Bayraklı (Old Smyrna) Ancient City

Description

The original settlement of Smyrna, dating back to the 3rd millennium BCE and one of the most important cities of Ionia, where İzmir was first founded.

Story

Bayraklı Ancient City is the location of Smyrna, where the foundations of present-day İzmir were laid and which was the **original settlement** of the city. Although it is often confused with the Roman Agora in Konak (Smyrna in the Agora is the second settlement established after Alexander the Great), the settlement in Bayraklı dates back to the 3rd millennium BCE and became one of the most important Ionian city-states in the 7th century BCE. This is one of the first major port cities on the Aegean coast, where Homer is believed to have lived. Among the remains unearthed during excavations are the foundations of the **Temple of Athena**, which has the oldest and best-preserved Ionian-style architecture in Anatolia, as well as city walls, house ruins, and fountain structures. The city continued to exist until the Hellenistic period, then was moved to the foothills of Kadifekale by order of Alexander the Great, establishing 'New Smyrna' (now the area around Konak and Agora). For this reason, Smyrna in Bayraklı is referred to as 'Old Smyrna'. Bayraklı Ancient City is a key example demonstrating how İzmir's history geographically changed. Visitors can observe the first settlement plan and architecture at the intersection of Aegean and Anatolian civilizations here. The area is a critical step to understanding the stages of İzmir's historical development, compared to Yeşilova Höyüğü, the city's first Neolithic settlement, and the later established Roman Agora.

Visit Tips

• Explore the hill where İzmir was first founded and the remains of its city walls.
• Examine the foundations of the Temple of Athena; it is important for Ionian architecture.
• Museum Card is valid; it is located in an area between Bornova and Karşıyaka.
• By visiting the region, follow the chronological order of İzmir's history (Yeşilova -> Bayraklı -> Konak).

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