TRALLES
TRALLES or
TRALLIS (
Τράλλεις,
Τράλλις: Eth.
Τραλλιανός), a large and flourishing city of Caria, on the southern slope of mount Messogis, a little to the north of the Scamander, a small tributary of which, the Eudon, flowed close by the city, while another passed right through it. Its acropolis was situated on a lofty eminence in the north of the city. Tralles was said to have been founded by Argives in conjunction with a body of Thracians, whence its name Tralles was believed to be derived (Strab. xiv. pp. 648, 649; Hesych, s.v.
Diod. 17.65;
Plut. Ages. 16), for it is said to have previously been called Anthea, Evanthea, Erymna, Charax, Seleucia, and Antiochia (
Steph. B. sub voce s. vv. Τράλλις, Χάραξ; Etym. M. p. 389;
Plin. Nat. 5.29). Others, however, state that it was a Pelasgian colony, and originally bore the name of Larissa (Agath. 2.17; Schol.
ad Hom. Il. 10.429).
It was situated in a most fertile district, at a point where highroads met from the south, east, and west; so that it must have been a place of considerable commerce. (
Cic. Att. 5.1. 4,
ad Fans. 3.5,
ad Quint. Frat. 1.1;
Strab. xiv. p.663.)
The inhabitants of Tralles were celebrated for their great wealth, and were generally appointed asiarchs, that is, presidents of the games celebrated in the district.
But the country in which Tralles was situated was much subject to earthquakes; in the reign of Augustus many of its public buildings were greatly damaged by a violent shock; and the emperor gave the inhabitants a handsome sum of money to repair the losses they had sustained. (
Strab. xii. p.579.) Out of gratitude, the Trallians petitioned to be permitted to erect a temple in honour of Tiberius, but without effect. (
Tac. Ann. 4.55.) According to Pliny (
35.49), king Attalus had a palace at Tralles.
A statue of Caesar was set up in the temple of Victoria at Tralles; and during the presence of Caesar in Asia a miracle is said to have happened in the temple, respecting which see
Caes. Civ. 3.105;
Plut. Caes. 47; and
V. Max. 1.6.
The city is very often mentioned by ancient writers (
Xen. Anab. 1.4. 8,
Hist. Gr. 3.2.19;
Plb. 22.27;
Liv. 37.45,
38.39;
Diod. 14.36,
19.75;
Juv. 3.70;
Ptol. 5.2.19; Hierocl. p. 659). During the middle ages the city fell into decay, but was repaired by Andronicus Palaeologus (G. Pachymer, p. 320). Extensive ruins of the place still exist above the modern
Ghiuzel Hissar, in a position perfectly agreeing with the description of Strabo. (See Arundell,
Seven Churches, pp. 58, 65, 293; Leake,
Asia Minor, pp. 243, 246; Fellows,
Asia Minor, p. 276,
Lycia, p. 16; Hamilton,
Researches, i. p. 533.)
As to the coins of Tralles, which are very numerous, see Sestini, p. 89.
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| COIN OF TRALLES. |
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