Adramytteion

Adramyttion (modern Edremit) was a flourishing city in MYSIA, opposite LESBOS, overlooking the gulf to which it gave its name. Said to have been founded by Adramys, brother of CROESUS (Aristotle ap. Steph. Byz.s.v. Adramyteion) and reported to have beenthe seat of Croesus before his accession (Nic. Dam. FGrH 90 F 65), the city was considered Lydian in origin (Strabo 13.1.65, 613). Its Greek character was enhanced by Athenianpresence (Strabo 13.1.51, 606). Delian exileswere permitted to settle there in 422 BCE bythe Persian satrap Pharnakes (Thuc. 5.1.1), but their chief men were massacred by Tissaphernes’ general Arsakes (Thuc. 8.108.4) soon after (411). The city’s advantageous geographical location made it an attractive site totake by siege – as did Autophradates in 366 (Polyaen. Strat. 7.26), Prepelaos in 302 (Diod.Sic. 20.107.4), and ANTIOCHOS III MEGAS in 190(Livy 37.19.7–8) – or to make an administrative center in times of peace – as in the Attalid kingdom and in the Roman conventus (Plin. HN 5.122). After the city had sided with Mithradates VI in 84 BCE (App. Mith. 23), itwas the local Xenokles who pleaded for hiscountry before the Senate (Strabo 13.1.66,614). In the Roman rearrangement of the area, the city became the seat of administration of customs, portorium (lex portus Asiae, SEG39.1180). The silted-up harbor and the citywere gradually deserted, so that by the twelfthcentury CE it was impossible to tell it had everbeen inhabited (Anna Comnena Alex. 3.143).