Cilla or Killa ( Ancient Greek: Κίλλα) was a town of ancient Aeolis and later of ancient Mysia, mentioned by Homer in the Iliad, alongside the cities Chryse and Tenedus. [1]
The city is mentioned by other Greek writers. Herodotus counted Cilia as one of the eleven old Aeolian cities of Asia. [2]
Strabo places Cilia in the Adramyttene: He says, "...near to Thebe is now a place named Cilia, where the temple of Apollo Cillaeus is; there flows by it the river Cillos which comes from Ida; both Chrysa and Cilla are near Antandrus; also the hill Cillaeum in Lesbos derived its name from this Cilla; and there is a mountain Cillaeum between Gargara and Antandrus; Daes of Colonae says that the temple of Apollo Cillaeus was first built at Colonae by the Aeolians, who came from Hellas; and they say that a temple of Apollo Cillaeus was also built at Chrysa, but it is uncertain whether this Apollo was the same as Smintheus, or another." [3]
According to fragmentary inscriptions from the Acropolis, Cilla was a member of the Delian League. [4]
The river mentioned by Strabo is identified with the modern Zeytinli Dere, but the site of the town itself has not been discovered. [5]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Cilla". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.