ararat (Cudi Dağ) Ancient Regions Aram-naharaim Eden Gozan Paddan–aram Ancient Cities Carchemish Modern Voice: Leonard Wooley Ancient Voice: Jeremiah and the Babylonian Chronicles Edessa/Ur? Ancient Voice: Eusebius and the Abgar Tradition In-Site: Abraham and Ur Haran (Harran) Sidetrip: Göbekli Tepe Nahor Tiphsah/Zeugma Ancient Voice: Apollonius of Tyana Sidetrip: Nemrut Dağı In-Site: Harmagedon (Armageddon) on the Euphrates Sidetrip: Tur Abdin Chapter 3: Mediterranean Region (Akdeniz Bölgesi) Ancient Regions Cilicia Lycia Muzur, Musru, Musri Pamphylia Pisidia Syria Ancient Cities Adana Alexandria ad Issum In-Site: The Churches in Syria and Cilicia Sidetrip: Plain of Issus Antioch on the Orontes In-Site: Peter and Antioch Ancient Voice: The Seleucus Inscription Sidetrip: Syria Attalia Daphne Mopsuestia Sidetrip: Hierapolis Castabala and Karatepe Myra Sidetrip: Andriace In-Site: Travel on the Mediterranean Sea Patara Ancient Voice: The Lycian League and America’s Founding Fathers Sidetrip: Xanthos and Letoon Perga In-Site: Paul’s Anatolian Journeys In-Site: Why Did John Mark Leave Paul and Barnabas? In-Site: The Route from Perga to Pisidian Antioch Phaselis Pisidian Antioch In-Site: New Testament Timeline in Asia Minor In-Site: Sergius Paulus Sidetrip: Apollonia Seleucia Pieria Sidetrip: The Monastery of Simeon Stylites the Younger Sidetrip: Cyprus In-Site: Mt. Zaphon Side In-Site: The Agora and Redemption Language in the New Testament In-Site: Ancient Water Systems Sidetrip: Aspendus Tarsus In-Site: Paul of TarsusAncient Voice: Tibullus Ancient Voice: Statius Sidetrip: Cilician Gates Sidetrip: Soli/Pompeiopolis In-Site: Tarshish, Tarsus, and Jonah In-Site: Building a Roman Road Sidetrip: Roman Road at Sağlıklı Köy Sidetrip: Seleucia ad Calycadnum Chapter 4: Central Anatolian Region (İç Anadolu Bölgesi) Ancient Regions Cappadocia Galatia In-Site: North versus South Galatia? Lycaonia Meshech Phrygia Sidetrip: The Highlands of Phrygia Tubal Ancient Cities Ancyra Sidetrip: Gordium Caesarea Mazaca Sidetrip: Kanesh/Kültepe Sidetrip: Tyana Derbe Dorylaeum Sidetrip: Cotiaeum, Aizanoi, and Altıntaş Hattusha, Yazılıkaya, Alacahöyük Iconium In-Site: A Saint Called Thecla In-Site: The Via Sebaste Sidetrip: Çatalhöyük Sidetrip: Eflatun Pınar Lystra In-Site: Timothy of Lystra Pessinus Ancient Voice: Ovid Philomelium Sidetrip: Ipsus, Prymnesus, Docimium, and Synnada In-Site: Bartholomew and the Inner Lycaones Tavium Chapter 5: Aegean Region (Ege Bölgesi) Aegean Sea, Mountains and Rivers Ancient Regions and Roman Province Aeolis Asia Caria Ionia Lydia Phrygia (Asian) Ancient Voice: Josephus Ancient Cities Adramyttium Sidetrip: Lesbos Cnidus Sidetrip: Rhodes Colossae In-Site: Philemon, Onesimus, and Slavery Sidetrip: Apamea, Acmonia, and Eumeneia Ancient Voice: Dio Chrysostom’s Description of a Conventus Ephesus Ancient Voices: Antipater of Sidon and Pausanius In-Site: The Prytaneion, the Riot, and its Pillars In-Site: Celsus’ Attributes and Christian Character In-Site: The Hall of Tyrannus In-Site: Fish and Games In-Site: John and Cerinthus in the Baths In-Site: Paul and the Stadium Ancient Voice: Procopius and the Basilica of John In-Site: John and Ephesus Ancient Voice: The Acts of John and the Temple of Artemis Sidetrip: Patmos Sidetrip: Pollio Aqueduct, Belevi Mausoleum, and Metropolis Halicarnassus Sidetrip: Cos (Kos) Hierapolis In-Site: Public Toilets and the Trade of Fuller Laodicea In-Site: Laodicea’s Water System Sidetrip: Aphrodisias Ancient Voice: The Aphrodisias Jewish Inscription Magnesia ad Meandrum Sidetrip: Priene Ancient Voice: The Emperor’s Gospel Magnesia ad Sipylum Ancient Voice: Pausanius Miletus In-Site: The Gulf of Latmus Ancient Voice: Alexander Polyhistor Ancient Voice: Pseudo-Phocylides Sidetrip: The Apollo Oracle at Didyma Ancient Voice: The Didymean Apollo on Christ Sidetrip: Euromos, Mylasa, and Stratonicea Myndus Pergamum In-Site: The Use of Parchment in Early Christianity Philadelphia Sardis In-Site: The Jews in Sardis and Queen Esther In-Site: Sardis and the Royal Road Ancient Voice: Dio Chrysostum and Erasing a Name Smyrna Ancient Voice: The Martyrdom of Polycarp Ancient Voice: Asia’s Entrance into the Roman Empire In-Site: Sabbatai Zevi Sidetrip: Colophon, Notion, and Claros Thyatira In-Site: Lydia and the Trade Guilds In-Site: Food Sacrificed to Idols Tralles Ancient Voice: Ignatius and the Letter to the Trallians In-Site: Chairemon the Intercessor Trogyllium Sidetrip: Samos Chapter 6: Black Sea Region (Karadeniz Bölgesi) Ancient Region-Province Pontus Ancient Voice: Pliny the Younger Ancient Cities Amasia Ancient Voice: Strabo the Geographer Amastris Amisus/Sampsames Heraclea Pontica Sinope In-Site: Sinop, Underwater Archaeology, and Noah’s Flood Zela Chapter 7: Marmara Region (Marmara Bölgesi) Ancient Regions and Province Bithynia Ancient Voice: Pliny the Younger and his Letters to Trajan 352 Mysia Thrace Troad Ancient Cities Assos In-Site: Paul’s Walk to Assos Byzantium/Constantinople Ancient Voice: The Siloam Inscription Chalcedon Nicea In-Site: The Seven Ecumenical Councils Ancient Voice: Cassius Dio Ancient Voice: The Nicene Creed In-Site: The Seventh Ecumenical Council Nicomedia Ancient Voice: Arrian Troas, Alexandria Sidetrip: Troy Glossary Index Credits About the Author .