and Lukaonia (mod. Ladik, BAGRW 63-A4); (B) on the Orontes or “ad Libanum” (mod.
Tell Nebi Mend, BAGRW 68-C4); (C) Pontike ̄ (mod. Gökçeyazı; BAGRW 87-A4); and
(D) Median (mod. Nihavand; BAGRW 92-D2).
A, A, D, I, P, Z.
Laodikeia on the Sea (Syria) (mod. Ladhiqiyah; 35 ̊ 31 ’ N, 35 ̊ 47 ’ E): one of the four
cities founded in Syria by Seleukos I ca 300 BCE, on an old Phoenician site, north of Arados,
south of Seleukeia “Pieria”; prosperous and prominent by ca 150 BCE, conquered by
Pompey (64 BCE), declared free by Rome ca 45 BCE. Sacked by Pescennius Niger (193/4
CE), and restored by Septimius Seuerus who made it a colonia. Prosperous center of linen and
book production; damaged by earthquakes in 494 and 555 CE. PECS 482, J.-P. Rey-Coquais;
ODB 1178, M.M. Mango; BAGRW 68-A2; BNP 7 (2005) 232–233 (#1), J. Gerber.
P, P, T.
Laodikeia (Phrugia) on the Lukos (mod. Eski Hisar, 6 km north of Denizli; 3749’
N, 2907’ E): above the confluence of the Lukos and Maiandros rivers, north of He ̄rakleia
Salbake ̄, east of Antioch on the Maiandros, and across the valley from one Hierapolis.
Prosperous trade center, refounded ca 260 BCE by Antiokhos II in honor of his wife
Laodike ̄. Antiokhos III deported Jews here from Babylo ̄n, ca 200 BCE: Iosephus, Ant. Iud.
12.3.4. Under Pergamon by 188 BCE; then under Rome from 133 BCE. The medical
school at Me ̄n Karou was nearby. Seriously damaged in the earthquake of 60 CE, restored
without outside support. An early center of Christianity, and of textile production. PECS
481 – 482, G.E. Bean; ODB 1177, C.F.W. Foss; OCD3 815, W.M. Calder and S. Sherwin-White;
BAGRW 65-B2; BNP 7 (2005) 234 (#4), K. Belke; EJ2 12.487–488, U. Rappaport.
A, A, P, T.
Laranda (mod. Karaman; 37 ̊ 10 ’ N, 33 ̊ 13 ’ E): chief town of Lukaonia, south-west along
the road from Tuana, and north-north-west of Seleukeia on the Kalukadnos; the
region was under the Seleukids 280– 189 BCE, then under Pergamon to 133 BCE, then
under Rome; at some point part of the province of Cilicia, and in the province of Galatia
from 25 BCE; much of Lukaonia was again in Cilicia from ca 150 CE, but Laranda is cited by
P, Geog. 5.6.16, as in Kappadokia. BAGRW 66-C2; BNP 7 (2005) 244, K. Belke.
N.
% Laris(s)a: besides the two listed below, there were numerous sites named Larissa: e.g.,
the Larisa of Phthiotis, BAGRW 55-C1, or the Larissa of Ludia, BAGRW 56-F5, and see
S 9.5.19, who lists a dozen or more sites. The most likely in Byzantine times may
well be that in Thessalia.
D, H.
Larissa of Syria (mod. Shaizar/Sizara; 35 ̊ 32 ’ N, 36 ̊ 35 ’ E): ancient city on the Orontes,
north of Emesa, upstream from, and dependent upon, Apameia; originally named
Sezar/Sidzara, and again usually called Sezar from the 1st c. CE. S 16.2.10;
S B, s.v. Larisa; RE 12.1 (1924) 873 (#12), L.A. Moritz; BAGRW
68-C3.
D.
Larissa of Thessalia (mod. Larisa; 39 ̊ 38 ’ N, 22 ̊ 25 ’ E): most important town of Thes-
salia, on right bank of the Peneios and roughly in the center of the eastern Thessalian
plain, occupied from prehistoric times. Flourishing artistic center in the 5th c. BCE weak-
ened by internal discord, under Macedon from 344– 196 BCE, when it became the capital
of the Thessalian League under Rome, flourishing well into the Roman Empire, sacked by
Ostrogoths in the late 5th c. and rebuilt by Justinian. PECS 485, T.S. MacKay; ODB 1180,
GAZETTEER