The New International Encyclopædia/Philadelphia (Asia Minor)

PHIL′ADEL′PHIA (Lat., from Gk. Φιλαδελφεια, Philadelpheia, named in honor of Attalus Philadelphus). A city of Asia Minor, now called Alashehr (the ‘reddish city,’ from the color of the hillsides in the rear), situated in the valley which runs inward from the Gulf of Smyrna, about 75 miles east by south of Smyrna (Map: Turkey in Asia, C 3). The city was founded in the second century B.C. It lay on the trade routes from the interior to the coast and assumed a position of commercial importance. Its name was changed at different times, as shown by the coins of Roman emperors, and it was a point of considerable importance in the political affairs of the Province of Asia. Philadelphia was the head of a district in which Christian churches were established very early, since messages were sent to it in the Book of Revelation (iii. 7-13). Little is known concerning the number or size of these churches. Philadelphia bore a conspicuous part in later history, figuring as a bulwark against the Turks. See Alashehr.