Alaşehir | |
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 Map showing Alaşehir District in Manisa Province | |
  Alaşehir Location in Turkey Show map of Turkey Alaşehir Alaşehir (Turkey Aegean) Show map of Turkey Aegean | |
| Coordinates:38°21′N28°31′E / 38.350°N 28.517°E /38.350; 28.517 | |
| Country | Turkey |
| Province | Manisa |
Area | 971 km2 (375 sq mi) |
| Population (2022)[1] | 104,717 |
| • Density | 110/km2 (280/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (TRT) |
| Area code | 0236 |
| Website | www |
Alaşehir (Turkish pronunciation:[aˈɫaʃehiɾ]) is a municipality anddistrict ofManisa Province,Turkey.[2] Its area is 971 km2,[3] and its population is 104,717 (2022).[1] It is situated in the valley of the Kuzuçay (Cogamus in antiquity), at the foot of the Bozdağ Mountain (Mount Tmolus in antiquity). The town is connected toİzmir by a 105 km (65 mi) railway.
Founded inantiquity asPhiladelphia (Greek:Φιλαδέλφεια, i.e., "the city of him who loves his brother"), the town was known as such untilit was conquered by theOttomans in 1390.
Alaşehir stands on elevated ground commanding the extensive and fertile plain of theGediz River (Hermus in antiquity), presenting an imposing appearance when seen from a distance. It has about 45mosques. There are small industries and a fair trade. From one of themineral springs comes a heavily charged water popular around Turkey.[4]
Within Turkey, the city's name is synonymous with the driedSultanaraisins, although cultivation for the fresh fruit market, less labour-intensive than the dried fruit, has gained prominence in recent decades. As Philadelphia, Alaşehir was a highly important center in theEarly Christian andByzantine periods. It remained a strong center ofOrthodox Christianity until the early 20th century,[5] and remains atitular see of theRoman Catholic Church.[6]
The Turkish name Alaşehir, which translates as "multicolored town", is first attested in the memoir of the 13th-century historianIbn Bibi.[7] The town was founded by KingAttalus II Philadelphus (r. 159–138 BC) ofPergamon with the Greek name "Philadelphia".[7][8] According to numismatic evidence, Philadelphia was briefly given the Latin name "Neocaesarea" during the reigns of theRomanemperorsCaligula (r. 37–41) andClaudius (r. 41–54).[9] The town reverted to its original name Philadelphia after Claudius, but under EmperorVespasian (r. 69–79), the town used the Latin appellationFlavia to honorthe imperial house (i.e. "Flavia Philadelphia").[10] The town remained known as Philadelphia until the Ottomanconquest in 1390.[11]
Philadelphia was historically located inLydia near the northeast foot ofMount Tmolus (modern-day Bozdağ) in the rich valley of the Cogamis river, which was a southern tributary of theHermus River (modern-day Gediz).[8][9] It was located in southernCatacecaumene, on the road connectingSardis andLaodicea. Philadelphia was well known for its vulnerability to earthquakes.[9]
Ancient episcopal sees of the late Roman province of Lydia are listed in theAnnuario Pontificio astitular sees:[12]
Alaşehir began as perhaps one of the first ancient cities with the name Philadelphia. It was established in 189 BC by KingEumenes II ofPergamon (197–160 BC).Eumenes II named the city for the love of his brother, who would be his successor,Attalus II (159–138 BC), whose loyalty earned him the nickname, "Philadelphos", literally meaning "one who loves his brother". The city is perhaps best known as the site of one of theseven churches of Asia in theBook of Revelation.[13]
Lacking an heir,Attalus III Philometer, the last of theAttalid kings of Pergamum, bequeathed his kingdom, including Philadelphia, to hisRoman allies when he died in 133 BC. Rome established the province ofAsia in 129 BC by combiningIonia and the formerKingdom of Pergamon.[14]
Philadelphia was in the administrative district ofSardis (Pliny NH 5.111). In AD 17, the city suffered badly inan earthquake, andRoman EmperorTiberius relieved it of having to pay taxes (TacitusAnnales 2.47, cf. Strabo 12.8.18, 13.4.10, John Lydusde mensibus 4.115). In response, the city granted honors to Tiberius. Evidence from coinage reveals thatCaligula helped the city; underVespasian, Philadelphia received his cognomen, Flavia. UnderCaracalla, Philadelphia housed an imperial cult. Its coins bore the wordNeokoron (literally, "temple-sweeper", caretaker of the temple). A small theatre, located at the northern edge of Toptepe Hill, is all that remains of Roman Philadelphia.
Although several ancient cities bore the name of Philadelphia,[15] it is generally agreed to be the one listed among theseven churches written to byJohn in theBook of Revelation.[16] Philadelphia is listed as the sixth church of the seven. A letter specifically addressed to the Philadelphian church is recorded inRevelation 3:7–13(Revelation 3:9). The city's history ofearthquakes may lie behind the reference to making her church "a pillar in the temple" (Revelation 3:12).[citation needed]
Aside from the fact thatSmyrna was warned oftemptation lasting "ten days", and Philadelphia was promised a total exemption, or preservation, from temptation, Philadelphia shares with Smyrna the distinction of receiving nothing but praise fromChrist. That explains why modernProtestant churches sometimes use "Philadelphia" as a component in the local church's name as a way of emphasizing its faithfulness.[citation needed]
Philadelphia remained a major Christian center also after the New Testament period. One ofIgnatius of Antioch'sepistles in early 2nd century was addressed to the Christians of that city.
Church historianEusebius recognizedAmmia of Philadelphia, an early Christian prophetess active in the late 1st and early 2nd centuries CE, as a key contributor to the apostolic prophetic tradition in the Philadelphia community. Her ministry aligned withorthodox Christianity, adhering to mainstream beliefs of the time. Eusebius described her as one who “prophesied under theNew Covenant," distinguishing her fromMontanism, who sought to claim her legacy.[17]
Philadelphia was a prosperous Byzantine city that was called the "littleAthens" in the 6th century AD because of its festivals and temples.[18] Presumably, that indicates that the city was not entirely converted toChristianity. In about 600, the domed Basilica of St. John was built, remains of which are the main archaeological attraction in the modern city. The Byzantine walls that once surrounded the city have all but crumbled away. A few remnants are still visible at the northeast edge of town, near the bus stand. The city was taken by the Seljuk Turks in 1074 and 1093–1094. In 1098, during theFirst Crusade, it was recovered byByzantine EmperorAlexios I. In the 11th to the 15th centuries AD, it was the seat of thedoux (governor) andstratopedarches (military commander) of theThrakesion theme.
It was the centre of several revolts against ruling Byzantine emperors: in 1182, led byJohn Komnenos Vatatzes, and 1188–1205 or 1206, led byTheodore Mangaphas, a local Philadelphian, againstIsaac II Angelos. At that time, the bishopric of Philadelphia was promoted tometropolis.[19] In the 14th century, Philadelphia was made the metropolis of Lydia by the Greek Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople, a status that it still holds. It was granted this honour because the city did not capitulate to the Ottomans. The city was prosperous especially in the 13th and 14th centuries: there was a Genoese trading colony, and the city was an important producer of leather goods and red-dyed silk (whence, perhaps, its Turkish name, which probably means "red city").[20] By the 14th century, the city was surrounded by Ottoman emirates but maintained nominal allegiance to the Byzantine emperor. The city remained prosperous through trade and its strategic location.
Philadelphia was an independent neutral city under the influence of the LatinKnights of Rhodes, whenit was taken in 1390 byBayezid I. Prior to Bayezid I's conquest, it was the last Byzantine Greek stronghold in Asia Minor.[7][9] Twelve years later, it was captured byTimur, who built a wall with the corpses of his prisoners.[4] Later, it passed into the rule ofJunayd until it was ultimately captured byMurad II.[21]
From 1867 until 1922, Alaşehir was part of theAidin Vilayet of theOttoman Empire. In 1890, its population consisted of 17,000 Muslims and 4,000 Greeks according toVital Cuinet.[7] Through the end of theGreco-Turkish War, Alaşehir was severely affected by a fire that broke out. Patrick Kinross wrote, "Alaşehir was no more than a dark scorched cavity, defacing the hillside. Village after village had been reduced to an ash-heap."[22] It is estimated that some 3,000 people died, and 4,300 out of 4,500 buildings were destroyed in the burning of Alaşehir.[23]
A suburb ofAthens,Nea Filadelfia ("New Philadelphia"), is named from the Greek refugees from Alaşehir (in Greek known as "Philadelphia") who settled there following the war and thepopulation exchange between Greece and Turkey of 1923.
The city was the site of theAlaşehir Congress in 1919.
In 1969, amagnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the city and killed 53 people.[24]
For survey of remains see Erdoğan (2015).[25]
There are 87neighbourhoods in Alaşehir District:[26]
Philadelphia remains the seat of theMetropolis of Philadelphia,[27] which has been atitular see since the Greco-Turkish population exchange.
Although the Philadelphia area wasan Orthodox area, theRoman Catholic Church have maintained a rivaltitular bishop of Philadelphia since the 1500s.[28] Catholic bishops have included:
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Ala-Shehr".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 472.
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Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857)."Asia".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Pétridès, S. (1913). "Philadelphia".Catholic Encyclopedia.Alaşehir inManisa Province ofTurkey | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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