Colossae

Colossae
Κολοσσαί (Kolossaí)
Ruins of Colossae
Shown within Turkey
Colossae (Asia)
RegionPhrygia
Coordinates37°47′12″N 29°15′36″E / 37.78667°N 29.26000°E / 37.78667; 29.26000
Part ofWest Asia

Colossae (/kəˈlɒsi/; Ancient Greek: Κολοσσαί) was an ancient city of Phrygia in southern Asia Minor (Anatolia), Turkey. The Epistle to the Colossians, an early Christian text which identifies its author as Paul the Apostle, is addressed to the church in Colossae. A significant city from the 5th century BC onwards, it had dwindled in importance by the time of Paul, and was notable for the existence of its local angel cult. It was part of the Roman and Byzantine province of Phrygia Pacatiana, before being destroyed in 1192/3 and its population relocating to nearby Chonae (Chonai, modern-day Honaz).