Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Geographic - All Periods| ▸ |Anatolia| ▸ |Phrygia| ▸ |Laodicea ad Lycus||View Options: ![]() ![]() Laodiceia ad Lycum was founded probably by Antiochus II Theos (261 - 46 B.C.), and named after his wife Laodice. The principal deity of the city was Laodicean Zeus or Zeus Aseis. "Aseis" may be linked to the Arabic "aziz" which means powerful and may indicate Syrian influence on the cult. Laodiceia's cosmopolitan population included many people of Syrian origin. There was also a large and prosperous Jewish community whose members had freedom of worship. Laodicea is one of the oldest homes of Christianity and the seat of one of the seven churches of the Apocalypse. |