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| Troad | |
|---|---|
| Ancient region of Anatolia | |
.jpg) Part of the walls of Troy | |
| Location | NorthwesternAnatolia,Turkey |
| Historical capital | Troy (modern-dayHisarlik,Çanakkale,Turkey) |
| Roman province | Asia |
TheTroad (/ˈtroʊˌæd/ or/ˈtroʊəd/;Greek:Τρωάδα,Troáda) orTroas (/ˈtroʊəs/;Ancient Greek:Τρῳάς,Trōiás orΤρωϊάς,Trōïás) is a historical region in northwesternAnatolia. It corresponds with theBiga Peninsula (Turkish:Biga Yarımadası) in theÇanakkale province of modernTurkey. Bounded by theDardanelles to the northwest, by theAegean Sea to the west and separated from the rest of Anatolia by themassif that formsMount Ida, the Troad is drained by two mainrivers, theScamander (Karamenderes) and theSimois, which join at the area containing theruins ofTroy.
Mount Ida, called by Homer "many-fountain" (πολυπίδαξ), sourced several rivers, including Rhesos, Heptaporos,Caresus,Rhodios,Granicus (Granikos),Aesepus, Skamandros andSimoeis;[1] these rivers were deified as a source of life by the Greeks, who depicted them on their coins asriver-gods reclining by a stream and holding a reed.
The Troad is first mentioned by that name inHittite records asTaruiša.[2] This identification was first put forth byEmil Forrer, but largely disputed by most Hittite experts until 1983 when Houwink ten Cate showed that two fragments were from the same originalcuneiform tablet and in his discussion of the restored letter showed thatTaruiša andWiluša (Troy) were correctly placed in northwestern Anatolia.[3]
Greek settlements flourished in Troas during theArchaic andClassical ages, as evidenced by the number of Greekpoleis that coined money in their own names.[4]
The region was part of thesatrapy (province) ofHellespontine Phrygia of theAchaemenid Empire until its conquest byAlexander the Great. After this it fell to the DiadochSeleucid Empire, and then passed to Rome's ally, the kingdom of Pergamon. TheAttalid kings ofPergamon (nowBergama) later ceded Mysia, including the territory of the Troad, to theRoman Republic, on the death of KingAttalus III in 133 BC.
Under theRoman Empire, the territory of the Troad became part of theprovince of Asia, and later of the smallerMysian province Hellespontus; it was important enough to havesuffragan bishoprics, includingPionia (now Avcılar).
Under the laterByzantine Empire, it was included in thethema of the Aegean Islands.
Following its conquest by theOttoman Empire, the Troad formed part of thesanjak of Biga.
The apostlesPaul andSilas first visited Troas during their journey fromGalatia toMacedonia.[5] Paul also referred to Troas when he asked his fellow evangelistTimothy out ofEphesus, to bring the cloak he had left there,[6] a journey of about 500 kilometres (310 mi). The changes from the story, being recounted as "they" to "we" inActs 16 andActs 20, imply that Paul was joined byLuke when he went through Troas.[7]
Along the Troad Coast travel guide from Wikivoyage| Main peninsulas | |
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| Peninsulas in Thrace | |
| Peninsulas in Anatolia | |
| Related geographical features | |
