Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-18
SMYRNA ON THE MAP
MORE THAN 5000 YEARS
Bombardcd City Always Has Been
Great Caravansnry and
Produce ExchanRe

WASHINGTON. April 17-Describ-
Ing the Turkish city OF Smyrna. which
has been bearing tho brunt OF an at
TACK In the near east. statement OF
the National Geographic Society says:
Smyrna has occupied its place upon
the map for more than 5000 years, and
through nll this time 1t has retained
us ancient name. it's mixed character
or cast and west and Its Significance
In tho world Of trade. From the first
II has been rich produce exchange,
great caravansary and an important
harbor, receiving merchant fleets under
every flag. Known to the olden Greeks
rs the first city OF ASIA 1t survives in
the present, the greatest city in Asia
Minor and tho second port OF an ex-
tensive empire
While EIHesus. Miletus, Sardis, Mag
nesla, pergamus and Mnlicarnassus
have faded away, Smyrna has contin-
ued It's story OF untiring centuries. 1t
mas risen superior to every stress, re-
manning to-day what II was yesterday,
as lasting as Mount Gagus, at Its back.
The rise, splendor and decay of great
empires have formed but momentary
episodes in this city's life. whose his
tory stretches from the eleventh CEN
fury before the birth of Christ down
70 the present day. II most truly de-
ike the phoenix OF mythology, has
ever renewed it's nervelcss age by n
more magnificent youth.
Smyrna was founded by Aeolian
creeks upon the natural outlet OF an
important trade route. 1t grew RAPIDLY
into wealth and power, and early took
the lead among the cities of Asia
Minor. lonian Greeks conquered the
CITY IN the seventh century b. c., and
under these masters 1t played a leading
its tremendous riches. the Lydians cap
tured and conscicntiously destroyed
smyrna In 515 B. C. Their endeavors
were so thorough that there remained
but a village until after the Mace
DOMAIN conquest. Alexander the Great
was laid out with extravagnnt mag
nihcence. Among the many beautiful
buildings Of this new city was the
Homereun. whore the poet Homer was
worshiped ns hero. The Seleucidas
declared the city sacred and inviolable.
I'm the days Of Roman conquest
smyrna was tho great world center OF
art and learning. somewhat tho Paris
or That early age. Tho Romans, who
treated :he city well, called 1t the
philosophers Grove and also The
oasis OF tho MUSES. and tho Graces,
For many generations Smyrna was the
proudest Asiatic possession of the BY
zantine empire or the East. In 1902 It
was destroyed by the Mongols Of Tam
erlane. and such OF It's Inhabitants as
feii TO the Turks. Smyrna received an
other loving nickname. IT was called
The Eye of Asia Minor
The city lies at the head OF tho Gulf
or Smyrna, some 200 miles southwest
or Constantinople. with which it il
now connected by rail. The foreground
or the port Is level ground, while tho
background Is cut by the sharp shout
der OF Mt. Pagus. There Is popula-
ton OF more than 100000. OF which
about one-half Is Creek. one fourth Mo-
mammalian, while Armenians and Jews
make up the greater part of the remain
der.
There were also a large number OF
European residents before the war.
who. In the order Of their numbers
were French, English. Italian, Swiss
and German. Greek is the language OF
greatest currency, and at the wars
outbreak French was the most useful
tongue for the visiting foreigner"