Apostle Paul

Aristotle and Paul

The Doric columns of the Temple of Athena in Assos overlooking the Aegean Sea from an 800-foot cliff.

Assos: Where Philosophy, Scripture, and the Aegean Meet

Colossal columns rise upright at the restored Temple of Athena in Assos. These pillars, featuring their distinctive Doric style, were originally erected in the 6th century BC. Standing at the ruins, the cliff drops 800 feet directly into the Aegean Sea. As you might imagine, the vista is spectacular!

Historically, sailors approaching the coast used this temple's distinctive outline as a landmark. Tucked into the jagged rocks in the shadows far below lies the ancient harbor—the very heart of the city's maritime life.

A Deep History of Famous Residents

The history of Assos stretches back to the Early Bronze Age, but its "guest list" is what truly sets it apart:

  • The Philosopher: Aristotle, its most famous resident, lived and taught here for several years.

  • The Apostle: St. Paul, its most famous visitor, famously walked there to meet his companions here (see Acts 20:13).

Join Our 2026 Western Türkiye Tour

We are headed back to the heights of Assos, the walls of Troy, the vibrant streets of Istanbul, and many other foundational sites in Western Türkiye in 2026.

Experience the intersection of classical philosophy and biblical history for yourself.

Click here for an up-to-date list of our upcoming tour opportunities!

Nerium Oleander: A Man-killing Bloom

Tarsus: Where Ancient Medicine and Ministry Met

When speaking of Tarsus, the birthplace of the Apostle Paul, voices instinctively takes on a tone of reverence. In the first century, this wasn't just a bustling trade hub; it was a sophisticated center of scholarship and intellectual rigor that rivaled Athens and Alexandria.

To understand the intellectual air Paul breathed, one need only look at his contemporary: Pedanius Dioscorides.

The Man Who Defined Medicine for 1,500 Years

A physician and botanist from Tarsus, Dioscorides lived a life that overlapped significantly with Paul’s. Between AD 50 and 70—the very decades Paul was traversing the Roman Empire—Dioscorides was authoring De Materia Medica.

This five-volume encyclopedia became the undisputed gold standard for herbal remedies and pharmacology for the next 1,500 years. While Paul was writing letters that would shape the spirit, his neighbor was writing the manual that would heal the body.

The "Man-Killer" of the Wadi

One of the plants Dioscorides meticulously described is the Nerium oleander. The name itself may be derived from the Greek for "man-killer"—a fitting title for a plant that is as lethal as it is lovely.

In his writings, Dioscorides warns that:

  • Eating the plant or drinking its broth will “kill most four-footed creatures.”

  • Curiously, he suggests it could be diluted with wine as an antidote against “the bites of venomous creatures.”

I recently captured a shot of this infamous Nerium oleander (pictured above) in the rugged Wadi ath-Thamad in central Jordan. Its vibrant pink blooms look innocent enough against the desert stone, but the ancient warnings still ring true.

A Second Opinion

As for using this “man-killer” as an antidote for snakebites? Personally, I’d want a second opinion from Dr. Luke before taking that prescription! Fortunately, during my trek through the Wadi, I didn't see any snakes to put the theory to the test.

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Josephus knew about it and them

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Josephus knew about it and them

For those who are curious about the landscape of the biblical world, the Rhine River may seem to be a stretch, a reach, a foul ball. The Rhine (Grk Ρήνος, Lat Rhenus) is an unlikely entry in a Bible dictionary or atlas. It is unrecognized in the biblical text. And yet, this waterway and those who peopled its banks were known in the New Testament world, more by reputation than experience.