On Colossae

Colossae is one of the few New Testament sites in Turkey that has yet to be excavated. While there have been plans in the works to excavate the site for quite some time (notably  Dr. Michael Trainor of Flanders University in Australia), at this point no work has been undertaken. Currently its acropolis is a mound rising from the ground something like 50 yards (that’s an eyeball estimate) in the middle of a wheat field. Colossae is situated in the middle of the Lycus River valley (about 120 miles from Ephesus on the coast). During the New Testament period Colossae would have been a second or third city to Hierapolis just miles to its north. Yet, it would have been an important stop for commerce moving from the Aegean to the East. It has a gorgeous mountain vista.

Justin and I were excited at finding Colossae. Interestingly, neither our Turkish guide nor the coach driver had ever taken a group to Colossae. They had to stop once to ask for directions. It is quite unusual to see an unexcavated site.

The top of the mound is dotted with remnants of its once significant past. Here we found a very nice piece of limestone that would have been part of an ancient structure. Around me is nothing but wheat and some of them crazy big weeds that look like they could eat you. Look at the size of those cactus type weeds on either side of the stone.