MYRI´NA
MYRI´NA (
Μυρίνα: Eth.
Μυριναῖος), one of the Aeolian cities on the western coast of Mysia, about 40 stadia to the south-west of Gryneium. (
Hdt. 1.149.)
It is said to have been founded by one Myrinus before the other Aeolian cities (Mela, 1.18), or by the Amazon Myrina (
Strab. xi. p.505, xii. p. 573, xiii. p. 623;
Diod. 3.54). Artaxerxes gave Gryneium and Myrina to Gongylus, an Eretrian, who had been banished from his native city for favouring the interests of Persia. (Xenoph.
Hellen. 3.1.4.) Myrina was a very strong place (
Liv. 33.30), though not very large, and had a good harbour. (
Scylax, p. 36; Agath.
Praef. p. 9, ed. Bonn.) Pliny (
5.32) mentions that it bore the surname of Sebastopolis; while, according to Syncellus, it was also called Smyrna. For some time Myrina was occupied by Philip of Macedonia; but the Romans compelled him to evacuate it, and declared the place free. (Liv.
l. c,; Plb. 18.27.)
It was twice visited by severe earthquakes; first in the reign of Tiberius (
Tac. Ann. 2.47), on which occasion it received a remission of duties on account of the loss it had sustained; and a second time in the reign of Trajan (
Oros. 7.12).
The town was restored each time, and continued to exist until a late period. (Steph. Byz. s.v.
Ptol. 5.2.6;
Apollon. 1.604; Hierocl. p. 661; Geogr. Ray. 5.9, where it is called Myrenna, while in the
Pent. Tab. it bears the name Marinna.) Its site is believed to be occupied by the modern
Sandarlik.  |
| COIN OF MYRINA. |
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