Before the decisive Battle of Magnesia in 190 BCE, the Seleucid army camped in the area around Thyateira. This important battle was fought between the Roman Republic and the Seleucid Empire, one of the great Hellenistic powers of the eastern Mediterranean. The Roman forces were led by Lucius Cornelius Scipio, while his famous brother Scipio Africanus, the victor over Hannibal, served as his advisor.
Among Rome’s allies, Eumenes II of Pergamum played a significant role and distinguished himself through his military support. The battle ended with a decisive Roman victory. As a reward for his loyalty, Eumenes II was granted control over a large territory in western Asia Minor, including the lands north of Ephesus. This victory marked the end of Seleucid power in the region and confirmed Pergamum as the dominant local kingdom under Roman protection Early Christian Churches in Pergamum.
Thyateira as a Military Stronghold
Because Thyateira lay directly on the route of any army approaching Pergamum from the south, it was of great strategic importance. For this reason, the rulers of Pergamum maintained a permanent military garrison in the town. Thyateira functioned not only as a defensive outpost but also as a supply and control center for the surrounding region.
In 133 BCE, the last king of Pergamum, Attalos III, died without an heir and left his entire kingdom to Rome. With this decision, Thyateira officially became Roman property. Under Roman rule, the city continued to exist as a military and administrative center and benefited from the stability and infrastructure of the empire.
Invasions and Byzantine Period
Like many cities of western Anatolia, Thyateira suffered greatly during the later centuries of antiquity. In the mid-third century CE, the city was attacked during the invasions of the Goths, which caused widespread destruction across the Roman provinces. Later, in the seventh and eighth centuries, Arab raids further weakened the city Sofia Sightseeing.
Despite these hardships, Thyateira did not disappear. During the Byzantine period, it became an important fortified stronghold, especially against the advancing Turkish emirates. The city experienced a period of renewed prosperity under the Lascarid dynasty, which ruled the Byzantine Empire after the fall of Constantinople to the Crusaders in 1204.
Archaeological Discoveries in the Modern City
Modern Thyateira lies beneath the present-day city of Akhisar, which has limited the amount of archaeological excavation that can be carried out. Nevertheless, excavations in the city center have revealed the remains of two important ancient structures, shedding light on the city’s later history.
The Apsed Building and Its Function
The most important discovery is a group of ruins belonging to an apsed building, probably dating from the fifth or sixth century CE. The walls were built of rubble stone bonded with lime mortar and strengthened with layers of brick. These walls still survive to a height of approximately four and a half meters, which is remarkable given the dense modern construction around them.
The southern section of the building was destroyed during the construction of a modern street. On the western side, the structure was flanked by several rectangular halls, suggesting that it was a large and multifunctional complex.
Since no religious objects or architectural elements typical of a church have been found, scholars believe that this building was not a church. Instead, it is thought to have been a civil basilica, used for administrative, legal, or commercial purposes. Such basilicas were common in Roman and early Byzantine cities and served as centers of public life.
