 | |
  Gryneium Shown within Turkey | |
| Location | Yeni Şakran,İzmir Province,Turkey |
|---|---|
| Region | Aeolis |
| Coordinates | 38°52′28″N27°4′9″E / 38.87444°N 27.06917°E /38.87444; 27.06917 |
| Type | Settlement |
Gryneium orGryneum orGryneion (Ancient Greek:Γρύνειον), alsoGrynium orGrynion (Γρύνιον),Grynia orGryneia (Γρύνεια) andGrynoi (Γρῦνοι),[1] was a city ofancient Aeolis. It was located 40stadia fromMyrina and 70 fromElaea. In early times it was independent, one of the 12 important cities of Aeolis, but afterwards became subject to Myrina. It contained a sanctuary ofApollo with an ancientoracle and a splendid temple of white marble.[2][3][4][5][6] Because of the city Apollo derived the surname of Gryneus.[7]Pausanias wrote that at Gryneium, where there was an amazing grove of Apollo, with cultivated trees, and all those which, although they bear no fruit, are pleasing to smell or look upon.[8]
Xenophon mentions Gryneium as belonging toGongylus of Eretria;[9] and it is possible that the castrum Grunium inPhrygia, from whichAlcibiades derived an income of 50 talents was the town of Grynium.[10] It was a member of theDelian League.[11]
In 334 BC,Parmenion, who was one of the commanders ofAlexander the Great, came to the region before Alexander's invasion took the town by assault, burned it, and sold its inhabitants as slaves, to prevent the resistance of the people around.[12]
Its ruins are nearAliağa inİzmir Province ofTurkey in westernAnatolia. It is on theAegean coast and very close to the modern town ofYeni Şakran.
The first excavations were made by the French in 1883, lasting several days. They unearthed a few pieces of vase, and bronze objects. The next excavation was carried out by theBergama Museum in 1959. During the expansion ofİzmir–Çanakkale highway, a beautiful mosaic and necropolis area was found withsarcophagi. There has been no construction in the local area and the ruins can easily be seen from a great distance.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Grynium".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
