Μυρίνα(in Ancient Greek) | |
 Ancient Myrina was located on theBeriki Tepe hill, on the left bank of thePytikos River. | |
  Myrina Shown within Turkey | |
| Location | Aliağa,İzmir Province,Turkey |
|---|---|
| Region | Mysia |
| Coordinates | 38°50′43″N26°59′4″E / 38.84528°N 26.98444°E /38.84528; 26.98444 |
| Type | Settlement |
| History | |
| Associated with | Agathias |
Myrina (Ancient Greek:Μυρίνα) was one of theAeolian cities on the western coast ofMysia, about 40stadia to the southwest ofGryneion.[1] The former bishopric is now a Latin Catholictitular see.
Its site is believed to be occupied by the modernSandarlik at the mouth of theKoca Çay,[2] near the town ofAliağa inİzmir Province, in theAegean Region ofTurkey, nearKalavasari.
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It was said that the city was founded by one Myrinus before the other Aeolian cities,[3] or by theAmazonMyrina.[4]Artaxerxes gaveGryneium and Myrina toGongylus, anEretrian, who had been banished from his native city for favoring the interests ofPersia.[5]
Myrina was a very strong place,[6] though not very large, and had a good harbor.[7]Pliny the Elder[8] mentions the fame of its oysters and that it bore the surname ofSebastopolis; while, according toSyncellus, it was also calledSmyrna. An inscription (Bulletin de correspondance hellenique, V, 283) tells that Myrina formed part of theAttalid kingdom in the 3rd century BC. For some time Myrina was occupied byPhilip V of Macedon; but theRomans compelled him to evacuate it, and declared the place free.[9] Under Roman rule, Myrina was part of theRoman province ofAsia Prima. It suffered severe earthquakes twice;first in the reign ofTiberius,[10] on which occasion it received a remission of duties on account of the loss it had sustained, and a second time in the reign ofTrajan.[11] The town was restored each time, and continued to exist until a late period.[12][when?] It was the birthplace ofAgathias, a Byzantine poet and historian of the 6th century. Myrina minted coins in Antiquity, some of which survive. Around 20 AD, Myrina minted a coin celebrating the betrothal ofClaudius Drusus, son of the future emperorClaudius, to a daughter ofSejanus, commander of thePraetorian Guard underTiberius.[13]
The site of Myrina was discovered at the mouth of the river that was the ancient Pythicos, whose alluvia have covered what was the city's harbour. Excavations (1880–1882) brought to light about four thousand tombs, dating from the last two centuries BC, in which were found numerous objects representing the divinities of the Greek pantheon; children's toys, reproductions of famous works, etc.: most of these may be seen today in the Museum of the Louvre. ArchaeologistDorothy Burr Thompson carried out a study of the 117 Hellenistic terracotta figures fromMyrina in theMuseum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Under Roman rule, Myrina was part of theRoman province ofAsia Prima and its bishopric was asuffragan of the capital'sMetropolitan see ofEphesus. The names of some of its bishops are known: Dorotheus,[14] 431 AD; Proterius, 451; John, 553; Cosmas, 787.[15]
It still existed as a residential see in the 14th century, but was suppressed.
It is now included in theCatholic Church's list oftitular bishoprics,[16] nominally restored in the 18th century.
It is vacant, having had the following incumbents, of the lowest (episcopal) rank:
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Myrina".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
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