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'''Ionia''' ([[Greek language|Greek]] '''Ιωνία'''; was an ancient region of western coastal [[Anatolia]] (now in Izmir, Turkey) on the [[Aegean Sea]]. It comprised a narrow coastal strip from [[Phocaea]] in the north near the mouth of the river [[Hermus]] (now the Gediz), to [[Miletus]] in the south near the mouth of the river [[Maeander]], and included the islands of [[Chios]] and [[Samos]]. It was bounded by [[Aeolia]] to the north, [[Lydia]] to the east and [[Caria]] to the south.

According to the universal [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] tradition, the cities of Ionia were founded by migrants from the other side of the Aegean and their settlement was connected with the legendary history of the Ionic race in [[Attica, Greece|Attica]], by the statement that the colonists were led by Neleus and Androclus, sons of [[Codrus]], the last [[king of Athens]]. In accordance with this view the "Ionic migration", as it was called by later chronologers, was dated by them one hundred and forty years after the [[Trojan war]], or sixty years after the return of the [[Heraclidae]] into the [[Peloponnese]]. Without assigning any definite date, we may say that recent research [as of 1910] has tended to support the popular Greek idea that Ionia received its main Greek element rather late - after the descent of the Dorians, and, therefore, after any part of the Aegean period. The only Aegean objects yet found (1910) in or near Ionia are some shards of the very late [[Minoan civilization|Minoan]] age at [[Miletus]]. It is improbable that all the Greek colonists were of the not numerous Ionian race. [[Herodotus]] tells us that the settlers were from many different tribes and cities of Greece (a fact indicated also by the local traditions of the cities), and that they intermarried with the native races. In Asia, Greeks were named with derivations of "Ionian", such as ''Yona'' in Pali and Yavana in Sanskrit. Josephus relates the Ionians to the biblical character [[Javan]] son of [[Japheth]]: "but from Javan, Ionia, and all the Grecians, are derived" (''Antiquities of the Jews'' I:6). In Greek mythology, [[Ion (mythology)|Ion]], regarded as the founder of the [[Ionians|Ionian]] tribe, was the son of
[[Creusa]] (daughter of [[Erechtheus]]); his father was either Creusa's husband [[Xuthus]] (according to [[Hesiod]]'s ''[[Eoiae]]'') or [[Apollo]] (according to [[Euripides]]).

==Geography==

The cities called Ionian in historical times were twelve in number, an arrangement copied as it was supposed from the constitution of the Ionian cities in Greece which had originally occupied the territory in the north of the Peloponnese subsequently held by the [[Achaea]]ns. These were (from south to north) [[Miletus]], [[Myus]], [[Priene]], [[Ephesus]], [[Colophon]], [[Lebedus]], [[Teos]], [[Erythrae]], [[Clazomenae]] and [[Phocaea]], together with [[Samos]] and [[Chios]]. [[Smyrna]], originally an [[Aeolia|Aeolic]] colony, was afterwards occupied by Ionians from Colophon, and became an Ionian city — an event which had taken place before the time of Herodotus. But at what period it was admitted as a member of the league is unknown. The Ionian cities formed a religious and cultural (as opposed to a political or military) confederacy (see [[Ionian League]]), of which participation in the Panionic festival (''[[Panionia]]'') was a distinguishing characteristic. This festival took place on the north slope of [[Mt. Mycale]] in a shrine called the [[Panionium]]. In addition to the Panionic festival at Mycale, which was celebrated mainly by the Asian Ionians, both European and Asian coast Ionians convened on [[Delos]] Island each summer to worship at the temple of the Delian [[Apollo]].

But like the [[Amphictyonic league]] in Greece, the Ionic was rather of a sacred than a political character; every city enjoyed absolute autonomy, and, though common interests often united them for a common political object, they never formed a real confederacy like that of the Achaeans or [[Boeotia]]ns. The advice of [[Thales]] of Miletus to combine in a political union was rejected.

Ionia was of small extent, not exceeding 90 geographical miles in length from north to south, with a breadth varying from 20 to 30 miles, but to this must be added the peninsula of [[Mimas]], together with the two large islands. So intricate is the coastline that the voyage along its shores was estimated at nearly four times the direct distance. A great part of this area was, moreover, occupied by mountains. Of these the most lofty and striking were Mimas and [[Corycus (mountain)|Corycus]], in the peninsula which stands out to the west, facing the island of Chios; [[Sipylus]], to the north of Smyrna; [[Corax]], extending to the south-west from the Gulf of Smyrna, and descending to the sea between Lebedus and Teos; and the strongly marked range of Mycale, a continuation of [[Messogis]] in the interior, which forms the bold headland of Trogilium or Mycale, opposite Samos. None of these mountains attains a height of more than 4000 feet The district comprised three extremely fertile valleys formed by the outflow of three rivers, among the most considerable in Asia Minor: the [[Hermus]] in the north, flowing into the [[Gulf of Smyrna]], though at some distance from the city of that name; the Caster, which flowed under the walls of Ephesus; and the [[Maeander]], which in ancient times discharged its waters into the deep gulf that once bathed the walls of Miletus, but which has been gradually filled up by this river's deposits. With the advantage of a peculiarly fine climate, for which this part of [[Asia Minor]] has been famous in all ages, Ionia enjoyed the reputation in ancient times of being the most fertile of all the rich provinces of Asia Minor; and even [[As of 1911|in modern times]], though very imperfectly cultivated, it produces abundance of fruit of all kinds, and the raisins and figs of Smyrna supply almost all the markets of Europe.

The colonies naturally became prosperous. [[Miletus]] especially was at an early period one of the most important commercial cities of Greece; and in its turn became the parent of numerous other colonies, which extended all around the shores of the [[Euxine Sea]] and the Propontis from Abydus and [[Cyzicus]] to [[Trabzon|Trapezus]] and Panticapaeum. [[Phocaea]] was one of the first Greek cities whose mariners explored the shores of the western Mediterranean. [[Ephesus]], though it did not send out any colonies of importance, from an early period became a flourishing city and attained to a position corresponding in some measure to that of Smyrna at the present day.

== History==

The first event in the history of Ionia of which we have any trustworthy account is the inroad of the [[Cimmerians|Cimmerii]], who ravaged a great part of Asia Minor, including Lydia, and sacked [[Magnesia on the Maeander]], but were foiled in their attack upon Ephesus. This event may be referred to the middle of the [[7th century BC]]. About 700 BC [[Gyges of Lydia|Gyges]], first Mermnad king of Lydia, invaded the territories of Smyrna and Miletus, and is said to have taken [[Colophon]] as his son Ardys did Priene. But it was not till the reign of [[Croesus]] ([[560 BC|560]]–[[545 BC]]) that the cities of Ionia successively fell under Lydian rule. The defeat of Croesus by [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] was followed by the conquest of all the Ionian cities. These became subject to the Persian monarchy with the other Greek cities of Asia. In this position they enjoyed a considerable amount of autonomy, but were for the most part subject to local despots, most of whom were creatures of the Persian king. It was at the instigation of one of these despots, [[Histiaeus of Miletus]], that in about 500 BC the principal cities ignited the [[Ionian Revolt]] against Persia. They were at first assisted by the Athenians, with whose aid they penetrated into the interior and burnt Sardis, an event which ultimately led to the [[Greco-Persian Wars|Persian invasion of Greece]]. But the fleet of the Ionians was defeated off the island of [[Battle of Lade|Lade]], and the destruction of Miletus after a protracted siege was followed by the reconquest of all the Asiatic Greeks, insular as well as continental.

The victories of the Greeks during the great Persian war had the effect of enfranchizing their kinsmen on the other side of the Aegean; and the [[battle of Mycale]] ([[479 BC]]), in which the defeat of the Persians was in great measure owing to the Ionians, secured their emancipation. They henceforth became the dependent allies of Athens (see [[Delian League]]), though still retaining their autonomy, which they preserved until the [[peace of Antalcidas]] in [[387 BC]] once more placed them as well as the other Greek cities in Asia under the nominal dominion of Persia. They appear, however, to have retained a considerable amount of freedom until the invasion of Asia Minor by [[Alexander the Great]]. After the [[battle of the Granicus]] most of the Ionian cities submitted to the conqueror. Miletus, which alone held out, was reduced after a long siege ([[334 BC]]). From this time they passed under the dominion of the successive [[Macedon]]ian rulers of Asia, but continued, with the exception of Miletus, to enjoy great prosperity both under these Greek dynasties and after they became part of the Roman province of Asia.

== Legacy ==
Ionia has laid the world under its debt not only by giving birth to a long roll of distinguished men of letters and science (see [[Ionian School of Philosophy]]), but also by originating the distinct school of art which prepared the way for the brilliant artistic development of Athens in the [[5th century BC]]. This school flourished between [[700 BC|700]] and [[500 BC]], and is distinguished by the fineness of workmanship and minuteness of detail with which it treated subjects, inspired always to some extent by non-Greek models. Naturalism is progressively obvious in its treatment, e.g. of the human figure, but to the end it is still subservient to convention. It has been thought that the Ionian migration from Greece carried with it some part of a population which retained the artistic traditions of the [[Mycenaean|Mycenaean civilization]], and so caused the birth of the Ionic school; but whether this was so or not, it is certain that from the [[8th century BC]] onwards we find the true spirit of Hellenic art, stimulated by commercial intercourse with eastern civilizations, working out its development chiefly in Ionia and its neighbouring isles. The great names of this school are [[Theodorus of Samos|Theodorus]] and [[Rhoecus of Samos]]; [[Bathycles of Magnesia|Bathycles]] of [[Magnesia on the Maeander]]; [[Glaucus]], [[Melas]], Micciades, Archermus, [[Bupalus|Bupalus and Athenis]] of [[Chios]]. Notable works of the school still extant are the famous archaic female statues found on the Athenian Acropolis in 1885–1887, the seated statues of Branchidae, the Nike of Archermus found at Delos, and the objects in ivory and electrum found by D.G. Hogarth in the lower strata of the Artemision at Ephesus.

The Arabic, Turkish & Persian name for [[Greece]] is ''Younan'', a corruption of "Ionia." The same is true for the Hebrew word, "Yavan" (יוון). The Ionians were the first Greek-speaking people that Semitic and Persian language speakers encountered, and the name spread throughout the Near East and Central Asia.

''This entry was originally from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.''

{{Credit wikipedia}}

[[Category:History of Anatolia]]
[[Category:Asia Minor]]
[[Category:Ancient Greece]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Ionia''' ([[Greek language|Greek]] '''&#921;&#969;&#957;&#943;&#945;'''; was an ancient region of western coastal [[Anatolia]] (now in Izmir, Turkey) on the [[Aegean Sea]]. It comprised a narrow coastal strip from [[Phocaea]] in the north near the mouth of the river [[Hermus]] (now the Gediz), to [[Miletus]] in the south near the mouth of the river [[Maeander]], and included the islands of [[Chios]] and [[Samos]]. It was bounded by [[Aeolia]] to the north, [[Lydia]] to the east and [[Caria]] to the south.
+'''Ionia''' ([[Greek language|Greek]] '''&#921;&#969;&#957;&#943;&#945;'''; was an ancient region of western coastal [[Anatolia]] (now in Izmir, Turkey) on the [[Aegean Sea]]. It comprised a narrow coastal strip from [[Phocaea]] in the north near the mouth of the river [[Hermus]] (now the Gediz), to [[Miletus]] in the south near the mouth of the river [[Maeander]], and included the islands of [[Chios]] and [[Samos]]. It was bounded by [[Aeolia]] to the north, Lydia to the east and [[Caria]] to the south.
-According to the universal [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] tradition, the cities of Ionia were founded by migrants from the other side of the Aegean and their settlement was connected with the legendary history of the Ionic race in [[Attica]], by the statement that the colonists were led by Neleus and Androclus, sons of [[Codrus]], the last [[king of Athens]]. In accordance with this view the "Ionic migration", as it was called by later chronologers, was dated by them one hundred and forty years after the [[Trojan War]], or sixty years after the return of the [[Heraclidae]] into the [[Peloponnese]]. Without assigning any definite date, we may say that recent research [as of 1910] has tended to support the popular Greek idea that Ionia received its main Greek element rather late - after the descent of the Dorians, and, therefore, after any part of the Aegean period. The only Aegean objects yet found (1910) in or near Ionia are some shards of the very late [[Minoan civilization|Minoan]] age at [[Miletus]]. It is improbable that all the Greek colonists were of the not numerous Ionian race. [[Herodotus]] tells us that the settlers were from many different tribes and cities of Greece (a fact indicated also by the local traditions of the cities), and that they intermarried with the native races. In Asia, Greeks were named with derivations of "Ionian", such as ''Yona'' in Pali and Yavana in Sanskrit. Josephus relates the Ionians to the biblical character [[Javan]] son of [[Japheth]]: "but from Javan, Ionia, and all the Grecians, are derived" (''Antiquities of the Jews'' I:6). In Greek mythology, [[Ion (mythology)|Ion]], regarded as the founder of the [[Ionians|Ionian]] tribe, was the son of
+According to the universal [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] tradition, the cities of Ionia were founded by migrants from the other side of the Aegean and their settlement was connected with the legendary history of the Ionic race in [[Attica]], by the statement that the colonists were led by Neleus and Androclus, sons of [[Codrus]], the last [[king of Athens]]. In accordance with this view the "Ionic migration", as it was called by later chronologers, was dated by them one hundred and forty years after the [[Trojan War]], or sixty years after the return of the [[Heraclidae]] into the [[Peloponnese]]. Without assigning any definite date, we may say that recent research [as of 1910] has tended to support the popular Greek idea that Ionia received its main Greek element rather late - after the descent of the Dorians, and, therefore, after any part of the Aegean period. The only Aegean objects yet found (1910) in or near Ionia are some shards of the very late [[Minoan civilization|Minoan]] age at [[Miletus]]. It is improbable that all the Greek colonists were of the not numerous Ionian race. [[Herodotus]] tells us that the settlers were from many different tribes and cities of Greece (a fact indicated also by the local traditions of the cities), and that they intermarried with the native races. In Asia, Greeks were named with derivations of "Ionian", such as ''Yona'' in Pali and Yavana in Sanskrit. Josephus relates the Ionians to the biblical character [[Javan]] son of [[Japheth]]: "but from Javan, Ionia and all the Grecians, are derived" (''Antiquities of the Jews'' I:6). In Greek mythology, [[Ion (mythology)|Ion]], regarded as the founder of the [[Ionians|Ionian]] tribe, was the son of
 [[Creusa]] (daughter of [[Erechtheus]]); his father was either Creusa's husband [[Xuthus]] (according to [[Hesiod]]'s ''[[Eoiae]]'') or [[Apollo]] (according to [[Euripides]]).

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 '''Ionia''' ([[Greek language|Greek]] '''&#921;&#969;&#957;&#943;&#945;'''; was an ancient region of western coastal [[Anatolia]] (now in Izmir, Turkey) on the [[Aegean Sea]]. It comprised a narrow coastal strip from [[Phocaea]] in the north near the mouth of the river [[Hermus]] (now the Gediz), to [[Miletus]] in the south near the mouth of the river [[Maeander]], and included the islands of [[Chios]] and [[Samos]]. It was bounded by [[Aeolia]] to the north, [[Lydia]] to the east and [[Caria]] to the south.
-According to the universal [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] tradition, the cities of Ionia were founded by migrants from the other side of the Aegean and their settlement was connected with the legendary history of the Ionic race in [[Attica, Greece|Attica]], by the statement that the colonists were led by Neleus and Androclus, sons of [[Codrus]], the last [[king of Athens]]. In accordance with this view the "Ionic migration", as it was called by later chronologers, was dated by them one hundred and forty years after the [[Trojan war]], or sixty years after the return of the [[Heraclidae]] into the [[Peloponnese]]. Without assigning any definite date, we may say that recent research [as of 1910] has tended to support the popular Greek idea that Ionia received its main Greek element rather late - after the descent of the Dorians, and, therefore, after any part of the Aegean period. The only Aegean objects yet found (1910) in or near Ionia are some shards of the very late [[Minoan civilization|Minoan]] age at [[Miletus]]. It is improbable that all the Greek colonists were of the not numerous Ionian race. [[Herodotus]] tells us that the settlers were from many different tribes and cities of Greece (a fact indicated also by the local traditions of the cities), and that they intermarried with the native races. In Asia, Greeks were named with derivations of "Ionian", such as ''Yona'' in Pali and Yavana in Sanskrit. Josephus relates the Ionians to the biblical character [[Javan]] son of [[Japheth]]: "but from Javan, Ionia, and all the Grecians, are derived" (''Antiquities of the Jews'' I:6). In Greek mythology, [[Ion (mythology)|Ion]], regarded as the founder of the [[Ionians|Ionian]] tribe, was the son of
+According to the universal [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] tradition, the cities of Ionia were founded by migrants from the other side of the Aegean and their settlement was connected with the legendary history of the Ionic race in [[Attica]], by the statement that the colonists were led by Neleus and Androclus, sons of [[Codrus]], the last [[king of Athens]]. In accordance with this view the "Ionic migration", as it was called by later chronologers, was dated by them one hundred and forty years after the [[Trojan War]], or sixty years after the return of the [[Heraclidae]] into the [[Peloponnese]]. Without assigning any definite date, we may say that recent research [as of 1910] has tended to support the popular Greek idea that Ionia received its main Greek element rather late - after the descent of the Dorians, and, therefore, after any part of the Aegean period. The only Aegean objects yet found (1910) in or near Ionia are some shards of the very late [[Minoan civilization|Minoan]] age at [[Miletus]]. It is improbable that all the Greek colonists were of the not numerous Ionian race. [[Herodotus]] tells us that the settlers were from many different tribes and cities of Greece (a fact indicated also by the local traditions of the cities), and that they intermarried with the native races. In Asia, Greeks were named with derivations of "Ionian", such as ''Yona'' in Pali and Yavana in Sanskrit. Josephus relates the Ionians to the biblical character [[Javan]] son of [[Japheth]]: "but from Javan, Ionia, and all the Grecians, are derived" (''Antiquities of the Jews'' I:6). In Greek mythology, [[Ion (mythology)|Ion]], regarded as the founder of the [[Ionians|Ionian]] tribe, was the son of
 [[Creusa]] (daughter of [[Erechtheus]]); his father was either Creusa's husband [[Xuthus]] (according to [[Hesiod]]'s ''[[Eoiae]]'') or [[Apollo]] (according to [[Euripides]]).

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 But like the [[Amphictyonic league]] in Greece, the Ionic was rather of a sacred than a political character; every city enjoyed absolute autonomy, and, though common interests often united them for a common political object, they never formed a real confederacy like that of the Achaeans or [[Boeotia]]ns. The advice of [[Thales]] of Miletus to combine in a political union was rejected.
-Ionia was of small extent, not exceeding 90 geographical miles in length from north to south, with a breadth varying from 20 to 30 miles, but to this must be added the peninsula of [[Mimas]], together with the two large islands. So intricate is the coastline that the voyage along its shores was estimated at nearly four times the direct distance. A great part of this area was, moreover, occupied by mountains. Of these the most lofty and striking were Mimas and [[Corycus (mountain)|Corycus]], in the peninsula which stands out to the west, facing the island of Chios; [[Sipylus]], to the north of Smyrna; [[Corax]], extending to the south-west from the Gulf of Smyrna, and descending to the sea between Lebedus and Teos; and the strongly marked range of Mycale, a continuation of [[Messogis]] in the interior, which forms the bold headland of Trogilium or Mycale, opposite Samos. None of these mountains attains a height of more than 4000 feet The district comprised three extremely fertile valleys formed by the outflow of three rivers, among the most considerable in Asia Minor: the [[Hermus]] in the north, flowing into the [[Gulf of Smyrna]], though at some distance from the city of that name; the Caster, which flowed under the walls of Ephesus; and the [[Maeander]], which in ancient times discharged its waters into the deep gulf that once bathed the walls of Miletus, but which has been gradually filled up by this river's deposits. With the advantage of a peculiarly fine climate, for which this part of [[Asia Minor]] has been famous in all ages, Ionia enjoyed the reputation in ancient times of being the most fertile of all the rich provinces of Asia Minor; and even [[As of 1911|in modern times]], though very imperfectly cultivated, it produces abundance of fruit of all kinds, and the raisins and figs of Smyrna supply almost all the markets of Europe.
+Ionia was of small extent, not exceeding 90 geographical miles in length from north to south, with a breadth varying from 20 to 30 miles, but to this must be added the peninsula of [[Mimas]], together with the two large islands. So intricate is the coastline that the voyage along its shores was estimated at nearly four times the direct distance. A great part of this area was, moreover, occupied by mountains. Of these the most lofty and striking were Mimas and [[Corycus (mountain)|Corycus]], in the peninsula which stands out to the west, facing the island of Chios; [[Sipylus]], to the north of Smyrna; [[Corax]], extending to the south-west from the Gulf of Smyrna, and descending to the sea between Lebedus and Teos; and the strongly marked range of Mycale, a continuation of [[Messogis]] in the interior, which forms the bold headland of Trogilium or Mycale, opposite Samos. None of these mountains attains a height of more than 4000 feet The district comprised three extremely fertile valleys formed by the outflow of three rivers, among the most considerable in Asia Minor: the [[Hermus]] in the north, flowing into the [[Gulf of Smyrna]], though at some distance from the city of that name; the Caster, which flowed under the walls of Ephesus; and the [[Maeander]], which in ancient times discharged its waters into the deep gulf that once bathed the walls of Miletus, but which has been gradually filled up by this river's deposits. With the advantage of a peculiarly fine climate, for which this part of [[Asia Minor]] has been famous in all ages, Ionia enjoyed the reputation in ancient times of being the most fertile of all the rich provinces of Asia Minor; and even in modern times, though very imperfectly cultivated, it produces abundance of fruit of all kinds, and the raisins and figs of Smyrna supply almost all the markets of Europe.
 The colonies naturally became prosperous. [[Miletus]] especially was at an early period one of the most important commercial cities of Greece; and in its turn became the parent of numerous other colonies, which extended all around the shores of the [[Euxine Sea]] and the Propontis from Abydus and [[Cyzicus]] to [[Trabzon|Trapezus]] and Panticapaeum. [[Phocaea]] was one of the first Greek cities whose mariners explored the shores of the western Mediterranean. [[Ephesus]], though it did not send out any colonies of importance, from an early period became a flourishing city and attained to a position corresponding in some measure to that of Smyrna at the present day.