Editing Chios (section)

===Roman period===

During the [[Third Macedonian War]], thirty-five vessels allied to Rome, carrying about 1,000 [[Galatia]]n troops, as well as a number of horses, were sent by [[Eumenes II]] to his brother [[Attalus II Philadelphus|Attalus]]. Leaving from Elaea, they were headed to the harbour of Phanae, planning to disembark from there to Macedonia. However, [[Perseus of Macedon|Perseus]]'s naval commander Antenor intercepted the fleet between [[Erythrae]] (on the Western coast of Turkey) and Chios. According to [[Livy]],<ref>[[Livy]], 44.28</ref> they were caught completely off-guard by Antenor. Eumenes' officers at first thought the intercepting fleet were friendly Romans, but scattered upon realizing they were facing an attack by their Macedonian enemy, some choosing to abandon ship and swim to Erythrae. Others, crashing their ships into land on Chios, fled toward the city. The Chians however closed their gates, startled at the calamity. And the Macedonians, who had docked closer to the city anyway, cut the rest of the fleet off outside the city gates, and on the road leading to the city. Of the 1,000 men, 800 were killed, 200 taken prisoner.'

After the Roman conquest Chios became part of the province of [[Asia (Roman province)|Asia]].

In the spring of 14 BC, King [[Herod the Great|Herod]] of [[Herodian kingdom|Judaea]], known for his extensive architectural projects, funded the construction of a [[stoa]] on Chios, which had suffered destruction during the [[Mithridatic Wars|Mithridatic War]]. Additionally, he settled the outstanding taxes owed by the people of Chios to the Romans.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |last=Rogers |first=Guy MacLean |title=For the Freedom of Zion: the Great Revolt of Jews against Romans, 66-74 CE |date=2021 |publisher=[[Yale University Press]] |isbn=978-0-300-24813-5 |location=New Haven |pages=22, 536}}</ref>

[[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]] remarks upon the islanders' use of variegated [[marble]] in their buildings, their appreciation for such stone above murals or other forms of artificial decoration,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0137%3Abook%3D36%3Achapter%3D5 |title=Pliny the Elder, The Natural History, BOOK XXXVI. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF STONES., CHAP. 5. (6.)—AT WHAT PERIOD MARBLE WAS FIRST USED IN BUILDINGS |publisher=Perseus.tufts.edu |access-date=2013-03-26}}</ref> and the cosmetic properties of the [[Chian earth|local earth]].<ref>Pliny, ''Nat. Hist.'', Book XXXV, Sect. 56.</ref> The marble from Chios, called ''marmor chium'' or "portasanta" today, became one of the most desirable and expensive in the Roman world and later.<ref>Pensabene P., I marmi nella Roma antica, Rome 2013, pp. 59-62.</ref> It has a pinkish coloured background containing yellow-orange, brown and grey spots of variable shape and size, separated by whitish or red veins. The name "portasanta" derives from the door jambs of St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, being made of this marble.

According to the [[Acts of the Apostles]], [[Luke the Evangelist]], [[Paul the Apostle]] and their companions passed Chios during Paul's third missionary journey, on a passage from [[Lesbos]] to [[Samos]].<ref>{{bibleverse||Acts|20:15|NKJV}}</ref>