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Myra in the Bible

also known as: Demre, Turkey (modern name 2005)

Greek: Μύρα —transliteration: Mura —meaning: Myrrh —occurrences: 1 (Acts 27:5)

This was one of the chief cities of ancient Lycia, in Asia Minor, about 2½ miles from the coast of the Mediterranean Sea (Acts 27:5) on the Myros River. The city’s harbor was called Andriake.

One of the city’s products was valuable purple dye extracted from Murex shells.

The Apostle Paul disembarked at this port from the Adramyttian ship in which he had sailed from Caesarea, and entered into the Alexandrian ship, which was afterwards wrecked at Melita (Acts 27:39-44).

A large and well-preserved ancient Roman theater can be seen here (accommodating 11,000 spectators). The ancient citizens of Myra worshipped Artemis (believing that she was their city’s protector), Zeus, Athena, Tyche and Apollo.

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