Colossae
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Colossae or Colosse, a city of Phrygia, on the Lycus, which is a tributary of the Maeander River. It was about 12 miles above Laodicea, and near the great road from Ephesus to the Euphrates, and was at one time of some mercantile importance, although by the first century it had dwindled greatly in size and significance.
In 396 B.C., during the Persian Wars, the Persian satrap Tissaphernes was lured to Colossae and slain by an agent of the party of Cyrus.
It does not appear that St. Paul had visited this city when he wrote his letter to the church there (Col. 1:2), since he tells Philemon of his hope to visit it upon being freed from prison (see [[Philemon 1:22]]). It seems that Epaphras was the founder of the Colossian church (see Col. 1:7; 4:12).
This town fell into decay (possibly due to an earthquake), and the modern town of Chonas or Chonum occupies a site near its ruins.
A look at the classical, Byzantine, and otherwise medieval literature mentioning the site reveals a name change for part or all of Colossae to Kona. In Byzantine art, the theme of the Miracle of the Archangel Michael at Kona is intimately interlocked with the site.
Colossae / Kona has never been excavated.
Bennett, Andrew L. "Archaeology From Art: Investigating Colossae and the Miracle of the Archangel Michael at Kona." Near East Archaeological Society Bulletin 50.
Initial text from Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897 -- Please update as needed
Pliny tells that the wool of Colossae gave its name (colossinus) to the colour of the cyclamen flower.
Colin J Hemer "Letters to the seven churches of Asia in their local setting" (p200)
See also
External links
- [HolyLandPhotos.org] - map and pictures of ruins
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