Laodicea - the ancient name of several cities of western Asia, mostly founded or rebuilt in the 3rd century BC by rulers of the Seleucid dynasty, and named after Laodice, the mother of Seleucus I Nicator, or after Laodice, daughter (or possibly niece) of Antiochus I Soter and wife of Antiochus II Theos. Established as commercial centres on newly opened or reconditioned trade routes, or as strongholds for the pacification of parts of the Seleucid empire, the cities aided in the Hellenization of western Asia and subsequently in the spread of Christianity in the region.