Day 05 - Aphrodisias, Philadelphia

We started our day today with a bus ride to Aphrodisias. This place was right up my alley
- home to a marble art school! I'm an artist, and learning this was a place where this town was the marble capital of the world and an art school went on for years, I was pretty intrigued.

Aphrodisias was a small city, loved by Julius Caesar. It was pagan as pagan could be, being the patron city to Aphrodite. The city boasted a huge Sebastian, which is something walked thru to get to the temple. This was the largest ever, with 100 5'x5' marble bas relief panels that told of the gods and goddesses power and might on one side and the sad state of those who were conquered on the other. We learned later that when Christianity became the religion of Rome that they shut down the school for art at Aphrodisias. I thought maybe they could have started a conversation, and maybe that huge Sebastian could have changed to a grand scale good news story. It would have been very interesting to see what the art school might have come up with had they been led to Christianity. Art tells stories. It can be a very powerful medium. It would have been wonderful if when Constantine had decreed Christianity the state religion if the art school would have been called upon to change their focus. But we are flawed. Perhaps the message may have been distorted.

We visited the stadium that held 30,000 people to watch sport of all kinds. It was impressive, though I can't imagine how intimidating it might have been for the sportsmen and gladiators to enter, let alone those who were marked for death.

Finally, we came to Philadelphia. The Christian church there was only about 25 to 35 people
in size. I love small churches. I currently participate in a very small church, smaller than
Philadelphia. Many small churches have huge hearts. The city of Philadelphia, and by
association, the church, lost its name, lost its livelihood and lost their homes due to a variety of reasons - politics, bad leadership from Rome, and an earthquake. The letter to that church is encouraging. God tells them they are doing a good job and to keep it up. It is encouraging to me to keep the faith.

Finally, at dinner, we celebrated my husband Chris, and another Turkey trip member, Molly's birthdays. It is one of the best days of the year for me-- mid October, my husband's birthday- something beautiful is going to happen. A cake was made for them and brought out to us with singing and candles to be blown out. Everyone was served a delicious piece of cake. Happy birthday, Chris and Molly!!!!