Laodicea

Name of several ancient cities, most of which were founded by the Seleucid kings of Babylonia. The founder of the dynasty, Seleucus I, is supposed to have named five of them after his mother, Laodice.

Laodicea ad Lycum, on the banks of the Lycus in Phrygia, south of Hierapolis, is supposed to have been founded by Antiochus II (261–246 BC). Being favourably placed on the road leading from the Ionian cities to the Euphrates, it became a great commercial centre. In early times there was a medical school there and a school of sceptic philosophers. The city was destroyed by an earthquake during the reign of Nero, but was rebuilt. Afterwards it was one of the early seats of Christianity, and its prosperity declined owing to Turkish invasions. The ruins are known as Eski-Hissar.