Smyrna
Smyrna names 2 different subjects across the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf. Each is set out below. 1 of them is described by more than one encyclopedia.
Smyrna an ancient city and seaport of Asiatic Turkey
Described by 2 of the 6 encyclopedias.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
an ancient city and seaport of Asiatic Turkey, on the W. coast of Asia Minor, at the head of the gulf of the same name. The H IKEΣIΠ COIN OF SMYRNA appearance of the city from the sea is extremely attractive, but a closer inspection dissipates the illusion. The houses, mostly built of wood, are mean and fragile-looking; the streets close and filthy and filled with intolerable stenches proceeding from the sewers and drains. The city is divided into four quarters-Frank, Turk, Jew, and Armenian. There is an English hospital, church, and buryingground, English schools, and numerous schools for Turks, Greeks, and others; all sects and faiths having complete toleration, Smyrna has been for centuries the most important place of trade in Asia Minor. The chief imports are cotton manufactures, woolen cloths, colonial goods, iron, steel, and hardware goods. The principal exports are dried fruits (especially figs), cotton, silk, goats' hair, sheep and camels' wool, rugs, madder root, yellow berries, sponges, and opium. The origin of Smyrna is lost in antiquity. It laid claim to the honor of being the birthplace of Homer, and no doubt was a Greek city as early as the date assigned to the poet. It was afterward taken by the Lydians, was restored by Antigonus and Lysimachus, generals of Alexander the Great, became the capital of Antigonus and a flourishing city. During the Roman civil wars it was taken and partly destroyed by Dolabella, but soon recovered. It early received Christianity, and was one of the "seven churches" of Asia. In the 13th century only the ruins of its former splendor were left; but after the Turks became masters of the country it revived. It has repeatedly suffered from earthquake. After the World War Smyrna was awarded to Greece, by whom it was occupied in 1919. Pop. about 350,000.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
smer'na, the chief commercial city of Asia Minor . It is situated at the head of the gulf of that name forty-five miles from the Mediterranean. Ancient Smyrna is not without importance in the history of Greece and Rome. The church at Smyrna was a favorite with the apostle St. John and played its part nobly in the sufferings and martyrdoms of the early Christians. The modern city has a population of about 200,000, half Greek. It is located in a beautiful amphitheater of green hills, but the city itself except for a broad quay and brilliant bazaars is unattractive. The streets are crooked and dirty. Franks, Armenians, Turks, and Greeks live in separate quarters. The merchants of Smyrna purchase large quantities of cotton and woolen goods, coffee, sugar, iron, coal, hardware, lumber, glass, butter, petroleum, and leather, which they sell locally or distribute by means of railroads and the numerous caravan routes which radiate from the city. Smyrna is the fig city of the world. In 1909 110,000 camel loads or 49,500,000 pounds of figs were marketed here. The chief articles of merchandise produced in this region for export are olive oil, licorice, barley, tobacco, gum arabic, opium, sesame, raisins, figs, cotton, and wool. The carpets and rugs of Smyrna are noted. With the dawn of better days, Smyrna is on the way to rank as a city of world-wide commercial importance. See Figs
Smyrna GULF OF, formerly the Hermæan Gulf
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
GULF OF, formerly the Hermæan Gulf, an inlet of the Ægean Sea on the coast of Asiatic Turkey, so called from the town of Smyrna, which stands at its head. It is 40 miles in length by 20 at its broadest part, and contains several islands and affords good anchorage. SMYTH [SAMUEL] NEWMAN [PHILLIPS], an American clergyman and religious writer; born in Brunswick, Me., June 25, 1843; was graduated at Bowdoin College in 1863; served as lieutenant in 16th Maine regiment (1864- 1865); was graduated at Andover Theological Seminary (1867); held pastorates at Providence, R. I., Bangor, Me., Quincy, Ill., and New Haven, Conn. His publications include: "Old Faiths in New Light," "The Orthodox Theology of To-day," "The ""Per- ' "Morality of the Old Testament, sonal Creeds," "Christian Ethics," "The Religious Feeling," "The Reality of Faith," "The Place of Death in Evolution," "Through Science to Faith," "Constructive Natural Theology," etc.
What Has Changed in the Last Century
Collier's ended its 1921 account with Smyrna "awarded to Greece, by whom it was occupied in 1919" — a settlement that lasted three more years. Turkish forces retook the city on 9 September 1922, and in the fire that followed the Greek and Armenian quarters were destroyed; under the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne the Christian population Aiton's had described as "half Greek" was removed to Greece in the compulsory exchange, ending some three thousand years of Greek settlement there. The city, rebuilt and known officially as Izmir, is now Turkey's third largest, with roughly three million people against the 200,000 to 350,000 of these accounts. It remains a major port and still exports figs, raisins, tobacco and cotton, but the four confessional quarters and the caravan routes are gone.
Written for this edition, 2026.