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MEHMET FATIH YAVUZ

Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University

Greek POLIS located on a triangular peninsula at the south end of the Thracian BOSPORUS, refounded as Constantinople in 330 CE and now known as İstanbul (BA 52 D2). Byzantium was surrounded by a superb natural HARBOR (the Golden Horn) and the Bosporus in the north, and by the PROPONTIS in the east and south. Thanks to the flow of the Bosporus current, which carried ships and FISH into its harbor, Byzantium commanded the traffic and marine resources of the strait and became more prominent and wealthy than its cross‐channel neighbor CALCHEDON (Polyb. 4.38, 43–44).

Byzantium was founded by MEGARA c. 668 (or 659) BCE, seventeen years after the foundation of Calchedon, a fact that surprised the ancients including the Persian commander MEGABAZUS (Hdt. 4.144; Strabo 7.6.2/C320; Plin. HN 5.149; Tac. Ann. 12.63). During the Scythian campaign of DARIUS I (c. 513), Byzantium submitted to the Persians when they crossed the Bosporus. The Byzantines, led by their TYRANT Ariston, joined the Persian fleet which sailed up to the mouth of the ISTER (Danube) River to meet the Persian army (4.138). When the Scythian campaign failed, Byzantium and several other Greek poleis around the Propontis threw off Persian rule. The Persian commander OTANES (2) reconquered Byzantium, Calchedon, and other rebellious poleis (4.143; 5.26). The Byzantines joined the IONIAN REVOLT (499–493) and expelled the Persians from the city again. But the city was recaptured at the end of the Revolt, and some Byzantines fled to MESEMBRIA (6.33). Byzantium remained under Persian control until 478, and its fleet joined the Persian armada of XERXES in 480 (7.95.2). The city was finally liberated from Persian rule at the end of the PERSIAN WARS by a Greek fleet led by PAUSANIAS (7.106.2; Thuc. 1.94.1–2) and joined the DELIAN LEAGUE.

SEE ALSO: Ariston of Byzantium; Colonization; Euxine Sea; Thrace; Trade