Trapezus

Trapezus, strategically located on the Black Sea coast, was an important Greek colony and trade center in antiquity. It stood out as one of the busiest ports in the region, particularly during the Persian, Hellenistic, and Roman periods, forming a commercial and cultural bridge between inner Anatolia and the Black Sea. The city also played a critical military and administrative role throughout its long history.

History

The foundation of Trapezus is dated between the 8th and 7th centuries BCE, though it is traditionally accepted to have been founded in 756 BCE by Milesian colonists from Sinope. The city's name derives from its flat and elevated plateau resembling a table ("trapeza" means table in Greek). During the Persian Empire, it existed as a city dependent on the Satrapy of Cappadocia, gaining fame with Xenophon's visit during the Anabasis of the Ten Thousand in 401 BCE. Xenophon recorded Trapezus as the first Greek city his army reached after their march to the sea. During the Hellenistic Period, Trapezus became one of the important cities of the Kingdom of Pontus, particularly under Mithridates VI Eupator, when it served as one of the kingdom's strongest fortresses on the Black Sea. With its incorporation into Roman rule in the 1st century BCE, it became a strategic port and military base for the Roman Empire. Its harbor was developed during the reign of Emperor Hadrian, and it hosted legions such as Legio XV Apollinaris. Within the Roman provincial system, it was attached to Cappadocia, and later to Pontus Polemoniacus. The city's importance continued into Late Antiquity and the early Byzantine period, playing a key role in Black Sea trade.

Geographic Location

Trapezus was founded on a natural plateau surrounded by steep slopes on the Black Sea coast, where the modern city of Trabzon is located today. This elevated and flat geographical feature provided the city with significant defensive advantages and also gave it its name. Its natural harbor made it an indispensable stop on the maritime trade routes of the Black Sea. It was also the starting point of important trade routes reaching inner Anatolia, particularly Gümüşhane, Erzurum, and beyond, via the Zigana Pass. Thanks to this strategic location, it became one of the main gateways for the exchange of goods and culture between the northern and southern regions of the Black Sea. Neighboring settlements included Kerasus (Giresun) to the west and Rizeum (Rize) to the east, but Trapezus's influence and importance in the region were clearly greater.

Significance in Antiquity

Trapezus was one of the most important centers of the Black Sea in antiquity, both economically and politically. Economically, it served as an export gateway for agricultural products, timber, and especially minerals (silver, copper) coming from inner Anatolia. It was also an import center where goods arriving via the Black Sea were distributed to Anatolia. This vibrant trade enabled the city to prosper and transformed it into a commercial hub. Politically, it was one of the strongest fortresses of the Kingdom of Pontus, and during the Roman Empire, it served as an important military base and provincial center. As a center where Roman legions were stationed, it played a critical role in the security of the empire's eastern borders. Religiously, it housed temples dedicated to the gods of the Greek pantheon, offering a cultural mosaic where local cults blended with Greek beliefs. In the early Christian period, it also became an important episcopal see, effective in the spread of Christianity in the region.

Coinage

Trapezus is an ancient mint represented in the NumisTR database by 3 coin varieties. The recorded coins were struck in silver. You can browse the city's coins in the Pontus coins list.

Archaeological Remains

Due to the modern city of Trabzon being built over ancient Trapezus, archaeological remains from antiquity largely lie beneath the urban fabric. However, traces of the Roman and Byzantine periods can still be found at various points within the city. The most prominent remains are the foundational traces of the city walls and some bastions, which, although renovated in later periods (especially Byzantine and Ottoman), preserve their ancient foundations. It is known that ancient structural remains have been found beneath or in the vicinity of some mosques and churches in the city center (e.g., Fatih Mosque, formerly the Church of Panagia Chrysokephalos). Archaeological excavations and urban renewal projects occasionally uncover Roman-era mosaics, ceramics, sculptures, and architectural fragments. However, extensive remains demonstrating a complete ancient city fabric are limited due to modern construction.

Today

The settlement where ancient Trapezus was located now hosts Trabzon, one of Turkey's important cities. As one of the largest cities in the Black Sea Region, Trabzon continues to serve as a regional center for trade, culture, and transportation. Access to the city is quite easy by air via Trabzon Airport or by land with buses departing from various cities in Turkey. Although the modern city is built upon its ancient past, it contains many Byzantine and Ottoman-era structures that preserve its historical character for visitors (e.g., Hagia Sophia Museum, Trabzon Castle, Atatürk Pavilion).