Friday, October 28, 2011

Aiolis: Alexandria Troas and area


Founded by a commander of Alexander, Antigonos Monopthalmos. Originally called Antigonea, renamed by Lysimachos Alexander. It was one of the largest Hellenistic cities in Anatolia. Caesar visited and considered making it the capital of Roman empire, also Constantine considered that.
Apollo Smintheon -Gulpinar : was an important worship centre of Troas. Area has plenty of water; necessary for Apollo to have an oracle. A Roman bridge was found 
Alexandria Troas : Its heydays under the Romans, a busy port, surrounded by a 8 – 9 km long wall. An aqueduct carrying water from Mt. Ida, mentioned in the bibl. The walls still visible today, some places well-preserved. Eastern gate called Neandria gate built 3rd cent.
Baths, gymnasium. On the highest point of the site, a Hellenistic theatre with great view of the city as well as Neandria to the east, Lesbos to the south, Tenedos, and Ellespontos. Temple with colored marble fragments with statue pieces including a Dionysus head
Harbour silted today





Assos
Spectacular view of the sea and the island of Lesbos
Theatre
Temple of Athena : unique in Doric style
                                                                              Scepsis



The famous library of Aristotle was kept here before moving it to Pergamun and Alexandria. City near the source of Aesopos river, high up on Mt. Ida
Acropolis, towers, walls and four gates. The most ancient ruin in Asia Minor, Palae Scepsis. There was also a later Scepsis, 12 km lower, a memorable place for here the works of Aristotle and Theophrastus  which had been buried by Neleus so that they wont be carried by Attalus to Pergamon.
Saint Cornelius the Centurion, the first gentile convert to Christianity became the first bishop of Scepsis.
Emet : Hebrew name, a boron mine

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