Metropolis (
Ancient Greek: Μητρόπολις) is a classical city situated in western
Turkey near Yeniköy village in
Torbali municipality - approximately 40 km SE of
İzmir. Occupation at the site Bademgediği Tepe goes back to the
Neolithic period. In the Late Bronze Age, the city was known under the
Hittites as Puranda.
Classical,
Hellenistic,
Roman,
Byzantine, and
Ottoman periods are well represented at the site.
The earliest known settlement at the site is from the
Neolithic showing evidence of contact and influence with the Troy I littoral culture.[citation needed]
Late Bronze Age
The city seems to be referred to as Puranda in the Annals of
Mursilis II which described his invasion of
Arzawa in the late 14th century BC.[3][4] According to the Annals, after Mursili conquered the capital of Arzawa,
Apasas (later
Ephesus) which was located some 30 km to the southwest, Hursanassan, Surudan, and Attarimman refugees fled to Puranda. The prince of Arzawa, Tapalazunauli, who had fled to the islands during the invasion, entered Puranda to lead the resistance, but Mursili took Puranda and Tapalazunauli fled with his family.[citation needed]
Mycenaean remains are also found.[5] Bademgedigi Tepe is the archaeological site in the area with large amounts of local Mycenaean pottery, ranging from the 14th to 12th century BC, and later.[6][7] A Mycenaean-age representation of a ship on a vase from Bademgediği Tepe is an important find that casts light on the development of ship technology and iconography on ceramic vessels.[8]
Hellenistic Period
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 at this site.[9]
The city was noted by numerous classical authors including
Strabo[10] and
Ptolemy,[11] and described as a town in the
Caystrian plain in
Lydia, on the road from
Smyrna to
Ephesus, at a distance of 120
stadia from Ephesus, and 180 from Smyrna. Strabo relates that the district of Metropolis produced excellent wine.[12] The town was still noted by Byzantine authors such as
Stephanus of Byzantium[13] and
Hierocles.[14]
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 the city that connect to the Hellenistic defenses on the Acropolis.
In 1995, archaeologists discovered a
Hellenistic marble
seat of honor with
griffins in the
Ancient Theatre. The original seat of honor is displayed at the
İzmir Archeological Museum and a replica has been placed at the theatre.[16]
In June 2021, archaeologists announced the discovery of a well-preserved 1,800-year-old
marble statue of a woman standing on a
pedestal in
Torbalı district. The head and two arms of the statue were missing.[17][18][19][20]
Notes
^Meriç, R., Metropolis, City of the Mother Goddess, İstanbul, 2003
^Aybek, S., Ekin Meriç, A., Öz, A. K., Metropolis: A Mother Goddess City in Ionia, İstanbul, 2009
^Mommsen, H., et al., "BADEMGEDIǦI TEPE: ITS RELATIONS WITHIN THE EAST AEGEAN-WEST ANATOLIAN INTERFACE, AND BEYOND. NEW INFORMATION FROM NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS", Ägypten Und Levante / Egypt and the Levant, vol. 31, pp. 357–90, 2021
^Meriç, R., Mountjoy, P., “Three Mycenaean Vases from Ionia”, Istanbuler Mitteilungen, 51, 2001, s. 133-137
^Meriç, R., Mountjoy, P. (2002), “Mycenaean Pottery from Bademgedigi Tepe (Puranda) in Ionia: A Preliminary Report.” Istanbul Mitteilungen 52:79–98
^P.A. Mountjoy, A Bronze Age Ship from Ashkelon with Particular Reference to the Bronze Age Ship from Bademgediği Tepe. American Journal of Archaeology Vol. 115, No. 3 (July 2011), pp. 483–488
doi:
10.3764/aja.115.3.0483
^Millington, A.T. (2013) “Iyarri at the Interface: The Origins of Ares” in A. Mouton, I. Rutherford, & I. Yakubovich (eds.) Luwian Identities: Culture, Language and Religion Between Anatolia and the Aegean (Leiden) pp.555-557
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., Mountjoy, P. (2002), “Mycenaean Pottery from Bademgedigi Tepe (Puranda) in Ionia: A Preliminary Report.” Istanbul Mitteilungen 52:79–98
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.