Old Smyrna
Bicentenial Extra
Page 6
OLD SMYRNA
New Smyrna was named for a lady: Dr. Andrew Turnbull's wife: Gracia Dura Bin (Gracia Maria Rubini). who lived and was born in old Smyrna, located in western Turkey, about 210 miles south-southwest of Istanbul.

The earliest inhabitants of ancient Smyrna were contemporary with the first city of Troy (about 3,000 B.C.) Smyrna has held historical importance for over 5,000 years in the Mediterranean world.

This sea faring community was the reputed birthplace of the Greek epic poet Homer (8th centry B.C.) Homer was born by the banks of the Meles, a stream worshipped for its magical, healling powers which wan through Smyrna. He wrote his epic poems: The Illiad and The Odyssey in a cave at the source of this stream.

Ancient Smyrna was renowned for its architectual beauty' paved streets laid out in a rectilinear plan. One mistake the planners and architects did make was not laying drain tiles, so during periods of heavy rains the roadway were flooded.

The city was celebrated for its library, a school of medicine where Galen (the Father of Medicine studied, as well as a thermal springs where Agamenon stopped to treat his wounded soldiers.

During the days of the Roman Empire, Smyrna was a favorite place for condemned Roman governors who had fallen out of favor with Rome. After Caesar's murder in 44 B.C., Brutus and Cassius convened they council of war here.

The Bood of Revelation in the Bible says: "And unto the angel of the church of Smyrna. (Revelation 2:8-11).

IZMIR, TURKEY
IZMIR, TURKEY. Formerly Smyrna. Capital of Izmir province and country's third largest city at the head of the Gulf of Izmir on the Aegean Sea. Founded by Greeks and later conquered by the Romnans. An early centre of Christianity. 1424 taken by the Turks til 1919 when occupied by Greek forces. Restored to Turkey 1923.