Smyrna

Smyrna (greek: Σμύρνη) is an ancient city (today İzmir in Turkey) that was founded by the Ionians at a central and strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. Aided by its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence and its good inland connections, Smyrna rose to prominence before the Classical Era. Its importance can be said to have remained practically uninterrupted to this day. Its initial location at the northeastern corner of the tip of the Gulf of Smyrna is commonly called "Old Smyrna", and the city after the move to a new location on the slopes of Mount Pagos (Kadifekale today) at the time of,Alexander Great constitute Smyrna proper. The heart of that new city, principally dating from the late Hellenistic and early Roman period, before a great earthquake in 178, forms the large area of İzmir Agora Open Air Museum today (see below).