Myrina (Mysia)

Myrina

Μυρίνα (Ancient Greek)
Ancient Myrina was located on the Beriki Tepe hill, on the left bank of the Pytikos River.
Shown within Turkey
Location	Aliağa, Izmir Province, Turkey
Region	Mysia
Coordinates	38°50′43″N 26°59′4″E / 38.84528°N 26.98444°E / 38.84528; 26.98444Coordinates: 38°50′43″N 26°59′4″E / 38.84528°N 26.98444°E / 38.84528; 26.98444
Type	Settlement
History
Associated with	Agathias

Myrina (Ancient Greek: Μυρίνα) was one of the Aeolian cities on the western coast of Mysia, about 40 stadia to the southwest of Gryneion. The former bishopric is now a Latin Catholic titular see.

Its site is believed to be occupied by the modern Sandarlik at the mouth of the Koca Çay, near the town of Aliağa in Izmir Province, in the Aegean Region of Turkey, near Kalavas(ar)i.

It is said to have been founded by one Myrinus before the other Aeolian cities, or by the Amazon Myrina.Artaxerxes gave Gryneium and Myrina to Gongylus, an Eretrian, who had been banished from his native city for favoring the interests of Persia.

Myrina was a very strong place, though not very large, and had a good harbor.Pliny the Elder mentions the fame of its oysters and that it bore the surname of Sebastopolis; while, according to Syncellus, it was also called Smyrna. An inscription (Bulletin de correspondance hellenique, V, 283) tells us that Myrina formed part of the Kingdom of Pergamon in the 3rd century BC. For some time Myrina was occupied by Philip V of Macedon; but the Romans compelled him to evacuate it, and declared the place free. Under Roman rule, Myrina was part of the Roman province of Asia Prima. It twice suffered severe earthquakes; first in the reign of Tiberius, on which occasion it received a remission of duties on account of the loss it had sustained; and a second time in the reign of Trajan. The town was restored each time, and continued to exist until a late period. It was the birthplace of Agathias, a Byzantine poet and historian of the 6th century. Myrina minted coins in Antiquity, some of which survive.