This is the first detailed study of an eyewitness account (attributed to Lucian of Samosata) of the Holy City of Hierapolis in northern Syria. This text, which is presented both in the original Greek and in translation, is one of the most important literary sources for a religion of the Roman Near East in its native setting. The introduction and commentary for the first time combine literary-historical, philological, textual, and archaeological approaches. `Review from other book by this author L. has had the good idea of bringing the verse fragments together with the EP to try at last to restore some flesh to this insubstantial presence.' Richard Hunter, Classical Review.`this is clearly more attention than Parthenius has received in quite a while ... the IP upon which L's work throws much new light and raises many questions of interest to scholars in a number of fields.' Richard Hunter, Classical Review.`a splendid and most welcome tome ... We have a valuable edition of a neglected author, worth attention.' William M. Calder III, Religious Studies Review, Vol.26, No.3. J. L. Lightfoot is a Postdoctoral Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford