View source for Alexandria Troas

{{Short description|Ancient city of the Troad, Turkey}}
{{Infobox ancient site
 | name                 = Alexandria Troas
 | native_name          = {{lang|el|Αλεξάνδρεια Τρωάς}}<br/>{{lang|tr|Eski Stambul}}
 | alternate_name       = Sigeia, Antigonia Troas, Colonia Alexandria Augusta Troas, Troas
 | image                = Troas Therme 2.JPG
 | alt                  = 
 | caption              = [[Thermae]] in Alexandria Troas
 | map_type             = Turkey
 | map_alt              = 
 | map_size             = 270
 | coordinates          = {{coord|39|45|06|N|26|09|31|E|display=inline,title}}
 | location             = Dalyan, [[Çanakkale Province]], [[Turkey]]
 | region               = [[Troad]]
 | type                 = Settlement
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 | area                 = {{convert|400|ha|abbr=on}}
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[[File:Alexandreia-Smintheus.jpg|275px|thumb|Coin ([[Didrachm]]) of Alexandreia, 102-66 BC. Obverse: Laureate head of Apollo. Reverse: [[Apollo Smintheus]] standing right, [[quiver]] over shoulder, holding bow, arrow, and [[patera]], ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝΟΣ ΣΜΙΝΘΕΩΣ [ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΕΩΝ ΑΡΧΑΓΟΡΟΥ in exergue].]]

'''Alexandria Troas''' ("Alexandria of the [[Troad]]"; {{langx|el|Αλεξάνδρεια Τρωάς}}; {{langx|tr|Eski Stambul}}, "Old [[Istanbul]]") is the site of an [[Ancient Greece|ancient Greek]] city situated on the [[Aegean Sea]] near the northern tip of [[Turkey]]'s western coast, the area known historically as [[Troad]], a little south of [[Tenedos]] (modern [[Bozcaada]]). It is located southeast of modern Dalyan, a village in the [[Ezine, Çanakkale|Ezine]] district of [[Çanakkale Province]]. The site sprawls over an estimated {{convert|400|ha}}; among the few structures remaining today are a ruined [[Thermae|bath]], an [[Odeon (building)|odeon]], a [[Theatre of ancient Greece|theatre]], [[Gymnasium (ancient Greece)|gymnasium]] complex<ref name="Freely">[[John Freely]] (2003). ''The Aegean Coast of Turkey''. Redhouse Press, Istanbul, pp.3-8.</ref> and a recently uncovered [[Stadion (running race)|stadion]].<ref name="Jacobs"/>  The circuit of the old walls can still be traced.

==History==

===Hellenistic===
According to [[Strabo]], this site was first called Sigia (Σιγία);<ref name="Freely"/><ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0099.tlg001.perseus-grc1:13.1.47 Strabo, Geography, 13.47]</ref> around 306&nbsp;BC [[Antigonus I Monophthalmus|Antigonus]] refounded the city as the much-expanded Antigonia Troas by settling the people of five other towns in Sigia,<ref name="Lendering">Jona Lendering (2006). [https://www.livius.org/aj-al/alexandria/alexandria_troas.html Alexandria in Troas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030131818/http://www.livius.org/aj-al/alexandria/alexandria_troas.html |date=2013-10-30 }} (from Livius.org). Retrieved 2010-4-15.</ref> including the once influential city of [[Neandreia]].<ref name="Jewett">Robert Jewett (2005). [http://www.philipharland.com/travel/TravelJewettTroas.pdf The Troas Project: Investigating Maritime and Land Routes to Clarify the Role of Alexandria Troas in Commerce and Religion.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719014702/http://www.philipharland.com/travel/TravelJewettTroas.pdf |date=2011-07-19 }} Retrieved 2010-4-15.</ref> It did not receive its name until its name was changed by [[Lysimachus]] to Alexandria Troas, in 301 BC, in memory of [[Alexander the Great]] [[Macedon|of Macedon]] ([[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]] merely states that the name changed from Antigonia to Alexandria<ref>[[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]], ''Naturalis Historia'' 5:124.</ref>). The city continued being called Alexandria Troas, as is stated in the 4th-5th c. AD [[Tabula Peutingeriana]]. As the chief port of north-west Asia Minor, the place prospered greatly in Roman times, becoming a "free and autonomous city" as early as 188&nbsp;BC,<ref name="Lendering"/> and the existing remains sufficiently attest its former importance. In its heyday the city may have had a population of about 100,000.<ref name="Jewett"/> [[Strabo]] mentions that a [[Roman Empire|Roman]] [[Colonia (Roman)|colony]] was created at the location in the reign of [[Augustus]], named Colonia Alexandria Augusta Troas (called simply Troas during this period). Augustus, [[Hadrian]] and the rich grammarian [[Herodes Atticus]] contributed greatly to its embellishment; the aqueduct still preserved is due to the latter. [[Julius Caesar]] and [[Constantine I|Constantine]] considered making Troas the capital of the [[Roman Empire]].<ref>{{cite CE1913|wstitle=Troas|first=Siméon|last=Vailhé|volume=15}}</ref>

===Roman===
In Roman times, it was a significant port for travelling between [[Anatolia]] and Europe. According to the account in the [[Acts of the Apostles]], [[Paul the Apostle|Paul]] [[Tarsus (city)|of Tarsus]] sailed for Europe for the first time from Alexandria Troas<ref>[[Paul the Apostle|Paul of Tarsus]]. ''[[Acts of the Apostles|Acts]]'' 16:8-11.</ref> and returned there from Europe (it was there that the episode of the raising of [[Eutychus]] occurred<ref>''[[Acts of the Apostles|Acts]]'' 20:5-12.</ref>). [[Ignatius of Antioch]] also paused at this city before continuing to his martyrdom at Rome.<ref>[[Ignatius of Antioch]]. ''Ad Philad''. 11:2; ''Ad Smyrn''. 12:1.</ref>

===Byzantine===
Several of its later [[bishop]]s are known: Marinus in 325; Niconius in 344; Sylvanus at the beginning of the 5th century; Pionius in 451; Leo in 787; Peter, friend of the [[Patriarch Ignatius of Constantinople|Patriarch Ignatius]], and adversary to Michael, in the ninth century. In the 10th century Troas is given as a suffragan of [[Cyzicus]] and distinct from the famous [[Troy]] ([[Heinrich Gelzer]], ''Ungedruckte ... Texte der Notitiae episcopatuum'', 552; ''[[Georgii Cyprii descriptio orbis romani]]'', 64); it is not known when the city was destroyed and the diocese disappeared. The bishopric remains a [[titular see]] of the [[Catholic Church]] under the name Troas, vacant since 1971.<ref>''Annuario Pontificio'' 2013 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2013 {{ISBN|978-88-209-9070-1}}), p. 997</ref>

Troas is also a titular see of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] under the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]]. Bishop Savas (Zembillas) of Troas<ref>Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (2002-1-28). [http://www.goarch.org/news/goa.news92 Ordination of Bishop-Elect Savas Zembillas on Saturday, February 2, 2002 at Holy Trinity Cathedral.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613094805/http://goarch.org/news/goa.news92 |date=2010-06-13 }} Retrieved 2010-4-15.</ref> served as hierarch from 2002 to 2011, and then became [[Metropolitan Savas (Zembillas) of Pittsburgh]] in the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]].<ref>Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (2011-11-3). [http://www.goarch.org/news/metsavaselection-11032011 Bishop Savas of Troas Elected Metropolitan of Pittsburgh] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104135701/http://www.goarch.org/news/metsavaselection-11032011 |date=2011-11-04 }}. Retrieved 2011-11-17.</ref>

===Ottoman===
[[Karasids|Karasid]] [[Oghuz Turks|Turkomans]] settled in the area of the Troad in the 14th century. Their ''[[Anatolian Turkish Beyliks|beylik]]'' was conquered by the Ottomans in 1336. The ruins of Alexandria Troas came to be known among the Turks as ''Eski Stambul'', the "Old City".<ref name="Freely"/> The site's stones were much plundered for building material (for example [[Mehmed IV]] took columns to adorn his [[Yeni Valide Mosque]] in [[Istanbul]]). As of the mid-18th century the site served as "a lurking place for bandetti".<ref>Richard Chandler. ''Travels in Asia Minor, 1764-65.'' Quoted in Freely, ''op. cit.''</ref>

===Modern===
By 1911, the site had been overgrown with [[Vallonea oak]]s and much plundered, but the circuit of the old walls could still be traced, and in several places they were fairly well preserved. 
They had a circumference of about ten kilometres, and were fortified with towers at regular intervals.<ref name="eb">{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Alexandria Troas|volume=1|page=575|first=David George|last=Hogarth|author-link=David George Hogarth}}</ref>
Remains of an ancient bath and gymnasium complex can be found within this area; this building is locally known as ''Bal Saray'' (Honey Palace) and was originally endowed by Herodes Atticus in the year 135.<ref name="Freely"/> [[Trajan]] built an aqueduct which can still be traced.<ref name="eb" /> 
The harbour had two large basins, now almost choked with sand. 
It is the subject of an early twenty-first century study by German archaeologists digging and surveying at the site. 
Their excavation uncovered the remains of a large stadium dating to about 100&nbsp;BC.<ref name="Jacobs">Gina Jacobs (2010). [http://newscenter.sdsu.edu/sdsu_newscenter/news.aspx?s=71837 Remnants of Glory: A "found" stadium conjures Olympic history.] Retrieved 2010-4-15.</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of ancient Greek cities]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
*Feuser, Stefan, ''Der Hafen von Alexandria Troas'' (Bonn: Dr. Rudolf Habelt, 2009) (Asia Minor Studien, 63).

== External links ==

{{commons category-inline}}

{{Second Journey of Paul of Tarsus}}

{{Former settlements in Turkey}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Archaeological sites in the Marmara region]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek archaeological sites in Turkey]]
[[Category:New Testament cities]]
[[Category:Roman towns and cities in Turkey]]
[[Category:Ruins in Turkey]]
[[Category:Titular sees in Asia]]
[[Category:Catholic titular sees in Asia|Troas]]
[[Category:Cities in ancient Troad]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Turkey]]
[[Category:Geography of Çanakkale Province]]
[[Category:History of Çanakkale Province]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Çanakkale Province| (+)]]
[[Category:Populated places in ancient Troad]]
[[Category:Coloniae (Roman)]]
[[Category:Cities founded by Alexander the Great]]