Ancient Coin Stories

Miletos begins to be inhabited.

Miletos is inhabited by Minoans.

Miletos is overrun by mainland Greeks.

Mycenaean settlers occupy Miletos.

Transition phase in Miletos. Both phases are Mycenaean.

Approximate date when the Hittite king Mursilis II took Ephesos (then called Apasas), the citizens fled to Metropolis (then called Puranda).

Miletos comes under Hittite control.

Miletos is destroyed by some unknown people.

Priene founded by colonists from Thebes.

Amisos founded by settlers from Miletos.

Sinope is founded by settlers from Miletos.

Kyzikos receives colonies from Miletos.

Magnesia ad Maeander is destroyed by Cimmerians.

Parion is founded by settlers from Miletos.

The Lelantine War between Chalkis and Eretria results in a Chalkis victory and Eretria’s loss of Andros, Tenos, and Koressos, Ioulis, and Karthaia on Kea. Miletos joined the side of Eretria and Samos and Thessaly on the side of Chalkis.

Phasis is founded by settlers from Miletos and named for its nearby river.

The location of Priene is moved due to earthquakes.

Prokonnesos is founded by settlers from Miletos.

Artake is founded by settlers from Miletos.

Additional settlers from Miletos migrate to Kyzikos.

Approximate year when Kolophon is conquered by Gyges of Lydia.

Abydos founded by settlers from Miletos.

Magnesia ad Maeander is rebuilt by settlers from Miletos or Ephesos.

Abdera begun as a colony of Klazomenai.

Lampsakos founded by settlers from Phokaia and Miletos.

Ephesos is burned by Kimmerians.

Approximate foundation of Myrleia by settlers from Kolophon.

Approximate time when Thrasybolos, tyrant of Miletos, fights a lengthy war against Lydia and maintains the independence of Miletos.

Olbia is founded by settlers from Miletos.

Kardia founded by settlers from Miletos and Klazomenai.

Additional settlers from Miletos move to Sinope.

Istros founded by settlers from Miletos.

Kios is founded by settlers from Miletos.

Apollonia Pontika is founded by settlers from Miletos.

Alyattes of Lydia takes Smyrna, then attacks but fails to take Klazomenai.

Kardia is founded by settlers from Miletos and Klazomenai.

Pantikapaion is founded by settlers from Miletos.

Apollonia ad Rhyndakum is founded by settlers from Miletos.

Massalia is founded by settlers from Phokaia.

Eresos, Kyme, Mytiliene, Methymna, Pitane, Eliaia, Larissa, Neonteichos, Aigai, Antandros, Temnos, Gryneion, and Smyrna become members of the Aeolian League, an association of Greek city-states in the region.

Perinthos founded by settlers from Samos.

Approximate foundation of Odessos by settlers from Miletos.

Approximate foundation of Myrmekion by settlers from Miletos.

Approximate foundation of Nymphaion by settlers from Miletos.

Carthage wins a significant victory against the Greek city of Phokaia near Corsica, marking the beginning of its rivalry with Greek settlements in the western Mediterranean.

Emporion is founded by settlers from Phokaia.

Approximate foundation of Theodosia by settlers from Miletos.

Amisos is founded by settlers from Miletos and Phokaia.

King Croesus of the Lydians conquers Ephesos and Phokaia.

Approximate foundation of Tyra by settlers from Miletos.

The Temple of Hera at Samos is completed.

Approximate foundation of Dioscurias by settlers from Miletos.

Approximate foundation of Nagidos by settlers from Samos.

The Temple of Hera and much of the ancient city of Samos are destroyed.

King Croesus of Lydia is defeated by the Persian general Harpagos. As a result, Ephesos and Sardis come under Persian rule.

Aspendos and Chios come under Persian domination.

With the downfall of the Kingdom of Lydia, Adramytteion, Parion, Phokaia, and Aigai go under the Persian Empire.

Abdera settled by Ionians from Teos, who were escaping Persian subjugation.

Citizens of Teos flee from the Persians to found Phanagoria.

Approximate time when Polykrates becomes tyrant of Samos. He is supported by Lygdamis of Naxos.

Maroneia is founded by settlers from Chios.

Elea in Italy is founded by settlers from Phokaia.

Polykrates pays off Spartans besieging Samos with counterfeit coins.

Polykrates, tyrant of Samos, travels to Magnesia to see Oroetes, satrap of Sardis, who assassinates him.

Arkesilaos III of Kyrene wishes to revert the laws setup by Demonax of Mantineia. This leads to armed conflict where he is defeated and flees to Samos.

Arkesilaos III returns to Kyrene from Samos and is able to take the city. Fearing a backlash, he leaves to his father-in-law in Barka, where he is recognized by exiles and killed. His mother Pheretima takes over Kyrene.

The philosopher Anaxagoras is born in Klazomenai.

The location of Priene is moved again.

Aristagoras of Miletos asks Athens for help in the Ionian Revolt.

Eresos, Phokaia, Kaunos, and Gargara participate in the Ionian Revolt against Persian rule. The revolt fails, and Persian control over the area is reasserted.

Athens, Eretria, and the Ionian cities are defeated by the Persians at the Battle of Ephesos.

Histaios of Miletos founds the city of Myrkinos, on the site of what later would be Amphipolis. Aristagoras, also of Miletos, would later occupy the city and perish in the siege of a nearby town.

The Battle of Lade is fought between the Ionians under Dionysos of Phokaia and the Persians. Chios has the largest contingent, followed by Miletos, Lesbos (probably Mytilene), Samos, Teos, Priene, Erythrai, Myos, and Phokaia. Most fled during the battle, but the Chians put up a bold resistance before defeat.

The Persians are defeated at the Battle of Mykale. An alliance of Athens, Sparta, Samos, and Corinth. As a result, Chios, Kos, and Ephesos are liberated from Persian rule. The Greek fleet sets sail from Knidos.

Delian League founded by Athens, with its regular meeting place at Delos. Ephesos, Phokaia, Gargara, and Eresos are members.

The Athenian Themistokles is given control over Magnesia ad Maeander.

Death of Themistokles in Magnesia ad Maeander. His son Archeptolis succeeds him as governor.

First mention of Airai in tribute records to Athens.

Erythrai secedes from the Delian League before Athens installs a garrison and they rejoin.

Peace of Kallias, an agreement between Athens and Persia after a series of conflicts between them. In Cyprus, Amathos, Kelenderis, and Salamis remain under Persian control but maintains its local autonomy. Ephesos, Miletos, Priene, Klazomenai, and Phokaia also obtain some autonomy.

Samos revolts from Athens. Sparta considers war in their support, but the matter is put to a vote and Corinth disagrees. Peace between Sparta and Athens continues and Athens squashes the revolt.

Chios, Kalchedon, Erythrai, and Klazomenai revolt against Athens and is besieged until relieved by Sparta.

Archeptolis, who controls Magnesia ad Maeander, is removed, possibly by Tissaphernes.

Euromos and Phokaia are among the Carian cities that revolt against Athens during the Peloponnesian War.

Chios sends ten vessels to Anaia in order to gain intelligence of Miletos and convince them to revolt.

Sparta defeats the Athenian fleet based in Samos.

Athens attacks Knidos and nearly takes it, but the next day the inhabitants strengthen their fortifications and resist. The Athenians then return to Samos.

Samos serves as a temporary home for the Athenian democracy.

Abydos convinced to defect from Delian league by Sparta. The Chians also convince Lebedos and Airai to defect.

During a battle between Deryklidas of Sparta and Pharnabazos with Tissaphernes, men from Priene and Achilleion fighting with the Spartans fled. Hamaxitos and Larissa-Ptolemais thus receive their freedom again.

Pharnabazos convinces Nisyros, Teos, Chios, Kos, Mytilene, Ephesos, and Erythrai to desert Sparta.

Samos declares its independence and re-establishes a democracy.

Peace of Antalkidas, arranged by Artaxerxes II, is signed in Susa, ending the Corinthian War. Abydos, Aigai, Kalchedon, Kaunos, Klazomenai, Kyzikos, Parion, Samos, and Adramytteion become part of the Persian Empire.

Theopompos, a historian credited with the most complete history of Philip II, is born on Chios.

Eresos, Byzantion, Chios,Mytilene, Methymna, Rhodes, Thebes, Korkyra, Eretria, Kios, Samos, Naxos, Andros, Myrina (Lembos), Hephaistia, Imbros, and Thasos join the Second Athenian League, reaffirming its alliance with Athens in response to the growing threat of Persian interference and internal Greek conflicts.

Samos is taken by Athens after a siege of eleven months.

Chios, Paros, Rhodes, Kos, and Byzantion revolt against Athens in the Social War. Myrina and Hephaistia on Lemnos and Imbros (Athenian allies) are ravaged and Samos is besieged. After bungling by the Athenian general Chares, Persia demands Athens leave and Athens, running out of money, complies.

The Temple of Artemis at Ephesos is burned down by a lunatic who did so to become famous for burning it down.

Leukai founded by the Persian admiral Tachos.

The inhabitants of Klazomenai and Kyme quarrel over ownership of Leukai, until Klazomenai succeeds.

Mausolos plans a deep-water port at Priene, but it is never finished.

Kydonia is besieged by Phalaikos and his mercenaries, aided by Phokaia. He is killed when lightning strikes a siege engine.

A pro-Macedonian movement in Ephesos is crushed with the help of Autophradates.

The Persians are driven out of Assos and Ephesos by Alexander the Great.

Erythrai submits to Alexander the Great, who plans to create a canal on the peninsula to connect Teos to Smyrna.

Alexander III decrees that citizens of Priene have the right to reside in Naulochos and certain privileges there.

Amathos under Androkles, Salamis, and Soloi in Cyprus submit to Alexander the Great after his victory over the Persian Empire at the Battle of Issos. Chios also comes under Macedon.

Memnon of Rhodes uses a Persian fleet to secure Chios, then Antissa, Eresos, Mytilene, and Pyrrha.

Alexander the Great returns to Memphis and is informed that the oracles at Didama and Erythrai proclaimed him a son of Zeus.

Perdikkas expels the settlers on Samos to Kolophon.

Ptolemy I Soter gives Seleukos I Nikator a small fleet, which he uses to force Asandros to ally with Ptolemy. He also takes Erythrai and besieges Kition along with Menelaos.

Under the service of Antigonos, Dokimos takes Miletos.

Demetrios Poliorketes defeats Killes, a general of Ptolemy I Soter, at the Battle of Myos.

Antigonos Monophthalmos attempts to join Lebedos to Teos, but the act is never completed.

Adramytteion and Ephesos are taken by Prepalaos, a general under Lysimachos.

Lysimachos convinces Teos and Kolophon to surrender, but Klazomenai and Erythrai are reinforced by Antigonos and are not taken.

Ephesos comes under Lysimachos, who forces everyone to move to a new settlement that he names after his wife Arsinoe.

Lysimachos moves the entire population of Lebedos to Ephesos.

Smyrna is renamed to Eurydikeia by Lysimachos in honor of his daughter Eurydike.

Lysimachos executes his son Agathokles for treason, and Ephesos revolts as a result.

Lysimachos defeated at the Battle of Coropedion. Adramytteion, Ainos, and Abydos come under control of the Seleukid Empire. Ephesos returns to its original name.

Assassins are sent to kill Arsinoe II in Ephesos after the death of her husband. She escapes to Kassandreia after using a decoy.

Ptolemy II Philadelphos sends Ptolemy Epigonos to Miletos on business.

Ptolemy Epigonos and the tyrant Timarchos of Miletos revolt against Ptolemy II Philadelphos.

Miletos is taken by Antiochos II Theos and its tyrant Timarchos is killed. The rebellion with Ptolemy Epigonos against Ptolemy II Philadelphos ends.

The Second Syrian War ends. Ptolemy II cedes land to Antiiochos II and Antigonos II remains in mastery of Greece. Antiochos II takes control over Ephesos, Samos, and Miletos.

The navy of Ptolemy II Philadelphos is defeated by Antiochos II Theos at Ephesos.

Abydos and Ephesos conquered by Ptolemy III of Egypt.

Smyrna creates a cult of Rome in order to foster closer ties to Rome and break with the Kingdom of Pergamon.

Abydos, Madytos, and Ephesos seized by Antiochos III of the Seleukid Empire.

Philip V is forced to remove his garrisons from Iasos, Euromos, Pedasa, Bargylia, Abydos, Thasos, Myrina, and Perinthos.

The city of Rome was deified in Smyrna as the goddess Roma.

Antiochos III, desiring to meet Rome in battle, is detained by the cities of Alexandria Troas, Smyrna, and Lampsakos, which refused entreaties.

Antiochos III is defeated by Scipio Asiaticus at the Battle of Magnesia. Through treaty, Ephesos comes under the Attalids. Alabanda comes under Roman control.

Livius is sent to Anatolia and the cities of Miletos, Myndos, Halikarnassos, Knidos, and Kos are friendly.

Samos is given by the Romans to the Attalids.

The cities that were loyal to Rome are given immunity by them. This includes Kyme, Mylasa, Klazomenai (who also received the island of Drymussa), Miletos, Ilion (who received Rhoition and Gergithos), Chios, Smyrna, and Erythrai.

Adramytteion, Smyrna, Sestos, Synnada, Laodikeia ad Lykon, Attalaia, Erythrai, Ephesos, Perge, and Assos come under Roman control after Attalos III, the last Attalid king, leaves it to Rome in his will.

Samos sides with the pretender Eumenes III against Rome.

The Roman consul Publius Licinius Crassus Dives Mucianus is killed by Eumenes III, pretender to the throne of Pergamon, at Leukai.

The Kingdom of Pergamon is fully incorporated into the Roman Empire, bringing Aigai, Pergamon, Ephesos, Smyrna, Thyateira, Sardis, Magnesia, Kyzikos, Miletos, and Kolophon under its domain.

Manius Aquillius is governor of Asia and rebuilds the road from Adramytteion to Smyrna.

The Roman general Lucullus convinces Kos and Knidos to defect to the Romans and join them against Samos. He also takes Chios easily and arrests the tyrant of Kolophon, Epigonos.

Adramytteion, Ephesos, Pergamon, Magnesia, Tralles, Apamea, Samos, Kolophon, Smyrna, and Sardis occupied by Mithridates VI as part of the Mithridatic Wars against Rome.

Ephesos returns to Roman rule and is taxed harshly by Sulla.

Sulla defeats Mithridates VI and ends the Mithridatic Wars with the Treaty of Dardanos. Adramytteion, Ephesos, Pergamon, Smyrna, Sardis, Tralles, Kolophon, Apamea, and Magnesia return to Roman control.

King Ptolemy XII Auletes retires to Ephesos when the Roman Senate refuses to reinstate him to the throne.

Octavian defeats Sextus Pompey, the son of Pompey the Great, in the naval Battle of Naulochos, solidifying his control over Rome’s grain supply.

Ephesos serves as a naval base for Marc Antony and Kleopatra.

Augustus makes Ephesos the capital of Asia over the previous Pergamon.

Herod I of Judea funds a stoa on Chios.

Adramytteion, Aigai, Apollonis, Smyrna, Sardis and Magnesia are severely damaged by an earthquake. Tiberius provides financial support.

Paul the Apostle and Luke the Evangelist stop at Mytilene after visiting Assos, then continue on to Chios.

Hadrian elevates Kyzikos, Pergamon, Smyrna, Ephesos and Sardes as region centers for the imperial cult.

Chios suffers a destructive earthquake but is rebuilt with aid from the Roman Empire.

Lucilla and Lucius Verus are married in Ephesos.

Smyrna is heavily damaged by an earthquake and rebuilt by Marcus Aurelius.

Adramytteion, Ephesos, Smyrna, Magnesia, Pergamon, Nikaia, and Kyzikos suffer damage during an invasion of the Goths.