Alexandria Troas: An Ancient Greek and Roman City in Turkey
Visitor Information
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Official Website: muze.gov.tr
Country: Turkey
Civilization: Byzantine, Greek, Roman
Remains: City
History
Alexandria Troas Ruins are located in Dalyan Köyü municipality, in modern-day Turkey and were originally constructed by ancient Greek settlers in the northwestern part of Asia Minor. The site bears witness to a long history shaped by various rulers and cultural influences over more than a millennium.
The earliest incarnation of the city was known as Sigia. Around 306 BCE, Antigonus I Monophthalmus, a successor of Alexander the Great and founder of the Antigonid dynasty, undertook a significant rebuilding and expansion of the settlement. He renamed it Antigonia Troas and moved inhabitants from five nearby cities, including Neandreia, to strengthen its population and importance. Shortly after, in 301 BCE, Lysimachus, one of Alexander’s generals, changed the city’s name to Alexandria Troas to honor Alexander the Great. This name remained in use well into the late Roman and early Byzantine periods, as demonstrated by historical maps like the Tabula Peutingeriana.
During the Roman era, Alexandria Troas grew into a vital maritime center in the region, establishing itself as a major port for trade and travel between Asia and Europe. By 188 BCE, the city had achieved the status of a free and autonomous community, and at its height, it possibly supported a population as large as 100,000 residents. Under Emperor Augustus, the city was elevated to the status of a Roman colony and received the formal name Colonia Alexandria Augusta Troas, often simply referred to as Troas. Prominent Roman figures, including Augustus himself and Emperor Hadrian, contributed to the city’s development, while the wealthy Greek rhetorician Herodes Atticus funded significant public works such as the restoration of the city’s aqueduct. In the early 4th century CE, Emperor Constantine I gave serious consideration to Alexandria Troas as a possible new capital for the Roman Empire.
Religious and cultural ties also marked the city’s history. According to the Christian New Testament’s Acts of the Apostles, Paul of Tarsus departed from Alexandria Troas on his voyage to Europe and later returned to the city. It is linked with the biblical story of the resurrection of a young man named Eutychus. The early Christian bishop Ignatius of Antioch reportedly stayed in Alexandria Troas on his way to martyrdom in Rome. The city later maintained ecclesiastical significance in the Byzantine period as a bishopric recorded from the 4th through the 9th centuries. By the 10th century, it became a suffragan (subordinate) see under the nearby metropolitan of Cyzicus, distinguished from the legendary city of Troy. The timeframe of the city’s and the diocese’s disappearance remains uncertain. Yet, both the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches continue to recognize Alexandria Troas as a titular bishopric, with the Catholic title remaining vacant since 1971.
In the 14th century, the region came under control of the Karasi Beylik, a Turkish principality that preceded the Ottoman Empire’s expansion. The Ottoman conquest occurred in 1336, after which the ruins became known among the Turks as Eski Stambul, meaning “Old Istanbul.” Over time, many stone blocks from the site were removed and reused in Ottoman architectural projects, notably columns taken during the reign of Mehmed IV for the Yeni Valide Mosque in Istanbul. By the 18th century, the area had declined significantly and was reportedly used as a refuge by bandits. By the early 20th century, although overgrown with Valonia oak trees and having suffered from extensive looting, the city’s defensive walls still formed a discernible outline nearly 10 kilometers long.
Remains
The archaeological site of Alexandria Troas spans approximately 400 hectares and reflects a well-planned urban center shaped by Greek and Roman architectural traditions. The city’s perimeter is enclosed by extensive fortifications, with walls stretching roughly 10 kilometers in length. These walls feature regularly spaced towers that reinforce the defense system, some sections of which remain well preserved and visible even into the early 20th century.
Within the city, several large public structures have been unearthed, illustrating the civic and cultural life of its inhabitants. Notable among these is the gymnasium and bath complex locally called Bal Saray, or “Honey Palace.” This complex dates back to 135 CE and was funded as a private donation by Herodes Atticus, a wealthy Greek aristocrat and rhetorician. It combined facilities for physical exercise and bathing, serving as an important social center in the Roman era.
Another significant find includes an aqueduct built during the reign of Emperor Trajan, which supplied the city with water. Although only portions remain traceable in the landscape today, it demonstrates the engineering capabilities invested in maintaining the city’s infrastructure.
Entertainment buildings within Alexandria Troas are well represented. Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of an odeon, a small theater used for musical performances and lectures, and a larger Greek theater for dramatic plays. Adding to these, recent excavations conducted by German teams in the early 21st century revealed a large stadium dating to around 100 BCE. This stadium, designed for athletic events, suggests a rich tradition of public games and spectacles in the city.
The ancient harbor of Alexandria Troas featured two substantial basins that once allowed the docking of ships essential to the city’s role as a maritime hub. Over time, these basins have largely filled with sand and sediment, altering their original appearance.
Many stones from the ruins, including columns of notable size and craftsmanship, were later quarried and repurposed during the Ottoman period. One prominent example is the transfer of columns to Istanbul for use in the Yeni Valide Mosque. Despite this, enough structural remains survive to outline the city’s former grandeur and extent. Together, these features provide a detailed picture of Alexandria Troas as a thriving urban, maritime, and cultural center from the Hellenistic period through the Roman and Byzantine eras.
