Smyrna/Eurydikeia

Smyrna, situated on a strategic bay on the Aegean coast of Western Anatolia, is an important port and commercial city that has seen continuous habitation from antiquity to the present day. As one of Ionia's most powerful city-states, it has historically been an economic, political, and cultural center. Its rich coinage tradition is a significant indicator reflecting the city's commercial power and independence.

History

The history of Smyrna forms the origins of the modern city of Izmir and begins with Neolithic and Early Bronze Age settlements dating back to the 3rd millennium BCE. The city's oldest known settlement is on the mound known as "Old Smyrna" located in Bayraklı. Following the Aeolian and Ionian migrations in the 11th century BCE, Smyrna acquired an Ionian identity, and by the 7th century BCE, it had become one of the most important city-states in the region. A city with a rich culture and strong fortifications during this period, it was destroyed by Lydian King Alyattes around 600 BCE and remained a rural settlement for approximately 300 years.

The city's second and most brilliant period begins in the late 4th century BCE, after Alexander the Great's Anatolian campaign. By order of Alexander or by one of his successors, Lysimachus, “New Smyrna” was founded at the foothills of Mount Pagos (Kadifekale), near the center of modern Izmir. Rapidly growing during the Hellenistic period, the city became one of the wealthiest and most significant metropolises of the Province of Asia during the Roman Empire. Known for its loyalty to Roman emperors and its emphasis on the imperial cult, Smyrna was rebuilt with the support of Roman emperors after major earthquakes in 178 BCE and 178 CE. Maintaining its importance during the Byzantine period, the city became a religious center as one of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor in early Christianity. Subsequently passing into Turkish rule, the city continued its development as one of the largest port cities of the Eastern Mediterranean under the name Izmir during the Ottoman Empire.

Geographic Location

Smyrna is strategically located on the Aegean coast of Western Anatolia, in the inner part of the Gulf of Izmir, between the fertile deltas of the Hermos (Gediz) and Kaystros (Küçük Menderes) rivers. This position allowed the city to serve as an indispensable bridge between inland Anatolia and maritime trade. Thanks to the Gulf of Izmir, a natural harbor, it gained a significant advantage in seafaring and trade. Furthermore, the acropolis established on Mount Pagos (Kadifekale) offered the city both defense and the ability to control a vast hinterland. Among neighboring cities were important Ionian cities such as Ephesus, Pergamon, Klazomenai, Erythrai, Teos, and Kolophon, with which it developed strong commercial and cultural relations. Smyrna's advantageous geography played a key role in its continuous existence as a settlement and cultural center for thousands of years.

Significance in Antiquity

Smyrna held great importance both economically and politically in antiquity. Thanks to its natural harbor on the Aegean coast, it became a pivotal center for agricultural products, olive oil, wine, and wool from inland Anatolia to reach the Mediterranean world by sea. The city also prospered as one of the important crossroads of trade between East and West, hosting a vibrant economic life with regular fairs and markets. Politically, Smyrna, considered one of the powerful members of the Ionian League, strove to maintain its independence during the Hellenistic period and became one of the most significant metropolises of the Province of Asia during the Roman Empire. Its deep loyalty to Rome and dedication to the imperial cult reinforced the city's political status and enabled it to obtain significant privileges from the empire. Religiously, in addition to the worship of traditional deities such as the Goddess Cybele, Zeus Akraios, Asclepius, and Artemis, it was one of the strong centers of the Roman Imperial cult. In early Christianity, it became an important religious center as one of the Seven Churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation. Furthermore, ancient accounts claiming Homer was born in Smyrna enhanced the city's cultural prestige, and with its schools of philosophy and rhetoric, it also became an important educational center.

Coinage

Smyrna stood out as an active minting center from ancient times. The city's coinage activities began towards the end of the 6th century BCE, influenced by Lydian coinage. Early coins were generally struck from electrum (an alloy of gold and silver); later, from the 4th century BCE onwards, silver coins (drachms, hemidrachms) and bronze coins became widespread. During the Hellenistic period, even when under the control of the Seleucids and the Kingdom of Pergamon, Smyrna maintained its independent coinage.

The obverses of Smyrna's coins typically featured the city's patron deities or symbols. For instance, the bust of Tyche, the city's goddess of fortune, Cybele, Zeus Akraios, and head portraits of Homer were frequently depicted. The figure of Homer emphasized the city's claim as the birthplace of the famous poet. The reverses usually featured symbols such as a lion, eagle, olive branch, or the city's name (ΣΜΥΡΝΑΙΩΝ) and the names of the minting magistrates. During the Roman Imperial period, Smyrna's coins continued to depict portraits of emperors and empresses, along with important city structures (temples, harbor), local deities, and mythological scenes. These coins, besides being a significant indicator of the city's commercial vitality, economic power, and political independence, offer valuable insights into ancient Smyrna's cultural and religious life. Coinage enhanced the city's prestige and facilitated its commercial activities over a wide geographical area.

Smyrna is an ancient mint represented in the NumisTR database by 268 coin varieties. The recorded coins were struck in bronze, silver, gold and nan. Authorities named on the coins include Antiochus I Soter, Seleucus Ii Callinicus, Antiochus Hierax and Lysimachus. You can browse the city's coins in the Ionia coins list.

Archaeological Remains

Ancient Smyrna, lying beneath the modern city of Izmir today, possesses rich archaeological remains. The city's oldest known settlement, "Old Smyrna" (Bayraklı Tepekule Mound), was continuously inhabited from the 3rd millennium BCE to the 6th century BCE, where remains of fortifications, house foundations, and the foundations of the Temple of Athena can be seen. The remains of "New Smyrna" from the Hellenistic and Roman periods are mostly concentrated around Kadifekale (Mount Pagos) and its vicinity.

On Kadifekale, the walls and cisterns of the ancient acropolis still stand, offering a magnificent view overlooking the Gulf of Izmir. One of the city's most important and well-preserved remains is the Roman Agora. The Izmir Agora Archaeological Site, located in the modern Konak district, reveals the splendor of the Roman-era city center with its two-story stoas, basilica, sculptures, and inscriptions. Excavations at the Agora have revealed the richness of this area, which was the center of trade, public life, and religious ceremonies. Furthermore, the remains of the ancient theater and stadium located at the foothills of Kadifekale are also partially visible. Some sections of the aqueducts that supplied the city's water needs have also survived to the present day. These remains demonstrate Smyrna's large-scale urbanization and architectural achievements in antiquity.

Today

Ancient Smyrna is located in the heart of modern Izmir, Turkey's third-largest city today. The remains of the ancient city are open to visitors as an important part of Izmir's cultural and historical heritage. The Bayraklı Tepekule Mound, known as "Old Smyrna," is located in Izmir's Bayraklı district and bears traces of the earliest settlement. The Roman Agora, the most significant remnant of Hellenistic and Roman "New Smyrna," is centrally located in the Konak district and is open to visitors under the name "Izmir Agora Archaeological Site." Kadifekale, one of Izmir's symbols, with its ancient walls and unique