THYATIRA. - City of Lydia, founded or rather embellished and enlarged by Seleucus I (v.), who settled Macedonian colonists there, where Akhisar now stands.
The locality housed a military garrison, given its strategic position with respect to Mysia and Lydia, but its fame was connected to its industry, particularly the textile industry, widespread throughout the region since the time of Homer (cf. Iliad, IV, 141 ff.).From this city came the purple merchant Lydia (v.), who hosted the apostle Paul at Philippi after having enthusiastically embraced the Christian religion (Acts 16:14).
On the state of Christianity in T., which was perhaps evangelized by the Apostle's co-workers during his stay in Ephesus (ibid. 19:8-10), information is available from the Apocalypse (2:18-29), which, while noting the zeal and goodness of the first converts, alludes with metaphorical expression to the spread of a perverse doctrine, accompanied by serious moral laxity. In all probability this is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans (v.), mentioned in the letter addressed to nearby Pergamum (ibid. 2:15).
Angelo Penna