Editing Smyrna (section)

==Localization==
Old Smyrna was on a small peninsula connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus at the northeastern corner of the inner [[Gulf of İzmir]], at the edge of a fertile plain and at the foot of [[Mount Yamanlar]]. This Anatolian settlement commanded the gulf. Today, the archaeological site, named ''Bayraklı Höyüğü,'' is approximately {{convert|700|m|yd}} inland, in the Tepekule neighbourhood of [[Bayraklı]]. ''New'' Smyrna developed simultaneously on the slopes of the Mount Pagos ([[Kadifekale]] today) and alongside the coastal strait, immediately below where a small bay existed until the 18th century.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Tours |first=Peninsula |date=2023-07-15 |title=Smyrna {{!}} PeninsulaTours |url=https://peninsulatours.com.tr/posts/20d/smyrna |access-date=2024-06-13 |website=Hotels, Reservations, Flights, Tours, Rents and more..}}</ref>

The core of the late [[Hellenistic]] and early [[Roman Empire|Roman]] Smyrna is preserved in the large area of İzmir Agora Open Air Museum at this site. Research is being pursued at the sites of both the old and the new cities. This has been conducted since 1997 for Old Smyrna and since 2002 for the Classical Period city, in collaboration between the [[İzmir Archaeology Museum]] and the Metropolitan Municipality of İzmir.<ref>{{cite web |author=Eti Akyüz Levi, [[Dokuz Eylül University]] |year=2003 |title=The Agora of İzmir and Cultural Tourism |url=http://cipa.icomos.org/fileadmin/papers/antalya/114.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20090205191014/http://cipa.icomos.org/fileadmin/papers/antalya/114.pdf |archive-date=February 5, 2009 |publisher=The International Committee for Documentation of Cultural Heritage (CIPA), 2003 [[Antalya]] Symposium}}</ref>

[[File:Agora of Smyrna, built during the Hellenistic era at the base of Pagos Hill and totally rebuilt under Marcus Aurelius after the destructive 178 AD earthquake, Izmir, Turkey (18699693425).jpg|thumb|The agora of ancient Smyrna]]
[[File:Agora of Smyrna, built during the Hellenistic era at the base of Pagos Hill and totally rebuilt under Marcus Aurelius after the destructive 178 AD earthquake, Izmir, Turkey (18699947915).jpg|thumb|Agora of Smyrna, built during the Hellenistic era at the base of Pagos Hill and totally rebuilt under Marcus Aurelius after the destructive 178 AD earthquake]]

Smyrna was at the mouth of the small river [[Hermus]] and at the head of a deep arm of the sea (''Smyrnaeus Sinus'') that reached far inland. This enabled Greek trading ships to sail into the heart of [[Lydia]], making the city part of an essential trade route between Anatolia and the Aegean. During the 7th century BC, Smyrna rose to power and splendor. One of the great trade routes that cross Anatolia descends the Hermus valley past [[Sardis]], and then, diverging from the valley, passes south of [[Mount Sipylus]] and crosses a low pass into the little valley where Smyrna lies between the mountains and the sea. [[Miletus]] and later Ephesus were at the sea end of the other great trade route across Anatolia; for a time they successfully competed with Smyrna, but after both cities' harbors silted up, Smyrna was without a rival.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Claus |first=Patricia |date=16 May 2024 |title=The History of the Ancient Greek City of Smyrna |url=https://greekreporter.com/2024/05/16/history-ancient-greek-city-smyrna/ |access-date=13 June 2024 |website=Greek Reporter}}</ref>

The [[River Meles|Meles River]], which flowed by Smyrna, is famous in literature and was worshipped in the valley. A common and consistent tradition connects [[Homer]] with the valley of Smyrna and the banks of the Meles; his figure was one of the stock types on coins of Smyrna, one class of which [[numismatist]]s call "Homerian." The epithet ''Melesigenes'' was applied to him; the cave where he was wont to compose his poems was shown near the source of the river; his temple, the ''Homereum'', stood on its banks. The steady, equable flow of the Meles, alike in summer and winter, and its short course, beginning and ending near the city, are celebrated by [[Aristides]] and Himerius. The stream rises from abundant springs east of the city and flows into the southeast extremity of the gulf.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Smyrna |url=https://www.hellenicaworld.com/Greece/Geo/en/Smyrna.html |access-date=2024-06-13 |website=www.hellenicaworld.com}}</ref>