KIOS, THE GREEK CITY IN ASIA MINOR
Kios was a Greek
city located in Propontis (Bosporus) , 29 km from Bursa (a Regional Capital of
Turkey). It was built in the recess of the Kianon Gulf and belongs to the
province of Bithynia. The distance from Constantinople is about 48 miles and
close to it there are the various famous Greek cities of Nicea, Moudania,
Elegmoi, Trigleia, Peramos etc. Its inhabitants were mainly Greek, with a few
Turks, Armenians and Hebrews. Their occupations were fishing, agriculture and
silk growing, but there were also many merchants dealing in silk and
agricultural goods.
The city was
founded by the Militians in 630 B.C, as well as the other cities of Propontis.
According to Greek mythology, the Argonauts disembarked in the forest of
Bythinia, in order to find the trunk of the correct tree to remake the broken
oar of Hercules. Being thirsty, they sent Ylas, Hercule's close friend, to get
some water from the spring. The Nymphs living in the dark forests fell in love
with Ylas and kept him for ever. Hercules and his crew, searching for Ylas for
many days without result, decided to stay there and founded a city, the city of
Kios.
The city of Kios,
was very famous, from the beginning because of its location, a safe port,
connecting the Propontis Sea with Asia Minor. Great trade from the sea to the
mainland was the main source of income. During the era of Alexander the Great
the city became highly developed, and gold coins were cut. Commercial goods
were transferred even as far as Egypt and Phoenicia. Aristotle, the famous
philosopher, was so surprised by the democratic organization of the state that
he wrote a whole study known as "KIANON POLITEIA".
Later, during the
Byzantine Empire, Kios continued to be famous for many reasons. It was the main
military base of The Crusaders. Kios was the seat of Archbishop Cyrillus, who
took part in the First Ecumenical Council. The city was captured by the Turks
in 1336 AD, in whose hands it remained until 1920, when it was freed by the
Greek army. Unfortunately, two years later, the 15.000 Greek inhabitants were
forced to leave the city as refugees. Many of them were killed by the wild
persecution of the Turks, others managed to save themselves and succeeded in
reaching the mother-land. The citizens of Kios settled in New Kios, near to
Nafplion in the Peloponnese and in Paralia Pieria, next to Katerini. None of
them have ever stopped dreaming of returning back to their beloved Kios, the
return to "our land ", as they have narrated to their children and
grandchildren. The city is now in Turkish hands, and is called Gemlik.
FOR MORE
INFORMATION VISIT THE FOLLOWING SITES.
i)http://pieria.forthnet.gr/pages/kios/kios1.html
ii)http://www.knight.org/advent/cathen/03794a.htm
Stavros Foundoukas
is a
sixteen year old student at the Platon College, Katerini. His interests are
chess, computers and basketball. He plays the piano and enjoys listening to
music. He has passed both the Cambridge and Michigan English Proficiency
examinations in 1999.