Smyrna: the agora

In the Bible

The letter to Smyrna speaks of its affliction and poverty — yet you are rich — and says: be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Rev 2:8–10To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the First and the Last, who died and returned to life. I know your affliction and your poverty—though you are rich! And I am aware of the slander of those who falsely claim to be Jews, but are in fact a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Tradition

By the account his church wrote soon after, Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, was burned in the city's stadium c. 155.

Here today

The Roman agora, rebuilt after the earthquake of 178, with its vaulted basement, in the middle of modern İzmir.

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Land outlines: Natural Earth (public domain).