Smyrna in Turkey

One of Turkey’s preferred summer towns and provinces is often referred to as Smyrna, with a history that extends back in time. A Greek settlement, Culture Trip in Turkey, take a glance at the history of Smyrna and its remnants in modern-day Izmir.

Smyrna in Turkey once stood as one of the most illustrious ancient Greek cities, strategically positioned at the mouth of the Hermus river along the Aegean coast of Anatolia. When you explore its 5000-year history, you'll discover a settlement dating back to the earliest civilizations that eventually rose to remarkable power and splendor during the 7th century BC.

During its peak, this major seaport vied with Ephesus and Pergamum for the prestigious title of 'First City of Asia'. Significantly, Smyrna benefited from advantageous port conditions, easily defensible terrain, and excellent inland connections that transformed it into a wealthy trade center with nearly 100,000 residents. Furthermore, the city boasted an impressive acropolis built atop a mountain peak rising 1,250 feet high overlooking the sea.

Today, you will find the ancient Smyrna preserved within modern Izmir, Turkey. The core of the late Hellenistic and early Roman city remains accessible at the İzmir Agora Open Air Museum. In this article, you'll uncover the forgotten stories of this remarkable harbor city—from its mythical foundations and commercial prominence to its spiritual significance as one of the seven churches addressed in the Book of Revelation and ultimately, its dramatic transformation following the devastating Great Fire of 1922.

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Forgotten Legends and Founding Myths

Behind the ancient harbor of Smyrna lies a tapestry of myths and legends that offer fascinating insights into the city's origins. These forgotten stories reveal how this remarkable settlement earned its name and established its identity through powerful mythological connections.

The tale of Tantalus and Niobe

The earliest legends of Smyrna trace back to the Phrygian King Tantalus, who reportedly founded the legendary city. According to Greek mythology, Tantalus was generally considered a son of Zeus and a woman named Pluto. His close relationship with the gods ultimately led to his downfall through a horrific act of hubris.

In an attempt to test the gods' omniscience, Tantalus invited them to a lavish banquet where he served his son, Pelops, as the main course. Almost all the gods recognized this abomination and refused to partake—except for Demeter, who, distracted by grief over her daughter Persephone, consumed a portion of Pelops' shoulder. As punishment for this unthinkable crime, Tantalus was condemned to eternal torture in Hades, standing in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree with both water and fruit eternally receding from his grasp whenever he attempted to drink or eat. This punishment became so iconic that it spawned the English word "tantalize,"—meaning to torment with something desirable yet perpetually out of reach.

Niobe, Tantalus's daughter, carries another tragic connection to the region. She boasted of having fourteen children—seven sons and seven daughters—while mocking Leto, who had only two: Apollo and Artemis. Her pride provoked divine retribution as Apollo and Artemis slaughtered all fourteen of her children with poison arrows. Overcome with grief, Niobe fled to Mount Sipylus near Smyrna, where she was transformed into stone that eternally wept. This weeping rock formation in Mount Sipylus remains a natural landmark near modern Manisa, Turkey, and has been associated with Niobe's legend since antiquity.

Amazon Queen Smyrna and the city's name

The origin of the name "Smyrna" presents another captivating mythological connection. Several accounts attribute the city's name to an Amazon warrior queen named Smyrna. The Amazons, fierce female warriors from northern Anatolia, allegedly established the first settlement in this area.

Nevertheless, other historical sources suggest alternative explanations. Some scholars note that "Smyrna" was also the name of a quarter in the nearby city of Ephesus. Additionally, the settlement's history involved transitions between different cultural groups—initially established as an Aeolian settlement during the 10th century BC, but later becoming an Ionian city after Ionian refugees took control while the Aeolian inhabitants were away celebrating a feast.

Myrrh as a symbol of trade and death

Perhaps most intriguingly, the name "Smyrna" may have derived from the ancient Greek word "smýrna," meaning myrrh—an expensive aromatic substance that was the chief export of the city in ancient times. This connection between the city's name and its primary trade commodity highlights Smyrna's historical importance as a commercial hub.

Myrrh itself carried profound symbolic significance throughout the ancient world. This gum-resin extracted from trees was used for multiple purposes: as perfume, incense, medicine, and most notably, for embalming the dead. Its association with death and preservation gave it special religious importance.

In Christian tradition, myrrh appears at pivotal moments in Jesus's life. It was among the three gifts presented to the infant Jesus by the Magi, foreshadowing his sacrificial death. Later, at his crucifixion, Jesus was offered wine mixed with myrrh—likely as a narcotic to deaden pain. After his death, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus brought a substantial mixture—about 75 pounds—of myrrh and aloes to prepare Jesus's body for burial.

This connection between Smyrna and myrrh created a powerful symbolic link in early Christian understanding. The church in Smyrna, despite facing poverty and persecution, produced a "faithful testimony" that was described as rising "like the perfume of myrrh" in worship, sweet-smelling to God despite the bitterness of suffering.

Through these intertwined myths and symbols, the foundations of Smyrna take on deeper meaning, connecting divine punishment, female warrior heritage, and sacred commerce into the identity of this ancient harbor city.

The Rise of a Harbor City

At the crossroads of maritime and land trade routes, Smyrna transformed from a modest settlement into one of antiquity's most prosperous harbor cities. The exceptional growth of this remarkable port demonstrates how geographic advantages, coupled with urban innovation, created a commercial powerhouse that endured for centuries.

Smyrna's role in ancient trade routes

The commercial success of Smyrna stemmed primarily from its exceptional location along a critical intersection of trade paths. Positioned at the mouth of the small river Hermus and at the head of a deep arm of the sea, this natural harbor enabled Greek merchant ships to sail deep into the heart of Lydia. This unique geographic feature gave Smyrna an unparalleled advantage over competing ports.

One of the great trade routes across Anatolia descended the Hermus valley past Sardis before diverging from the valley and passing south of Mount Sipylus through a low mountain pass into the sheltered valley where Smyrna was nestled between mountains and sea. This positioning made the city an essential link in the commercial networks connecting inland Anatolia with Aegean markets.

The economic influence of Smyrna expanded dramatically in subsequent centuries. By the Roman period, this once small settlement had evolved into a wealthy port city with a thriving population of nearly 100,000 residents. Through this bustling harbor, raw materials for industrial textiles and agricultural products flowed from Anatolia to Western markets.

The Golden Street and urban design

The urban layout of Smyrna reflected its prosperity and Roman influence through meticulous planning and impressive architecture. According to Strabo, the streets were exceptionally well-paved with stone and arranged in a precise grid pattern at right angles[31]. This thoughtful design facilitated both commerce and civic life.

Most impressively, the main thoroughfare—appropriately named the Golden Street—ran across the city from west to east. This magnificent avenue began at the temple of Zeus Akraios on the western slope of Mount Pagus and curved around the lower slopes of the mountain like a necklace, as the orator Aristides poetically described it. The street ultimately extended toward Tepecik outside the eastern edge of the city, where the temple of Cybele likely stood.

Walking through Roman-era Smyrna, you would encounter a remarkable array of public buildings circling Mount Pagus like a crown. The cityscape featured:

• A gymnasium near the harbor
• A stadium on the west side
• A theater seating 20,000 spectators on the northwest mountain slope
• Multiple temples dedicated to Zeus, Cybele, Aphrodite, Dionysius, and the emperors
• A library and a massive agora with a bema and basilica

In essence, Smyrna exemplified the ideal Roman provincial city—organized, monumental, and designed to impress visitors and residents alike.

Competing with Ephesus and Pergamum

Throughout its history, Smyrna actively competed with neighboring Ephesus and Pergamum for regional prominence. All three cities vied for the prestigious title "First City of Asia", with Smyrna famously claiming to be Homer's birthplace to bolster its cultural credentials.

Unlike its competitors, however, Smyrna maintained its maritime advantage over time. As both Miletus and Ephesus eventually saw their harbors silt up and become unusable, Smyrna continued to thrive without rival. Moreover, Smyrna secured its political position through strategic alliances—first breaking ties with King Eumenes of Pergamum in 197 BCE and appealing directly to Rome for protection.

In a shrewd political maneuver, Smyrna created a cult dedicated to Rome itself, establishing a temple to the goddess Roma around 195 BCE. This early declaration of loyalty proved advantageous, as Rome rewarded the city with various grants and privileges after establishing the Province of Asia in 133 BCE.

Undoubtedly, the competitive spirit among these cities drove civic improvements. In particular, the Roman emperor Hadrian showed special favor to Smyrna, providing benefactions that exceeded all expectations. His gifts included 98 columns of Synnadic and Numidian marble and porphyry to adorn the gymnasium, along with tax immunity.

Through strategic positioning, thoughtful urban planning, and political savvy, Smyrna secured its place as one of the ancient world's greatest harbor cities—a vibrant center of commerce where East met West for centuries.

Voices of Faith and Resistance

Beyond its commercial prowess and mythological foundations, Smyrna emerged as a critical spiritual center for early Christianity. The small Christian community in this predominantly pagan city would ultimately become renowned for its remarkable faithfulness amid fierce persecution.

The Church of Smyrna in Revelation

The Christian community of Smyrna holds special significance as one of the Seven Churches of Asia mentioned by John of Patmos in the Book of Revelation. In fact, among these seven churches, Smyrna received a rare distinction—it was one of only two churches that Jesus addressed without any criticism or rebuke.

John's message acknowledged their suffering: "I know your tribulation and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan". Indeed, this spiritual wealth contrasted sharply with their material poverty, which stemmed from persecution rather than the city's economic conditions.

The letter promised: "Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life". This imagery of the crown carried special significance in Smyrna, where the magnificent buildings atop Mount Pagos were proudly called "the crown of Smyrna".

Polycarp's defiance and martyrdom

Certainly, no figure exemplifies this faithfulness better than Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna and disciple of the Apostle John. Around 155 AD, this elderly church leader faced a deadly choice: worship the emperor or face execution.

When commanded to renounce Christ, the 86-year-old Polycarp famously replied: "Eighty and six years have I served him, and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and Savior?". Even as officials threatened him with wild beasts and fire, he remained steadfast, responding: "You threaten me with fire which burns for an hour, and is then extinguished, but you know nothing of the fire of the coming judgment and eternal punishment".

At his execution, eyewitnesses reported that when placed on the pyre, the flames formed an arch around his body without consuming him. Consequently, executioners had to finish the job with a dagger.

Christian life under Roman rule

For ordinary Christians in Smyrna, daily life presented constant challenges. The city's passionate loyalty to Rome—having built the first temple to the goddess Roma around 195 BC and later winning a competition to build a temple to Emperor Tiberius—made it especially hostile to those refusing to worship the emperor.

Additionally, relations with the large Jewish population were often tense. Both the Jewish and Christian communities faced pressures, as Jewish leaders sometimes informed Roman authorities about Christians to maintain their own protected status.

Christians in Smyrna suffered economically as well. Many lost business opportunities because participation in trade guilds required worshiping patron deities. Others had their possessions stolen with no legal recourse. Above all, they endured these hardships because of their unwavering commitment to their faith.

This remarkable Christian community persisted through centuries of challenges. Even after Timur razed the city in 1402, historical records indicate the Christian community survived. In essence, the story of faith in Smyrna demonstrates how spiritual conviction can flourish even in the most hostile environments.

The Fall of Smyrna: 1922 and the Great Fire

The 3,000-year history of multicultural Smyrna came to a violent end in September 1922 when catastrophic events transformed the ancient city forever. This thriving cosmopolitan port would soon vanish, replaced by the Turkish city of Izmir through fire and violence.

Greek occupation and Turkish retaliation

In May 1919, Greek forces landed in Smyrna with authorization from the Allied Powers, who sought to protect the substantial ethnic Greek population. The landing triggered immediate violence—within 24 hours, looting of Turkish homes bega,n and three to four hundred Turks were killed. Throughout the occupation, atrocities were committed by both sides, fueling Turkish nationalist resistance.

By August 1922, Turkish forces commanded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk defeated the Greek army, forcing a panicked retreat toward Smyrna. On September 9, 1922, Turkish troops entered the city, marking the end of the Greek occupation. Shortly afterward, violence against the Greek and Armenian populations intensified, including the public lynching of the Orthodox Bishop Chrysostomos.

The burning of the Armenian and Greek quarters

On September 13, at least eleven separate fires mysteriously erupted across the city. The blaze began in the Armenian quarter and quickly spread due to windy conditions. Eyewitness Minnie Mills reported seeing "a Turkish officer enter the house with small tins of petroleum or benzine" before the building erupted in flames.

Within days, the inferno had consumed the entire Greek and Armenian quarters while the Turkish and Jewish neighborhoods remained oddly untouched. The fire burned until September 22, destroying approximately 25,000 buildings.

Survivor stories and foreign inaction

As flames engulfed the city, roughly 80,000-400,000 terrified refugees crowded the narrow waterfront. Captain Arthur Hepburn described "tens of thousands of terrified refugees moving aimlessly" along the quay as "the entire waterfront seemed one solid mass of humanity". Many desperately dove into the harbor to escape the inferno.

Tragically, most Allied ships cited neutrality and refused assistance. Some military bands even played loud music to drown out the screams of drowning victims. One notable exception was a Japanese freighter that dumped its cargo to rescue as many refugees as possible.

The end of a multicultural era

The catastrophe ended 3,000 years of Greek presence on Anatolia's Aegean shore. Death toll estimates range from 10,000 to 125,000 Greeks and Armenians. Additionally, approximately 30,000 able-bodied Greek and Armenian men were deported into Anatolia's interior, many dying under harsh conditions or being executed.

For centuries, Smyrna had been genuinely cosmopolitan with Jewish, Muslim, Greek, Armenian, French, and American quarters. After the fire, in its place arose Turkish Izmir—a transformation that Turkish historian Biray Kolluoḡlu Kırlı described as a "purification" where "flames devoured the cosmopolitan, hence decadent, impure culture of the city".

Echoes in Modern Izmir

Ancient Smyrna stands as a profound testament to both human achievement and tragedy. Throughout its remarkable 5000-year history, this harbor city evolved from mythological beginnings associated with Tantalus and the Amazon queen Smyrna into a commercial powerhouse that rivaled the greatest cities of antiquity. Strategic location combined with exceptional urban planning certainly contributed to its prosperity, while the resilience of its Christian community amid persecution demonstrated spiritual strength beyond measure.

The tragic events of 1922, however, forever altered the city's identity. What once flourished as a multicultural Mediterranean port subsequently transformed into modern Izmir through fire and displacement. This dramatic shift effectively erased millennia of Greek and Armenian presence along Turkey's Aegean coast.

Today, when you walk through Izmir's busy streets, remnants of ancient Smyrna lie beneath your feet, primarily preserved at the İzmir Agora Open Air Museum. These archeological treasures offer glimpses into a forgotten world where myths, commerce, and faith once intertwined. The forgotten stories of this ancient harbor city thus remind you how civilizations rise and fall, yet leave lasting imprints on human history.

Despite its ultimate fate, Smyrna's legacy endures. The same shores that witnessed Polycarp's martyrdom and later the desperate refugees fleeing the Great Fire now welcome visitors curious about this complex past. Ancient Smyrna may have vanished, yet its stories remain – tales of ambition, faith, tragedy, and transformation waiting for you to discover them.

FAQs

Q1. What is the historical significance of Smyrna?

 Smyrna, now known as Izmir, was one of the most important ancient Greek cities in Anatolia. It was a major seaport and trade center, competing with Ephesus and Pergamum for the title of 'First City of Asia'. The city has a rich 5000-year history, including mythological origins, commercial prominence, and religious significance as one of the seven churches addressed in the Book of Revelation.

Q2. How did Smyrna get its name? 

The name "Smyrna" has multiple origin stories. One attributes it to an Amazon warrior queen named Smyrna. Another suggests it derives from the ancient Greek word "smýrna," meaning myrrh, which was the city's chief export. The name also has connections to a quarter in the nearby city of Ephesus.

Q3. What role did Christianity play in ancient Smyrna? 

Smyrna was home to an important early Christian community, recognized as one of the Seven Churches of Asia in the Book of Revelation. The city is known for the martyrdom of Polycarp, its bishop and a disciple of the Apostle John. Despite facing persecution and poverty, the Christian community in Smyrna was praised for its faithfulness.

Q4. What was the "Golden Street" in Smyrna? 

The Golden Street was the main thoroughfare of ancient Smyrna. It ran from west to east, beginning at the temple of Zeus Akraios on Mount Pagus and extending towards the eastern edge of the city. This impressive avenue was part of Smyrna's well-planned urban layout, which also included a grid pattern of streets arranged at right angles.

Q5. What happened to Smyrna in 1922?

 In September 1922, Smyrna experienced a catastrophic event known as the Great Fire. Following the end of the Greek occupation and the entry of Turkish troops, fires broke out across the city, primarily affecting the Greek and Armenian quarters. The fire, along with violence and forced deportations, led to numerous casualties and effectively ended the multicultural era of Smyrna, transforming it into the Turkish city of Izmir.