Sinope
Sinope, located in the region of Paphlagonia on the southern coast of the Black Sea, is an ancient city with a rich historical background. Initially inhabited by native Paphlagonians, Sinope is thought to have been established as a Greek colony by Miletus, with debates regarding the exact date of foundation ranging from 756 BC to 631 BC. The city thrived due to its fertile land, abundant timber, and two deep-water harbors, which facilitated trade and fishing, enhancing its role in maritime commerce. Sinope also served as a crucial link to inland Asia Minor, exporting products like red ochre and cinnabar.
Historically, Sinope underwent various occupations but managed to retain a degree of autonomy, including periods of liberation by notable figures like Pericles. The city was later captured by Pharnaces I and became the capital of the Pontic kingdom. Throughout its history, Sinope was recognized for its cultural and economic significance, producing coinage and establishing settlements along the coast. Today, archaeological remains, including Hellenistic temples and inscriptions, offer insight into Sinope's ancient heritage, making it a point of interest for historians and visitors alike.
Subject Terms
Sinope
(Sinop)
A city of Paphlagonia (northern Asia Minor), occupying the isthmus of a peninsula or promontory on the south coast of the Euxine (Black) Sea, at the point where the crossing to the Tauric Chersonese (Crimea) is shortest.
After earlier habitation by native Paphlagonians, probably with a Phrygian admixture—in addition (according to Greek mythology) to settlement by Autolycus the Argonaut companion of Jason or by Asopus father of the nymph Sinope—this was believed to be the earliest of the many colonies founded by Miletus in Ionia (western Asia Minor). But it is disputed whether Pseudo-Scymnus was right in implying a foundation before 756 BC or whether Eusebius' date of 631 is more nearly correct; perhaps some Greeks arrived at the earlier date but the Milesians came in 631.
The promontory was fertile and well-watered, the mountainous hinterland produced ample supplies of timber, luxury woods, and nuts, and the city's two deep-water harbors (the best on an otherwise rocky coast) provided not only opportunities for excellent tunny fishing but access to the neighboring silver-and iron-mining regions (known loosely under the name of the Chalybes) that supplied one of the principal motives for Greek colonization in the area.
Sinope commanded the maritime Black Sea commerce (producing numerous amphoras that have attracted recent study), and established not only trading stations but also a number of colonies along the coast, including Trapezus (Trabzon, Trebizond). The place also dominated land routes communicating with the interior of Asia Minor—by which `Sinopic earth’ (red ochre, cinnabar) was brought out from Cappadocia for shipment—and began to issue coinage before 450. In about 437 Sinope was liberated by Pericles the Athenian from the rule of local autocrats (Timesilaus and his brothers) and received a colony of settlers from Athens. Diogenes (c 400–325), the founder of the Cynic sect of philosophers, was born at the city.
With brief intervals of occupation by the Persian satraps Datames and Sysinas (c 364–353), and by the Cappadocian monarch Ariarathes I (c 330), its Greek citizens retained their freedom. Mithridates III of Pontus was repulsed, with Rhodian help, in 220, but in 183 Sinope was captured by one of his successors, Pharnaces I, and became the capital of the Pontic kingdom. During Rome's Third War against Mithridates VI Eupator, who was born (and buried) at Sinope and accorded the place special honors, it was declared a free city by Marcus Licinius Lucullus (70), but reconquered by Mithridates' son Pharnaces II (48/47), who inflicted severe damage. Julius Caesar attempted to remedy this by the dispatch of ex-soldier settlers, under the direction of the proconsul Publius Sulpicius Rufus, to form a Roman citizen colony (45) which coined under the title of Colonia Julia Felix (although, for a time at least, the Greek community maintained a separate existence).
Strabo describes the town as powerfully walled, enjoying the produce of varied market-gardens, and `splendidly adorned with gymnasia and market-place and colonnades.’ Few traces of these buildings have so far been found, though the remains of a Hellenistic temple, within a colonnaded precinct, are visible, and coins show shrines of Apollo and Nemesis. The cult of Poseidon Heliconius, god of the Ionian Federation (to which Miletus belonged), is also attested by an inscription. Greek vases from the site are to be seen in several Turkish museums, and a corpus of Sinopic inscriptions is now being published.