Ancient Aqueduct
Ancient Aqueduct near Laodicea. On the way to Laodicea we stopped along a road and saw the remains of a small section of aqueduct. Not much remains but it was still incredible to see.
When you think of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor one of the easily remembered verses is about Laodicea:."you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold" (Revelation 3:15-16). It has been suggested possibly Laodicean’s water supply came from hot springs in Hierapolis and by the time it got there it was was lukewarm. No evidence suggests this and a lake was in the way. Others have suggested that the water was from high cool mountain streams near Colossae. No evidence of that has been found either.
What has been found is a water system built by the Romans for Laodicea sometime after they began ruling the area in 133BC that came from the Baspinar spring to the south. The ceramic pipes and aqueduct are still visible - a small section of the dual travertine pipeline. Some of the pieces are filled with lime, demonstrating the high mineral content.
The spring water would became lukewarm as it traveled through the aqueducts into the city.
