LAODICÆA on the Lycus, in Ancient Geography, a town of Phrygia, at first called Diopolis, then Rhoas. It was built by Antiochus son of Stratonice, and called after his consort Laodice. It was long an inconsiderable place; but increased toward the age of Augustus Cæsar, after having suffered in a siege from Mithridates. The fertility of the soil, and the good fortune of some of its citizens, raised it to greatness. Hiero who adorned it with many offerings, left the people his heir to more than 2000 talents. After that benefactor followed Zeno the rhetorician‡ and his son Polemo, as renowned a sophist as ever lived. This person flourished at Smyrna; but was buried here by the Syrian gate, near which were the sepulchres or collins of his ancestors. Laodicea, though inland, grew more potent than the cities on the coast, and became one of the largest towns in Phrygia. It was often damaged by earthquakes, and restored by its own opulence or by the munificence of the Roman emperors. These resources failed, and the city, it is probable, became early a scene of ruin. About the year 1097 it was possessed by the Turks, and submitted to Ducas general of the emperor Alexis. In 1120 the Turks sacked some of the cities of Phrygia by the Mæander, but were defeated by the emperor John Comnenus, who took Laodicea, and built anew or repaired the walls. About 1161 it was again unfortified. Many of the inhabitants were then killed with their bishop, or carried with their cattle into captivity by the Turks. In 1190 the German emperor, Frederick Barbarossa, going by Laodicea, with his army toward Syria on a crusade, was received so kindly, that he prayed on his knees for the prosperity of the people. About 1196 this region with Caria was dreadfully ravaged by the Turks. The sultan, on the invasion of the Tartars in 1255, gave Laodicea to the Romans; but they were unable to defend it, and it soon returned to the Turks. It is now totally ruined and deserted. Several remains of its ancient grandeur are, however, still to be seen; particularly the ruins of two theatres and an amphitheatre.—The memory of this place is consecrated in Scripture, being one of the seven churches to which St. John in the Apocalypse addresses himself, commended by St. Paul.