Hierapolis and Philadelphia

Hierapolis is not one of the cities of the Seven Churches, but a place where excavations are going on because of the hot spring. These first photos are of Pluto's Gate, and these waters were problematic; they would heal people but later kill them because they have plutonium. The statue is a copy.

There is where the hot springs come out and we could soak our feet. It felt very good after walking up a mountain to see in Laodicea and across a field. On the mountain slope was the place where Philip (of Acts) was martyred and buried.

So nice of the ancient Greeks to create this sign to warn about earthquakes.

After Laodicea's breadth and scope, Philadelphia is a disappointment. It is literally a city block with the ruins of 4th or 5th century church and them a random collection of pieces found during city maintenance and road building work. I don't begrudge them that, though. Excations on the scale of Ephesus and Laodicea are very expensive and both of those sites are isolated, where Philadelphia is in a busy (though not prosperous) city.

The Church was named St. John. Little is known about it.

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