Attalia
Attalia is an ancient city mentioned in the New Testament, located in the region of Asia Minor in modern-day Turkey. Known today as Antalya. It appears across 2 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Attalia was a prosperous seaport on the Pamphylian coast of southern Asia Minor (modern Turkey), founded by Attalus II Philadelphus of Pergamum in the second century BCE and named in his honor. It appears in the New Testament in Acts 14:25, during the concluding stages of Paul and Barnabas's first missionary journey. Having completed their circuit through the cities of southern Asia Minor, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, the apostles returned through Perga in Pamphylia, preached there, and then descended to Attalia, from whose harbor they sailed back to Antioch in Syria, where they had been commissioned. Attalia's role in Paul's journey was primarily that of an embarkation point, the natural maritime gateway for travelers moving between Pamphylia and the Syrian coast. The city's excellent natural harbor made it the principal port of the region. Though its mention in Acts is brief, Attalia represents the broader pattern of Paul's use of Roman maritime infrastructure to advance the gospel westward and then back to his sending base. The return to Antioch to report to the church completed a mission that had established congregations across southern Galatia.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Attalia corresponds directly to modern Antalya, the thriving coastal city and tourist destination on Turkey's southern coast, now capital of Antalya Province. The ancient city is largely buried beneath modern urban development, but significant remains survive. The Hadrianic Gate, a triumphal arch built during the Emperor Hadrian's visit in 130 CE, stands well-preserved in the old city. Sections of ancient defensive walls and the remains of a Roman-era harbor are identifiable. The Antalya Museum houses an important collection of artifacts from the region. Archaeological investigation has been limited by continuous occupation, but the site's ancient harbor infrastructure and urban layout have been partially documented through survey and rescue excavation.
Verse Appearances (2)
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- OpenBible.info (n.d.) Bible Geocoding. Available at: https://www.openbible.info/geo/. [CC BY 4.0]
- Bagnall, R. et al. (eds.) (n.d.) Pleiades: A Gazetteer of Past Places. Available at: https://pleiades.stoa.org. [CC BY 3.0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]