What is…
Smyrna

also known as: İzmir (modern name)

Greek: Σμύρνη

Meaning: myrrh

This is an ancient Greek city located at a strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia, about 40 miles to the north of Ephesus.

During Roman times, it was one of the principal cities of Roman Asia. Smyrna vied with Ephesus and Pergamum (aka Pergamon, Pergamos) for the title "First City of Asia."

Location of Smyrna on 50 AD map
Map circa 50 AD showing Smyrna’s location. It is south of Pergamon and west of Philadelphia.

Smyrna is now the chief city of Anatolia and is called İzmir and is the 3rd most populous city of Turkey.

The church founded here was one of the seven addressed by our Lord in the book of Revelation (Rev. 2:8-11).

The celebrated early church father Polycarp, a pupil of the apostle John, was in the second century a prominent leader in the church of Smyrna. Here he suffered martyrdom (153 AD).

Ancient statues of the false gods Hermes, Dionysos, Eros and Heracles have been found here by archaeologists, as well as many statues, heads, embossments, figurines and monuments of people and animals, made of marble, stone, bone, glass, metal and terracotta.

Inscriptions found here list the people who provided aid to Smyrna after the earthquake of 178 AD.

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Article Version: November 23, 2024