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IZMIR - BIRTH PLACE OF HOMER

The city, known as “Beautiful Izmir”, lies on the shores of a large bay furrowed by ships and yachts and encircled by mountains. Today it is the third largest city in Turkey and its port is second after Istanbul. A lively place at anytime, it is even more so during the International Arts Festival and the International Fair. The climate is mild and in summer the heat is tempered by the constant and refreshing sea breezes. Behind the palm-lined promenades and avenues, the city gently ascends in terraces to the slopes of the surrounding hills. İzmir is one of the important tourism centers and lovely holiday resort with numerous sandy beaches stretching over its towns and environs. İzmir also possesses Balçova, one of the important thermal centers in Turkey. Besides, Birgi, 120 km from Izmir, houses the fine samples of the traditional Anatolian architecture.

In the scope of Faith Tourism İzmir has a special place with its valuable historical and sacred sites such as Virgin Mary's House, The Virgin Mary Church (Double Churches), the first church dedicated to Virgin Mary, the Bazilica of St. John, the beloved apostel of Christ, the Grotto of Seven Sleepers and also the Seven Churches mentioned by St. John in the Book of Revelation are also in Turkey and are spread around Izmir, which are Ephesus (Efes), Smyrna (Izmir), Pergamum(Bergama),Thyatira (Akhisar),Sardis(Sart),
Philadelphia(Alaşehir), Laodicea (Leodikya)

 

THE SHORT STORY OF IZMIR

İzmir derived its name from Smyrna, the beautiful queen of the Amazons, the legendary female warriors known for cutting their right breasts to stretch bow strings better. Excavations have revealed that the earliest settlement in Izmir was founded in the 3rd Millenium B.C. at present-day Bayraklı. By 1500 B.C the city was subject to the influence of the Hittite Empire of the Central Anatolia. In the 10th century B.C. İzmir, then known as Smyrna, was one of the important cities of the Ionian Federation and it was during this period that the city had one of its most brilliant times. The conquest of the city by the Lydians around 600 B.C. brought this period to an end. It was then again conquered by the Persians in the middle of the 6th century. Alexander the Great put an end to the sovereignty of the Persians in the 4th century B.C. and ordered a new city to be built on the slopes of Mt.Pagos(Kadifekale). The city's Roman period from the 1st century B.C. was a second brilliant time in its history.

CHRISTIANITY IN IZMIR

Smyrna was the home of one of the Seven Churches of the Revelation and played an significant role in the development of the religion. St.Polycarp, the first bishop of Smyrna, was one of the disciples of St.John. He was born in Anatolia around 70 A.D. Because of his faith he was martyred by the Romans in 155. When the Roman Empire was divided into two halves in 395 became a part of the Eastern Roman Empire, known as Byzantine Empire. During the Byzantine period Arabs, Byzantines, Seljuks, Crusaders, Genoese fought each other for its possessions. The Arabs first captured the city from the sea in 672 and used it as a base for their raids of Constantinople (İstanbul).

 

 

TURKS ARE COMING

 
Towards the end of the 11th century the Seljuks advanced as far as the Aegean Coast and captured Smyrna. The city remained in their hands till it was captured by the Byzantines in 1097, at the beginning of the first Crusade. The Genoese controlled the city a long period. By the terms of a treaty, the Byzantine Empire granted the Genoese extensive concessions including full control of Smyrna. The Genoese claimed Smyrna as their own and built a castle under the name of “St. Peter". The Genoese kept Smyrna until 1310 when the city was taken from them by Umur Bey, the Emir of Aydın. In 1344 The Genoese recaptured the castle of St.Peter, controlling the lower city of Smyrna while Umur Bey held the upper part. In the middle of the 14th century the castle and the lower town was controlled by the Knights of St.John from Rhodes Island. In the 15th century
The Mongolians invaded the city and destroyed the castle to the earth. In 1422 Murat II. conquered Smyrna and from then on, the city remained under Ottoman Rule. When the Ottoman Empire granted capitulation to the foreign tradesmen Smyrna became an important center for trade. In 18th and 19th centuries the city became very popular among the French, English, Dutch and Italian tradesmen. The multi-national and multi-religious trade center of Ottoman Empire was invaded by the Greek Army on 15th of May, 1919 because of the treaty ending the World War I. The invasion ended on 9th of September, 1922. The biggest fire in the history of the city broke out on 13th of September, 1922.  The fire destroyed a large section of the city but Izmir rose again like a Phoenix from its ashes after the proclamation of the Turkish Republic in 1923.