On the way to Foca (Phocaea), Turkey ...

On the way to Foca (Phocaea), Turkey ...

Date taken: 22.09.2006 18:47, Aperture: f:16, Shutter: 1/250, ISO:100

Phocaea (modern-day Foça in Turkey) was an ancient Ionian Greek city on the western coast of Anatolia. It is perhaps best known for having founded, in 600 BC, the colony of Massalia (modern Marseille).

The ancient Greek geographer Pausanias, says that Phocaea was founded by Phocians under Athenian leadership, on land given to them by the Aeolian Cymaeans, and that they were admitted into the Ionian League, after accepting as kings the line of Codrus. Pottery remains indicate Aeolian presence as late as the 9th century BC, and Ionian presence as early as the end of the 9th century BC. From this an approximate date of settlement for Phocaea can be inferred.

Following the Lydians, the Phocaeans were among the first in the world to make and use coins as money. Its coins were made of electrum an alloy of silver and gold. The British Museum has a Phocaean coin containing the image of a seal ("phoca" means "seal" in Greek) dating from 600–550 BC.

Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phocaea