Erythrai (Ildırı) Ancient City Ildırı, situated 20 km to the northeast of Çeşme, was historically known as Erythrai. The name Erythrai is thought to have derived from a Greek term meaning 'red', likely due to the red soil present in the region. Another theory proposes that the city was named after Erythro, the son of the Cretan Rhadamanthes, who is believed to have established the city. Archaeological findings indicate that the area has been inhabited since the First Bronze Age, and during the Second Colonization period, the city was governed by Knopos, a descendant of Kadros, the King of Athens. Later, power shifted to the Vasileids, who were elected by the Athenian colonizers. The city then became a member of the Panionion, a religious and political league formed with neighboring towns. During the Ionian revolt against Persian domination, Erythrai aligned with other Ionian cities and achieved independence in 334 BC when Alexander the Great passed through the region. After Alexander's death, the city experienced several shifts in political power and eventually became part of the Pergamon Kingdom. Archaeological digs commenced in 1963 under the direction of Professor Hakkı Gültekin, with later contributions from Ekrem Akurgal. The excavations revealed a 3rd-century BC theater located on the northern slopes of the Acropolis, along with the remains of a temple dedicated to Athena. It was also discovered that the city was encircled by a 5 km long wall, and numerous artifacts, including pottery, stone, and clay figurines from the 6th and 7th centuries BC, were found in the Acropolis. If you have any questions or would like more information about Erythrai (Ildırı) Ancient City, please feel free to contact us at [email protected] or simply message us on WhatsApp, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.