Ancient Philadelphia

Alaşehir began as perhaps one of the first ancient cities with the name Philadelphia. It was established in 189 BC by King Eumenes II of Pergamon (197–160 BC). Eumenes II named the city for the love of his brother, who would be his successor, Attalus II (159–138 BC), whose loyalty earned him the nickname, "Philadelphos", literally meaning "one who loves his brother". The city is perhaps best known as the site of one of the seven churches of Asia in the Book of Revelation.

Lacking an heir, Attalus III Philometer, the last of the Attalid kings of Pergamum, bequeathed his kingdom, including Philadelphia, to his Roman allies when he died in 133 BC. Rome established the province of Asia in 129 BC by combining Ionia and the former Kingdom of Pergamum.

St. Jean Church, carved stone slab lying on the floor in Alaşehir

Roman Philadelphia

Philadelphia was in the administrative district of Sardis (Pliny NH 5.111). In AD 17, the city suffered badly in an earthquake, and Roman Emperor Tiberius relieved it of having to pay taxes (Tacitus Annales 2.47, cf. Strabo 12.8.18, 13.4.10, John Lydus de mensibus 4.115). In response, the city granted honors to Tiberius. Evidence from coinage reveals that Caligula helped the city; under Vespasian, Philadelphia received his cognomen, Flavia. Under Caracalla, Philadelphia housed an imperial cult. Its coins bore the word Neokoron (literally, "temple-sweeper", caretaker of the temple). A small theatre, located at the northern edge of Toptepe Hill, is all that remains of Roman Philadelphia.

St. Jean Church, carved stone slab lying on the floor in Alaşehir

Philadelphia in the Book of Revelation

Although several ancient cities bore the name of Philadelphia,^[13] it is generally agreed to be the one listed among the seven churches written to by John in the Book of Revelation.^[14] Philadelphia is listed as the sixth church of the seven. A letter specifically addressed to the Philadelphian church is recorded in Revelation 3:7–13 (Revelation 3:9). The city's history of earthquakes may lie behind the reference to making her church "a pillar in the temple" (Revelation 3:12).

Aside from the fact that Smyrna was warned of temptation lasting "ten days", and Philadelphia was promised a total exemption, or preservation, from temptation, Philadelphia shares with Smyrna the distinction of receiving nothing but praise from Christ. That explains why modern Protestant churches sometimes use "Philadelphia" as a component in the local church's name as a way of emphasizing its faithfulness.

Philadelphia in Patristic literature

Philadelphia remained a major Christian center also after the New Testament period. One of Ignatius of Antioch's epistles in early 2nd century was addressed to the Christians of that city.

Byzantine Philadelphia

Philadelphia was a prosperous Byzantine city that was called the "little Athens" in the 6th century AD because of its festivals and temples.^[15] Presumably, that indicates that the city was not entirely converted to Christianity. Ammia, the Christian prophetess, was from Philadelphia, however.^[16] In about 600, the domed Basilica of St. John was built, remains of which are the main archaeological attraction in the modern city. The Byzantine walls that once surrounded the city have all but crumbled away. A few remnants are still visible at the northeast edge of town, near the bus stand. The city was taken by the Seljuk Turks in 1074 and 1093–1094. In 1098, during the First Crusade, it was recovered by Byzantine Emperor Alexios I. In the 11th to the 15th centuries AD, it was the seat of the doux (governor) and stratopedarches (military commander) of the Thrakesion theme.

It was the centre of several revolts against ruling Byzantine emperors: in 1182, led by John Komnenos Vatatzes, and 1188–1205 or 1206, led by Theodore Mangaphas, a local Philadelphian, against Isaac II Angelos. At that time, the bishopric of Philadelphia was promoted to metropolis.^[17] In the 14th century, Philadelphia was made the metropolis of Lydia by the Greek Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople, a status that it still holds. It was granted this honour because the city did not capitulate to the Ottomans. The city was prosperous especially in the 13th and 14th centuries: there was a Genoese trading colony, and the city was an important producer of leather goods and red-dyed silk (whence, perhaps, its Turkish name, which probably means "red city").^[18] By the 14th century, the city was surrounded by Ottoman emirates but maintained nominal allegiance to the Byzantine emperor. The city remained prosperous through trade and its strategic location.

Philadelphia was an independent neutral city under the influence of the Latin Knights of Rhodes, when it was taken in 1390 by Bayezid I. Prior to Bayezid I's conquest, it was the last Byzantine Greek stronghold in Asia Minor.^[7][9] Twelve years later, it was captured by Timur, who built a wall with the corpses of his prisoners.^[4] Later, it passed into the rule of Junayd until it was ultimately captured by Murad II.^[19]

Modern period

From 1867 until 1922, Alaşehir was part of the Aidin Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire. In 1890, its population consisted of 17,000 Muslims and 4,000 Greeks according to Vital Cuinet.^[7] Through the end of the Greco-Turkish War, Alaşehir was severely affected by a fire that broke out. Patrick Kinross wrote, "Alaşehir was no more than a dark scorched cavity, defacing the hillside. Village after village had been reduced to an ash-heap."^[20] It is estimated that some 3,000 lives were lost, and 4,300 out of 4,500 buildings were destroyed in the burning of Alaşehir.^[21]

A suburb of Athens, Nea Filadelfia ("New Philadelphia"), is named from the Greek refugees from Alaşehir (in Greek known as "Philadelphia") who settled there following the war and the population exchange between Greece and Turkey of 1923.

The city was the site of the Alaşehir Congress in 1919.

In 1969, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the city and killed 53 people.^[22]