Ancient City of Cyzicus (Erdek, Balıkesir – Propontis)
The ancient city of Cyzicus (Greek: Κύζικος) stood on the southern shore of the Propontis (Sea of Marmara), near the modern town of Erdek in northwestern Turkey. Founded in the 8th century BC as an Aeolian–Milesian colony, it soon became one of the most powerful maritime cities of the region thanks to its position on the narrow isthmus connecting the Kapıdağ Peninsula to the mainland.
(Source: Wikipedia – Cyzicus; Livius.org – Cyzicus)
Ancient authors such as Herodotus, Xenophon, and Strabo describe Cyzicus as a rich trading hub situated on two natural harbours. Its prosperity stemmed from fishing, agriculture, and especially coinage. From the 6th century BC, Cyzicus issued electrum staters, known in antiquity as “Kyzikenes,” which became an international trade currency throughout the Aegean and Black Sea.
(Source: Wikipedia – Cyzicus / Economy; NumisWiki – Cyzicus Electrum Coinage)
During the Hellenistic and Roman periods, Cyzicus was granted the status of a free city and served as the provincial capital of Mysia within the Roman province of Asia. The city flourished under the emperors Hadrian and Antoninus Pius, who sponsored large-scale building projects including a massive marble temple dedicated to Emperor Hadrian—the so-called Hadrianeion—described by ancient sources as one of the largest temples ever constructed in the Roman world.
(Source: Livius.org – Cyzicus; Ancient Ports & Harbours – Cyzicus entry)
Archaeological remains include parts of the Hadrianic Temple, city walls, a theatre, stadium, agora, and extensive aqueducts supplying water from the mountains of Kapıdağ. Excavations led by Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University have uncovered new evidence of monumental marble architecture and sculptural fragments, suggesting that Cyzicus rivalled Pergamon and Ephesus in urban splendour.
(Source: Turkish Archaeological News – Cyzicus; Anadolu Agency – Cyzicus excavations)
The city’s importance declined after severe earthquakes in the 5th and 6th centuries AD, which destroyed much of its infrastructure. By the Byzantine period, its harbours had silted up, and the site became largely abandoned. In Ottoman times, locals referred to the ruins as “Belkıs Harabeleri.” Today, Cyzicus remains an impressive archaeological site, with towering marble columns of the Hadrianic temple visible from afar—a reminder of the once-mighty metropolis of the Propontis.
(Source: Wikipedia – Cyzicus / Later history; Turkish Archaeological News – Cyzicus)