One of the leading Ionian cities of Asia Minor. It established a number of colonies on the Hellespont and Black Sea coasts in the 7th and 6th centuries bc, and traded widely. It continued to thrive even after coming within Croesus’ sphere of influence, and in 499 led the revolt of the Ionians against Persia. After its final defeat in 494 it was razed, and never thereafter recovered its former power. It revolted from the Athenian empire in 412, but then came under Persian control. The city’s economic decline was hastened by the silting up of the harbour while it was part of the Roman empire.