SOME ROMAN CERAMICS FROM TIRE (ANCIENT THEIRA) AND ITS ENVIRONMENT

Bìnnur Gürler

The land between Tire, Bayindir and Halkapinar, to the south of Belevi, belonged to Ephesos in antiquity. Moreover, there were important ancient settlements within this land. An important road linking Sardes and Ephesos passed through Bogaziçi, near Belevi. This road passed through Theira (Tire) at the foot of the Mesogis (Cevizli Dag), running towards the northeast via Büyük Kale. Uzgur is near this ancient road and to the southeast of the ancient settlement (between Büyük Kale and Küçük Kale, villages) called Boneiton katoikia. The villages near Uzgur, Büyük Kale, Küçük Kale, Alayli, Üzümler, Halkapinar, Darmara (ancient Almura) and Hisarlik contain ancient settlements and cemeteries.

In antiquity, Tire was on an important road between Ephesos and Sardes. Its name indicates that it was once one of the capital cities of Lydia. The word Thyrai comes from "tyra" or "tira" in the ancient Lydian language, meaning "city" or "castle". Later, this name changed to Thyre, Theira, Tira, Thyra, and Thyatira. In the end, it became Tire. There are also some sources that mention today's Tire as Tyrra in antiquity. However, in some sources it is referred to as Apateirenon katoikia. Many finds from ancient Theira have been recovered in the modern settlement, which is considered to be a descendant of the ancient one. Theira is in the center of the Kaystros Valley and it is mentioned in inscriptions as a place within the territory of Ephesos.

The result obtained from the evaluation of the pieces found in Tire and its environment will shed light on the settlements of the Roman period in the valley and be very helpful for further studies.

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