Hellenic Net

  ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ Byzantium (Greek: Βυζάντιον Byzántion) was an ancient Greek colony on the site that later became Constantinople, and later still Istanbul. Byzantium was colonised by the Greeks from Megara in c. 657 BC. Byzantion name is of ancient greek origins, derived from the legendary king Byzas, the leader of the Megarian colonists and founder of the city. Coinage with idealized depiction of Byzas, founder of Byzantium. Struck in Byzantium, Thrace, around the time of Marcus Aurelius (161–180 CE). The form Byzantium is a Latinization of the original name. Much later, the name Byzantium became common in the West to refer to the Eastern Roman Empire, the "Byzantine" Empire, whose capital Constantinople stood on the site of ancient Byzantium. This usage was introduced only in 1555 by the historian Hieronymus Wolf, a century after the empire had ceased to exist. During the time of the empire, the term Byzantium was restricted to just the city, rather than the empire it ruled. Hist...

 Αλάβανδα, Τουρκία The remains of the Carian city of (Ancient Greek: Αλαβάνδα) or Antiochia of the Chrysaorians lie south of Aydm, in the village of Araphisar. Take Highway 6, running between Aydm and Muğla, to Çine. The ruins are seven kilometers west of Çine. This location puts Alabanda in ancient Caria proper, south of the Meander River, west of Marsias, or the Turkish Çine Çayı River. The city was situated on a broad plain at the base of two hills to the south. This plain made up the territory of Alabanda, which was controlled from the acropolis on the eastern hill. Ancient Greek Theater at Alabanda The city is located in the saddle between two heights. The area is noted for its dark marble and for gemstones that resembled garnets. Stephanus of Byzantium claims that there were two cities named Alabanda (Alabandeus) in Caria, but no other ancient source corroborates this. History Herodotus mentions Car, brother of Lydus and Mysus; the three brothers were believed to ha...

  Αιγές (Αιολίδας), Τουρκία The ancient site of Aigai, one of the twelve cities of Aeolis, is located some twenty miles north-west of Manisa. The ruins are impressive, but the journey is a tough one.  It is accessible by Jeep from the coast road near Aliağa.  The area is called Nemrut Kale in Turkish and is no longer inhabited. Aigai, also Aigaiai (Ancient Greek: Αἰγαί or Αἰγαῖαι; Latin: Aegae or Aegaeae; Turkish: Nemrutkale or Nemrut Kalesi) was an ancient Greek, later Roman (Ægæ, Aegae), city and bishopric in Aeolis. Aegae is mentioned by both Herodotus and Strabo as being a member of the Aeolian dodecapolis. It was also an important sanctuary of Apollo. Aigai had its brightest period under the Attalid dynasty, which ruled from nearby Pergamon in the 3rd and 2nd century BC. The remains of the city are located near the modern village of Yuntdağı Köseler in Manisa Province, Turkey. The archaeological site is situated at a rather high altitude almost on top of Mount Gün (D...