Metropolis (Anatolia)

Metropolis

Location of Metropolis

View of the city remains seen from the east

The classical city of Metropolis is situated in western Turkey near Torbali - approximately 40 km SE of Izmir. The city was first investigated through archaeological field work from 1972 by Professor Recep Meriç from the Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir. Metropolis has been excavated since 1989. Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods are represented. The earliest known settlement at the site is from the Neolithic showing evidence of contact and influence with the Troy I littoral culture. An as yet undeciphered seal written in hieroglyphics similar to those of the Hittites has been found in the acropolis of Metropolis. The Hittite kingdom of Arzawa had its capital Apasas (later Ephesus) some 30 km to the south west. Metropolis was a part of the Hellenistic kingdom of Pergamum and during this period the city reached a zenith of cultural and economic life. A temple dedicated to the war god Ares, one of only two known such temples, has been located here.

The theatre at Metropolis, restored in 2001. Photo taken 2007.

What is visible today is primarily a Hellenistic city heavily Romanised, and with Byzantine remains laid across it – a church to the east of the city, and fortification walls laid across city that connect to the Hellenistic defenses on the Acropolis.

Bibliography

Books

• Aybek, S., Metropolis İonia I: Heykel, Metropolis'de Hellenistik ve Roma Dönemi Heykeltıraşlığı, İstanbul, 2009.
• Aybek, S., Ekin Meriç, A., Öz, A. K., Metropolis: A Mother Goddess City in Ionia, İstanbul, 2009.
• Aybek, S., Ekin Meriç, A., Öz, A. K., Metropolis: İonia'da Bir Ana Tanrıça Kenti, İstanbul, 2009.
• Meriç, R., Metropolis, City of the Mother Goddess, İstanbul, 2003.
• Meriç, R., Metropolis, Ana Tanrıça Kenti, İstanbul, 2003.
• Meriç, R., Späthellenistisch-römische Keramik und Kleinfunde aus einem Scachtbrunnen am Staatsmarkt in Ephesos, Wien, 2002.
• Meriç, R., Metropolis Kazılarının İlk 5 Yılı, İstanbul, 1996.
• Meriç, R., Metropolis, İstanbul, 1992.
• Meriç, R., Metropolis in Ionien: Ergebnisse einer Survey-Unternehmung in den Jahren 1972-1975, Königstein, 1982.

Articles

• Herling, L., Kasper, K., Lichter, C., Meriç, R., Im Westen nichts Neues? Ergebnisse der Grabungen 2003-2004 in Dedecik-Heybelitepe, Istanbuler Mitteilungen, 58, s. 13-65, 2008.
• Meriç, R., “Metropolis”, W. Radt ed. içinde, Byzas 3; Stadtgrabungen und Stadtforschung im westlichen Kleinasien, 2006, s. 227-240.
• Meriç, R., “Excavation at Bademgeiği Tepe (Puranda) 1999-2002: A Preliminary Report, Istanbuler Mitteilungen, 2003, s. 79-98.
• Meriç, R., Mountjoy, P., “Three Mycenaean Vases from Ionia”, Istanbuler Mitteilungen, 51, 2001, s. 133-137.
• Meriç, R., Schachner, A., “Ein Stempelsiegel des spaeten 2. Jahrtausends v. Chr. aus Metropolis in Ionien”, Studi Micenei ed Egeo-Anatolici, XLII/1-2000, s. 85-102.

External links

• The Official Site of Metropolis Excavations
• Kulturhistorisk Museum Universitetet i Oslo Metropolis Page
• Facebook Group of Metropolis Excavations

Ancient cities of West Anatolia

Map of Ionia showing Urban sites, those cities marked in black were Ionian, those in red were Phygian and Lydian. The Map overlay shows a cost distance raster relating to ease of communication within the region, the scale green to red and represents easy to difficult for movement through the landscape