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{{Short description|Ancient Greek city in İzmir Province, Turkey}}
{{about|the ancient city|the modern city|Foça|other uses|Phocaea (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox ancient site
  |name = Phocaea
  |native_name = {{lang|el|Φώκαια}} {{in lang|el}}<br/>{{lang|tr|Foça}} {{in lang|tr}}
  |alternate_name = Phokaia
  |image = Ancient theatre Foça525.jpg
  |alt = 
  |caption = The theatre of Phocaea
  |map_type = Western Turkey#Turkey
  |map_alt = 
  |map_size = 270
  |coordinates = {{coord|38|40|03|N|26|45|29|E|display=inline,title}}
  |location = [[Foça]], [[İzmir Province]], [[Turkey]]
  |region = [[Ionia]]
  |type = Settlement
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  |abandoned = 
  |epochs = <!-- actually displays as "Periods" -->
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  |archaeologists = 
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}}
'''Phocaea''' or '''Phokaia''' ([[Ancient Greek language|Ancient Greek]]: Φώκαια, ''Phókaia''; modern-day [[Foça]] in [[Turkey]]) was an ancient [[Ionia]]n [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] city on the western coast of [[Anatolia]]. [[Colonies in antiquity|Greek colonists]] from Phocaea founded the colony of [[Massalia]]<ref>Pliny, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Plin.+Nat.+3.5 3.5].</ref> (modern-day [[Marseille]], in [[France]]) in 600&nbsp;BC, [[Emporion]] (modern-day [[Empúries]], in [[Catalonia]], [[Spain]]) in 575&nbsp;BC and Elea (modern-day [[Velia]], in [[Campania]], [[Italy]]) in 540&nbsp;BC.

==Geography==
Phocaea was the northernmost of the Ionian cities, on the boundary with [[Aeolis]].<ref>Strabo, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Strab.+13.1.1 13.1.2].</ref> It was located near the mouth of the river Hermus (now [[Gediz River|Gediz]]), and situated on the coast of the peninsula separating the Gulf of [[Cyme (Aeolis)|Cyme]] to the north, named for the largest of the [[Aeolis|Aeolia]]n cities, and the Gulf of [[Smyrna]] (now [[İzmir]]) to the south.

Phocaea had two natural harbours within close range of the settlement, both containing a number of small islands. Phocaea's harbours allowed it to develop a thriving seafaring economy, and to become a great naval power, which greatly influenced its culture.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}

Recent archaeological surveys have shown that the city of Phocaea was large for the archaic period. [[Herodotus]] gives an idea of the size of Phocaea by describing the walls of Phocaea as having a length of several [[Stadion (unit)|stadia]].<ref>Herodotus, 1.163 .</ref>

A 4th century BC Persian tomb, known as Tas Kule (rock tower), stands ({{coord|38|39|37|N|26|49|2|E|display=inline}}) {{cvt|7|km}} east of Phocaea along a main road. This funerary monument was carved out of solid rock with a lower {{convert|2.7|meter}} high rectangular story ({{convert|9|×|6|meters}}) surmounted by a second {{convert|1.9|meter}} high story ({{convert|3|×|3|meters}}). Four steps between the two levels suggest strong Persian influence and most archaeologists believe this tomb was built for a Persian aristocrat or local leader serving the Persians.<ref>{{cite book|last=Tucker|first=Jack|title=Innocents Return Abroad: Exploring Ancient Sites in Western Turkey|year=2012|isbn=978-1478343585|pages=41–42|publisher=Jack Tucker}}</ref> Compare the style of the [[tomb of Cyrus]].

==History==
[[File:Stater coin of Phokaia with Griffin.jpg|thumb|Stater coin from Phocaea with [[Griffin]] head; Circa 580 BC.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}]]
The ancient Greek geographer [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] says that Phocaea was founded by [[Phocis (ancient region)|Phocians]] under [[Athens|Athenian]] leadership, on land given to them by the Aeolian [[Cyme (Aeolis)|Cymaeans]], and that they were admitted into the [[Ionian League]] after accepting as kings the line of [[Codrus]].<ref>Pausanias, [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0525.tlg001.perseus-eng1:7.3.10 7.3.10]. See also, Herodotus, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Hdt.+1.146.1 1.146.1] which mentions "Phocian renegades" as being among the settlers of Ionia.</ref> Pottery remains indicate Aeolian presence as late as the 9th century BC, and Ionian presence as early as the end of the 9th century BC. From this an approximate date of settlement for Phocaea can be inferred.<ref name="Phokaia">Stillwell, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0006%3Aid%3Dphokaia "Phokaia"].</ref>

According to [[Herodotus]] the Phocaeans were the first Greeks to make long sea-voyages, having discovered the coasts of the [[Adriatic]], [[Tyrrhenia]] and Spain. Herodotus relates that they so impressed [[Arganthonios]], king of [[Tartessus]] in [[Spain]], that he invited them to settle there, and, when they declined, gave them a great sum of money to build a wall around their city.<ref>Herodotus, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Hdt.+1.163.1 1.163].</ref>

Their sea travel was extensive. To the south they probably conducted trade with the Greek colony of [[Naucratis]] in [[Egypt]], which was the colony of their fellow Ionian city [[Miletus]]. To the north, they probably helped settle [[Amisos]] (Samsun) on the [[Black Sea]], and [[Lampsacus]] at the north end of the [[Hellespont]] (now the [[Dardanelles]]). However, Phocaea's major colonies were to the west. These included [[Aléria|Alalia]] in [[Corsica]], [[Emporiae]] and [[Roses, Girona|Rhoda]] in Spain, and especially Massalia ([[Marseille]]) in France.<ref name="Phokaia"/>

Phocaea remained independent until the reign of the [[Lydia]]n king [[Croesus]] (circa 560–545&nbsp;BC), when they, along with the rest of mainland Ionia, first, fell under Lydian control<ref>Herodotus, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Hdt.+1.6.1 1.6].</ref> and then, along with Lydia (who had allied itself with [[Sparta]]) were conquered by [[Cyrus the Great]] of [[Achaemenid Empire|Persia]] in 546&nbsp;BC, in one of the opening skirmishes of the great [[Greco-Persian Wars|Greco-Persian conflict]].

Rather than submit to Persian rule, the Phocaeans abandoned their city. Some may have fled to [[Chios]], others to their colonies on [[Corsica]] and elsewhere in the [[Mediterranean]], with some eventually returning to Phocaea. Many, however, became the founders of [[Velia|Elea]], around 540&nbsp;BC.<ref>For Herodotus' account of the flight of the Phocaeans, see: [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Hdt.+1.164.1 1.164–168]. See also Strabo, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Strab.+6.1.1 6.1.1].</ref>

In 500&nbsp;BC, Phocaea joined the [[Ionian Revolt]] against Persia. Indicative of its naval prowess, [[Dionysius the Phocaean|Dionysius]], a Phocaean was chosen to command the Ionian fleet at the decisive [[Battle of Lade]], in 494&nbsp;BC.<ref>Herodotus, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Hdt.+6.11.1 6.11–12].</ref> However, indicative of its declining fortunes, Phocaea was only able to contribute three ships, out of a total of "three hundred and fifty three".<ref>Herodotus, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Hdt.+6.8.1 6.8].</ref> The Ionian fleet was defeated and the revolt ended shortly thereafter.

[[File:IONIA, Phokaia. Circa 478-387 BC.jpg|thumb|Coinage of [[Phokaia]], Ionia, {{circa|478–387}} BC. Possible portrait of Satrap [[Tissaphernes]], with satrapal headress.]]
After the defeat of [[Xerxes I]] by the Greeks in 480&nbsp;BC and the subsequent rise of Athenian power, Phocaea joined the [[Delian League]], paying tribute to Athens of two [[Talent (measurement)|talents]].<ref name="Phokaia"/>  In 412&nbsp;BC, during the [[Peloponnesian War]], with the help of [[Sparta]], Phocaea rebelled along with the rest of Ionia. The [[Peace of Antalcidas]], which ended the [[Corinthian War]], returned nominal control to Persia in 387&nbsp;BC.

In 343&nbsp;BC, the Phocaeans unsuccessfully laid siege to [[Kydonia]] on the island of [[Crete]].<ref>[http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/10881/cydonia.html#fieldnotes C. Michael Hogan, ''Cydonia'', Modern Antiquarian, January 23, 2008]</ref>

During the [[Hellenistic period]] it fell under [[Seleucid Empire|Seleucid]], then [[Attalid dynasty|Attalid]] rule. In the Roman period, the town was a manufacturing center for ceramic vessels, including the late Roman [[Phocaean red slip]].{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

It was later under the control of [[Benedetto I Zaccaria|Benedetto Zaccaria]], the [[Genoa|Genoese]] ambassador to [[Byzantium]], who received the town as a [[Lordship of Phocaea|hereditary lordship]]; Zaccaria and his descendants amassed a considerable fortune from his properties there, especially the rich [[alum]] mines. It remained a [[Genoese colony]] until it was taken by the Turks in 1455.<ref name="CathEncy|wstitle=Phocæa">{{CathEncy|wstitle=Phocæa}}.</ref> It is a [[titular see]] of the [[Roman Catholic Church]].<ref name="CathEncy|wstitle=Phocæa"/>

In 1914, Phocaea was the location of a [[Massacre of Phocaea|massacre]] against ethnic Greek civilians by Turkish irregular bands.<ref name=Akcam>{{cite book|last=Akçam|first=Taner|year=2012|title=[[The Young Turks' Crime Against Humanity: The Armenian Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing in the Ottoman Empire]]|location=Princeton/Oxford|publisher=Princeton University Press|authorlink=Taner Akçam|page=84}}</ref><ref name=NYTarchives>[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1914/06/17/100321854.pdf ''Turks Slay 100 Greeks''] The New York Times, June 17, 1914.</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Αγτζίδης |first=Β. |date=15 June 2014 |title=Η καταστροφή της Φώκαιας στην Ιωνία |url=http://www.enet.gr/?i=news.el.article&id=435173 |language=el|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701115516/http://www.enet.gr/?i=news.el.article&id=435173 |archive-date=1 July 2017 |url-status=live |access-date=26 June 2017}}</ref><ref>*{{cite journal|journal=Late Ottoman Genocides: The Dissolution of the Ottoman Empire and Young Turkish Population and Extermination Policies |last1=Bjornlund|first1=Matthias|title=The 1914 Cleansing of Aegean Greeks as a Case of Violent Turkification|publisher=Routledge|year=2013|isbn=9781317990451|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_Q3cAAAAQBAJ&q=menemen&pg=PA41|accessdate=10 June 2014}}</ref>

==Coinage==
[[File:Phocaea coinage2.jpg|thumb|Electrum coinage of Phocaea, 340-335&nbsp;BC.]]
Probably following the Lydians, the Phocaeans were among the earliest in the world to make and use coins as money. Its earliest coins were made of [[electrum]], a naturally occurring alloy of silver and gold. The [[British Museum]] has a Phocaean coin containing the image of a seal dating from 600 to 550&nbsp;BC.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_1893-0706-1|title=British Museum: "Electrum ''stater'' with a seal"|website=britishmuseum.org|access-date=6 February 2025}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Cyme (Aeolis)]]
*[[25 Phocaea]], an asteroid named after the city
*[[List of ancient Greek cities]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|2}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
*Herodotus, ''The Persian Wars'', Translated by [[A. D. Godley]], (Loeb Classical Library, Nos. 117–120), Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press (1920) {{ISBN|0-674-99130-3}} {{ISBN|0-674-99131-1}} {{ISBN|0-674-99133-8}} {{ISBN|0-674-99134-6}}.[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Hdt.+toc &nbsp;]
*[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''Description of Greece'', Books I-II, translated by Horace Leonard Jones; Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. (1918) {{ISBN|0-674-99104-4}}.[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Paus.+1.1.1 &nbsp;]
*[[Pliny the Elder]], ''[[Pliny's Natural History|The Natural History]]'' (Eds. John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S. H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A.) London. Taylor and Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. (1855).[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Plin.+Nat.+toc &nbsp;]
*Stillwell, Richard, ''The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites'', (Editors: Richard Stillwell, William L. MacDonald and Marian Holland McAllister) (1976). {{ISBN|0-691-03542-3}}.[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0006;layout=;query=toc &nbsp;]
*[[Strabo]], ''[[Geographica|Geography]]'', translated by Horace Leonard Jones; Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd. (1924). Vol. 3, Books 6–7 {{ISBN|0-674-99201-6}}, Vol. 6, Books 13–14 {{ISBN|0-674-99246-6}}.[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0239 &nbsp;]
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{Wikisource1911Enc|Phocaea}}
*British Museum:
**[https://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/gr/g/gold_ring_engraved_with_woman.aspx "Gold ring engraved with a woman at an altar", circa 350 BC, Phocaea]
**[https://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/cm/s/silver_stater,_with_a_turtle.aspx "Silver stater, with turtle", late 6th century BC]
*[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0040%3Ahead%3D%23214 Perseus Coin Catalog: "Dewing 2304", Phocaea, circa 477 BC–388 BC]
**[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/image?lookup=1990.26.0524 Obverse: Helmeted head of Athena, profile to the left; below, seal]
**[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/image?lookup=Perseus%3Aimage%3A1990.26.0525 Reverse: Quadripartite incuse square]
*Catalog of Greek Coins of Ionia:
**[https://archive.org/details/cataloguegreekc05medagoog <!-- quote=Phocaea. --> Plate IV: Ionian Electrum, Phocaea, 6th, 5th and 4th century BC]
**[https://archive.org/details/cataloguegreekc05medagoog <!-- quote=Phocaea. --> Plate V: Ionian Electrum, Phocaea, 5th and 4th century BC]

{{Ancient settlements in Turkey}}
{{Ionian League}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Phocaea| ]]
[[Category:States and territories established in the 9th century BC]]
[[Category:Populated places in ancient Ionia]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Turkey]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 9th century BC]]
[[Category:Achaemenid ports]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek archaeological sites in Turkey]]
[[Category:Catholic titular sees in Asia]]
[[Category:Geography of İzmir Province]]
[[Category:History of İzmir Province]]
[[Category:Ionian League]]
[[Category:Members of the Delian League]]
[[Category:Greek city-states]]
[[Category:Foça District]]