About Erythrai
At Ildırı near Çeşme, Erythrai was an Ionian city with an acropolis and natural harbour facing Chios. Theatre remains, walls and sculptures from the sanctuary of Athena Polias reflect its political, religious and commercial life. The acropolis provides a clear view of the ancient topography.
History
Erythrai's past reaches into the Bronze Age. It developed as a member of the Ionian League in the first millennium BCE. Purple dye, wine, millstones and sea trade were important to its economy. Affected by struggles between Persian power and the Delian League, it retained strategic value under Hellenistic kingdoms. Civic life continued under Rome before the settlement contracted in late antiquity. Excavations focus on the acropolis, theatre and residential terraces.
Highlights and principal structures
- Acropolis
- Sanctuary of Athena Polias
- Theatre
- City walls
- Harbour areas
- Residential terraces
Historical period
Archaic–Roman