The fort was constructed in the early 7th century BC.Ĭarians and Ionians had been intermarrying for generations but a Carian state persisted until a coalition of Ionian cities defeated it and divided its lands among them. Their last stronghold was the fortified settlement of Melia at the smaller peak of Dilek Daglari on the north slopes of Mycale, where the seat of their worship of Poseidon Heliconius was located. The Meliac War was a final settlement between the ancient state of Caria and the Ionians who had been settlers on its land at the mouth of the Maeander for some centuries. Under the Roman empire it was allowed to issue its own coinage under the name koinon Iōnōn on one side with the face of the emperor on the other. The league was dissolved a few times and reconstituted a few times and in between its actual power varied.

One therefore reads of the cities, council or decisions 'of the Ionians.' Writers and documents of the Hellenistic Period explicitly use the term koinon ('common thing') or synodos (' synod') of the Ionians, and by anachronism apply it to the early league when they mention it.

One of our earliest historical sources, the Histories of Herodotus, and early inscriptions refer to the legally constituted body customarily translated by 'league' as 'the Ionians' in the special sense of the cities incorporated by it.

Chios (island) and Erythrae (Asia Minor) - with a common dialect andĪfter 650 BC, Smyrna, an originally Aeolic city bordering the Ioanians, was invited to diminish Aeolis and increase Ionia by joining the league, which it did.

Ephesus, Colophon, Lebedus, Teos, Clazomenae and Phocaea - all located in Lydia and-or the region known today as Ionia (both also in Asia Minor, Lydia extending inland much farther relative to Ionia), speaking another dialect.

Miletus, Myus, and Priene - all located in Caria (a region in Asia Minor) and speaking the same dialect.

The twelve ancient city-states were listed by Herodotus as: Ancient Greek Colonization: the Ioanians in green

Ancient coin league of legends