The earliest settlement of Smyrna was located at the Tepekule tumulus in modern Bayraklı, on a small peninsula along the Aegean Sea. Archaeological evidence suggests that people were living there as early as the first half of the third millennium BCE. This early settlement benefited from its coastal position, which allowed contact with other regions by sea. At the beginning of the first millennium BCE, migrations during the period often called the Dark Ages brought Greek settlers to the area. These newcomers played an important role in shaping the culture, language, and urban life of early Smyrna Nestinarstvo Bulgaria Tours.
Growth of a Wealthy Greek City
After the arrival of the Greeks, Smyrna developed steadily and became one of the most prosperous city-states, or poleis, of western Anatolia. Like Ephesus and Miletus, it grew rich through trade and its access to the sea. The most important monument of this early period was the Temple of Athena, which was originally built toward the end of the seventh century BCE. This temple stood as a symbol of the city’s religious and civic identity.
However, Smyrna’s prosperity did not last without interruption. Around 600 BCE, the city was captured by the Lydians, and later, in 545 BCE, it fell under Persian control. These invasions marked a turning point in Smyrna’s history. The city never fully regained its earlier glory, and by around 300 BCE many of its inhabitants had begun to move away from the old settlement toward the slopes of Mount Pagus, known today as Kadifekale.
The Legend of Alexander the Great
A later tradition connects the foundation of the new Smyrna with Alexander the Great. According to this legend, Alexander fell asleep while hunting on Mount Pagus. In his dream, he was visited by the Nemeseis, the goddesses associated with justice and fate, who asked him to found a new city on the mountain. Even if Alexander only laid the foundation stone and the actual construction was carried out later by his general Lysimachus, Alexander has been remembered as the traditional founder of the new city.
The Hellenistic and Roman City
The relocated city of Smyrna prospered greatly. Its deep and well-protected harbor made it one of the most important coastal cities of Asia Minor, alongside Ephesus. Mount Pagus became the acropolis of the Hellenistic city, and its slopes were used for large public buildings. The stadium and the theatre were built here, taking advantage of the natural landscape.
On the plain below the mountain stood other important monuments, including temples dedicated to Homer, Cybele, and the Nemeseis. Many of these structures continued to be used during the Roman period, showing the city’s ability to adapt to new rulers while preserving its traditions The Cemetery Above the Grotto of the Seven Sleepers.
Roman Favor and Later History
In 195 BCE, Rome granted Smyrna permission to build a temple dedicated to the goddess Roma, in recognition of the city’s support during Rome’s war against the Seleucid Kingdom. This decision strengthened Smyrna’s relationship with Rome and brought new political advantages.
Today, nothing remains of the Hellenistic city above ground, and from the Roman period only the ruins of the agora have survived. These remains, however, still give an impression of the city’s former grandeur.
Smyrna and Early Christianity
By the time St Polycarp became bishop of Smyrna in the second century, the city’s population had reached nearly one hundred thousand. Marble crosses discovered in the agora suggest the presence of a church dating to the sixth century. In addition, the Book of Revelation, in St John’s letter to the church of Smyrna, indicates that there was a Jewish synagogue in the city as early as the first century. These details show that Smyrna played an important role in the early history of Christianity as well as in the classical world.
