Trabzon

Trabzon
Metropolitan municipality
From top to bottom and left to right: Sumela Monastery viewed from across the Altındere valley; Atatürk's House; Lake Uzungöl; Hagia Sophia of Trabzon; Atatürk Square; a general view of the city centre from Boztepe.
Emblem of Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality
Trabzon Location of Trabzon within Turkey.
Coordinates: 41°00′N 39°44′E / 41.000°N 39.733°E / 41.000; 39.733
Country	Turkey
Province	Trabzon
Government
• Governor	Yücel Yavuz
• Mayor	Orhan Fevzi Gümrükçüoğlu (AKP)
Area
• District	188.85 km2 (72.92 sq mi)
Elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population (2012)
• Urban	768.417
• District	312,060
• District density	1,700/km2 (4,300/sq mi)
Time zone	FET (UTC+3)
Postal code	61xxx
Area code(s)	(+90) 462
Licence plate	61
Climate	Cfa

Trabzon (see other names, Turkish pronunciation: [ˈtrabzon]) is a city on the Black Sea coast of northeastern Turkey and the capital of Trabzon Province. Trabzon, located on the historical Silk Road, became a melting pot of religions, languages and culture for centuries and a trade gateway to Persia (Iran) in the southeast and the Caucasus to the northeast. The Venetian and Genoese merchants paid visits to Trebizond during the medieval period and sold silk, linen and woolen fabric; the Republic of Genoa had an important merchant colony within the city called Leonkastron that played a role to Trebizond similar to the one Galata played to Constantinople (modern Istanbul). Trabzon formed the basis of several states in its long history and was the capital city of the Empire of Trebizond between 1204 and 1461. During the early modern period, Trabzon, because of the importance of its port, became a focal point of trade to Iran and the Caucasus.

The Turkish name of the city is Trabzon. It is historically known as Trebizond, Trapezund, Tribisonde and Trapezus. In Latin, Trabzon was called Trapezus, which is the latinization of the Ancient Greek Τραπεζοῦς (Trapezous), the first name of the city. (τράπεζα meant "table" in Ancient Greek; note the table on the coin in the figure.) Both in Pontic Greek and Modern Greek, it is called Τραπεζούντα (Trapezounda). In Ottoman Turkish and Persian, it is written as طربزون. During Ottoman times, Tara Bozan was also used. Some western geographers used this name instead of the Latin Trebizond. In Laz it is known as ტამტრა (T'amt'ra) or T'rap'uzani, in Georgian it is ტრაპიზონი (T'rap'izoni) and in Armenian it is Trapizon. The 19th-century Armenian travelling priest Byjiskian called the city by other, native names, including Hurşidabat and Ozinis.