HOMER'S HOMETOWN

The city , known as 'Beautiful Izmir' , lies on the shores of a large bay furrowed by ships and yachts and encircled by mountains . The climate is a milt one and in summer the heat is tempered by the constant and refreshing sea breezes . Behind the palm - lined promenades and avenues , the city gently ascends in terraces to the slops of the surrounding hills . Today it is the third largest city in Turkey and its port is second only to Istanbul . A lively place at anytime , it is even more so during the International Arts Festival (June/July) and the International Fair (August/Sept.)

The original city was established in the third millenium B.C (at present day Bayrakli) , and at that time it had , with Troy , the most advanced culture in Western Anatolia . By 1500 B.C the city was subject to the influence of Hittite Empire of Central Anatolia .

In the first millenium B.C , Izmir , then known  as Smyrna , was one of the important cities of the Ionian Federation ; and it was during this period , which was one of the city's most brilliant , that the legendary Homer is believed to have lived here .

The conquest of the city by the Lydians , around 600 B.C brought this period to an end . It was then again conquered by the Persians in the middle of the 6th century B.C . In the 4th century B.C a new city was build at the instigation of Alexander The Great on the slopes of Mt. Pagos (Kadifekale)  . The city's Roman period from 27 B.C was a second brilliant time in its history . This was then followed by Byzantine rule in the 4th century , and Seljuk domination from the 11th century until the city became part of the Ottoman Empire in 1415 , under Sultan Mehmet Celebi