​COLOSSÆ, an ancient town of Asia Minor, in the S. part of the province of Phrygia, on the Lycus river 12 miles E. of Laodicea. It is mentioned by Xenophon as “a populous city, prosperous and great,” but in the time of Strabo had become “a small town.” It was ruined by an earthquake in 61 A. D.; but it was again rebuilt, and in the Middle Ages was named Chonæ.