Smyrna (Myrrh)
Background
Smyrna was a city in western Asia Minor, which was located on the gulf of the Aegean Sea, whose superb natural harbor made the city an important commercial center. After being destroyed by the Lydians in 600 B.C. Smyrna lay in ruins for more than three centuries. It was rebuilt by two of Alexander the Great’s successors in 290 B.C. It was that rebuilt city that was the Smyrna of John’s day. The commercial center of Asia Minor, it was on the direct trade route from India and Persia to Rome.
In 195 B.C. a pagan temple was built for Roman worship. In 23 B.C. Smyrna was given the honor of building a temple to the Emperor Tiberius because of its years of faithfulness to Rome. The city became a center for the cult of emperor worship – a fanatical “religion” that later, under such emperors as Nero (A.D. 54-68) and Domitian (A.D. 81-96) brought on severe persecution for the early church.
Smyrna’s most famous street, the “Street of Gold,” curved around the slopes of the Pagos. At one end was the temple of Cybele, and at the other the temple of Zeus. In between were the temples of Apollo, Asklepios, and Aphrodite.
Smyrna was also a noted center of science and medicine.
©2012 Kenute P. Curry. All rights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment