DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4679#0064
38 II. LAODICEIA : THE GRAECO-ROMAN CITY.
Under the Pergamenian rule it was probably eclipsed by Tripolis,
which was founded to support Pergamenian interests against the
Seleucid Laodiceia. When the Eoman rule began, it was still a small
city. It sustained a siege at the hands of Mithridates in B.C. 88,
being defended by Q. Oppius, the praetor, who had hastily occupied
it with a small body of troops ; but after a time the natives sur-
rendered, and delivered Oppius over to the enemy. A Eoman
inscription (found on the Quirinal in 1637) probably relates to the
resistance offered to Mithridates, and is the record of an embassy sent
by the city in 8i to represent matters as favourably as possible1.
The account given by Strabo would suggest that some ingenuity was
needed to put the action of Laodiceia in a light quite satisfactory
to the Romans, for he seems to have considered that Oppius was
betrayed. Eut it was, apparently, able to set off its losses during
the siege against the unfortunate ending; and the inscription shows
the successful issue of the embassy and the gratitude of the city.
Though it suffered during this siege, the Eoman rule was on the
whole highly favourable to its prosperity, which steadily increased.
Tripolis, which had been a dangerous rival when Pergamos was the
capital and roads converged towards Pergamos, lay off the line of the
Eastern Highway, and lost almost all its importance.
Frequent references occur in the ancient writers to the earthquakes
which devastated the Lycos valley2. Fellows observes about the
bridge over the Asopos, that' the uncemented stones have been shaken
apart in a most singular manner, to be accounted for only by
attributing it to an earthquake.' The city suffered severely in A.D. 60
under Nero3; but owing to its great wealth it quickly obliterated all
traces without requiring any aid from the imperial government.
In other respects its history under the imperial rule was one of
almost unbroken prosperity ; and its annals during that time, if fully
knowrn, would consist chiefly of the record of dedications of public
buildings, visits of emperors and proconsuls, and similar events.
Only under Severus it seems to have been for a time in disgrace,
§ 10.
Antiochus in Syria, passing through - Omc. Sibyll. IV 106 rXijpji' AaoSiMia,
Laodiceia and Lycaonia, Polyb. V 57. o« St rpuxrei. irore aeurfio?.
1 It is in Latin and Greek : the 3 Tacitus Ann. XIV 27. The earth-
former is populus Laodicensis af Li/co quake mentioned by Syncellus p. 636
populo Romano quel sibei ealutei fitit and Orosius VII 7 as having destroyed
benefici ergo quae sibei henit/ne fecit CIL Laodiceia, Colossai, and Iliernpolis in
I 587. Similar dedications of Ephesos, 66 is probably the same. Another grout
Lycia, and an unknown city, 5S8 9. earthquake in 494 A. D. devastated also
Cp. Kaibel 9S7. Tripolis andAgathe Kome (p. 262; Add.).
Under the Pergamenian rule it was probably eclipsed by Tripolis,
which was founded to support Pergamenian interests against the
Seleucid Laodiceia. When the Eoman rule began, it was still a small
city. It sustained a siege at the hands of Mithridates in B.C. 88,
being defended by Q. Oppius, the praetor, who had hastily occupied
it with a small body of troops ; but after a time the natives sur-
rendered, and delivered Oppius over to the enemy. A Eoman
inscription (found on the Quirinal in 1637) probably relates to the
resistance offered to Mithridates, and is the record of an embassy sent
by the city in 8i to represent matters as favourably as possible1.
The account given by Strabo would suggest that some ingenuity was
needed to put the action of Laodiceia in a light quite satisfactory
to the Romans, for he seems to have considered that Oppius was
betrayed. Eut it was, apparently, able to set off its losses during
the siege against the unfortunate ending; and the inscription shows
the successful issue of the embassy and the gratitude of the city.
Though it suffered during this siege, the Eoman rule was on the
whole highly favourable to its prosperity, which steadily increased.
Tripolis, which had been a dangerous rival when Pergamos was the
capital and roads converged towards Pergamos, lay off the line of the
Eastern Highway, and lost almost all its importance.
Frequent references occur in the ancient writers to the earthquakes
which devastated the Lycos valley2. Fellows observes about the
bridge over the Asopos, that' the uncemented stones have been shaken
apart in a most singular manner, to be accounted for only by
attributing it to an earthquake.' The city suffered severely in A.D. 60
under Nero3; but owing to its great wealth it quickly obliterated all
traces without requiring any aid from the imperial government.
In other respects its history under the imperial rule was one of
almost unbroken prosperity ; and its annals during that time, if fully
knowrn, would consist chiefly of the record of dedications of public
buildings, visits of emperors and proconsuls, and similar events.
Only under Severus it seems to have been for a time in disgrace,
§ 10.
Antiochus in Syria, passing through - Omc. Sibyll. IV 106 rXijpji' AaoSiMia,
Laodiceia and Lycaonia, Polyb. V 57. o« St rpuxrei. irore aeurfio?.
1 It is in Latin and Greek : the 3 Tacitus Ann. XIV 27. The earth-
former is populus Laodicensis af Li/co quake mentioned by Syncellus p. 636
populo Romano quel sibei ealutei fitit and Orosius VII 7 as having destroyed
benefici ergo quae sibei henit/ne fecit CIL Laodiceia, Colossai, and Iliernpolis in
I 587. Similar dedications of Ephesos, 66 is probably the same. Another grout
Lycia, and an unknown city, 5S8 9. earthquake in 494 A. D. devastated also
Cp. Kaibel 9S7. Tripolis andAgathe Kome (p. 262; Add.).