- Erythrae
Erythrae or Erythrai ( _el. Ἐρυθραί) later Litri, was one of the twelve
Ionia n cities ofAsia Minor , situated 22 km north-east of the port of Cyssus (modern name:Çeşme ), on a small peninsula stretching into theBay of Erythrae , at an equal distance from the mountainsMimas and Corycus, and directly opposite the island ofChios .In the peninsula, excellent wine was produced. The town was said to have been founded by Ionians under
Knopos , son ofCodrus . Never a large city, it sent only eight ships to theBattle of Lade . The Erythraeans were for a considerable time subject to the supremacy ofAthens , but towards the close of thePeloponnesian War they threw off their allegiance to that city. After the battle ofCnidus , however, they receivedConon , and paid him honours in an inscription, still extant.Erythrae was the birthplace of two prophetesses--one of whom, Sibylla, is mentioned by
Strabo as living in the early period of the city; the other,Athenais , lived in the time ofAlexander the Great .The ruins include well-preserved Hellenistic walls with towers, of which five are still visible. The acropolis (280 ft) has the theatre on its northern slope, and eastwards lie many remains of Byzantine buildings.
By the mid. 18th century and up to early 20th century, Litri was a considerable place and port, extending from the ancient harbour to the acropolis. The smaller
coasting steamers call, and there was an active trade with Chios andSmyrna .The archaeological site is situated within the settlement zone of the present-day Turkish village of
Ildırı . The site was explored in depth in the 1960s by ProfessorEkrem Akurgal , leading to precious discoveries, but has been left somewhat unattended since.ee also
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List of traditional Greek place names References
External links
* [http://idcs0100.lib.iup.edu/AncGreece/erythrae.htm History of Erythrae] Created by Dale E. Landon, Professor Emeritus of History, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
* [http://www.chlt.org/sandbox/perseus/pecs/page.1589.a.php The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites]
* [http://concise.britannica.com/ebc/article-9363882/Erythrae Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise]
* [http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/download.php?Number=970426 View Erythrai in Google Earth ]
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