Smyrna

City on the Aegean coast of Asia Minor in western Turkey on trade routes to Persia, one of the largest late Classical and early Byzantine sea ports. Izmir is one of the oldest cities of the Mediterranean world and of almost continuous historical importance during the last 5,000 years. Excavations indicate settlement contemporary with that of the first city of Troy, dating from the 3rd millennium BC. Greek settlement is first clearly attested by the presence of pottery dating from c 1000 BC. According to the Greek historian Herodotus, the Greek city was founded by Aeolians but soon was seized by Ionians. By the 7th century BC it had massive fortifications and blocks of two-storied houses. Captured by Lydia (Persians) c 600 BC, it was refounded by either Alexander the Great or his lieutenants in the 4th century BC at a new site on and around Mount Pagus. It soon emerged as one of the principal cities of Asia Minor throughout the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Izmir was celebrated for its wealth, beauty, library, school of medicine, and rhetorical tradition and it was one of the early seats of Christianity.

City on the west coast of Turkey, one of the oldest cities of the Mediterranean world and has been of almost continuous historical importance during the last 5,000 years. Excavations indicate settlement contemporary with that of the first city of Troy, dating from the 3rd millennium BC. Greek settlement is first attested by pottery dating from c 1000 BC. According to the Greek historian Herodotus, the Greek city was founded by Aeolians but soon was seized by Ionians. By the 7th century, it had massive fortifications and blocks of two-storied houses. Captured by Alyattes of Lydia c 600 BC, it disappeared for about 300 years until it was refounded by either Alexander the Great or his lieutenants in the 4th century BC at a new site on and around Mount Pagus. It soon emerged as one of the principal cities of Asia Minor and was later the center of a civil diocese in the Roman province of Asia, vying with Ephesus and Pergamum for the title first city of Asia." Smyrna was one of the early seats of Christianity. Capital of the province of Samos under the Byzantine emperors Smyrna was taken by the Turkmen Aydin principality in the early 14th century AD. It was annexed to the Ottoman Empire c 1425. Although severely damaged by earthquakes in 1688 and 1778 it remained a prosperous Ottoman port with a large European population. The city's landmarks include the partly excavated remains of its agora and the ancient aqueducts of Kizilçullu. The archaeological museum has a fine collection of local antiquities."

[ancient Izmir]. One of the largest late classical and early Byzantine sea ports of western Asia Minor. The early remains are now mostly covered by the modern city and so very little archaeological investigation has been possible, but historical sources have illuminated many aspects of its Byzantine period. The ancient city walls and their inscriptions have been studied and it seems that they were rebuilt and remodelled at various times during and after the 6th century. A new aqueduct was constructed in the 5th or 6th century, while it is apparent that the Roman roads radiating from the town centre were used and maintained throughout this time. Excavations in the classical period agora have established that this was also reoccupied. The chronicler Procopius relates that in the reign of Justinian (r. 527-65) the town was rebuilt after an earthquake, with new bath blocks and latrines, while a new mole and lighthouse were constructed in the harbour. Smyrna was captured by the Arabs in 654 and 672, but continued to prosper as an important bishopric and thriving naval and commercial centre until the 11th century.