A city with 2600 years in its background.Turkish raki and fish of foça is well known but with your permission I want to introduce it as Phokaia.
Phokaia is one of the most important ionia city states. For that reason Phokaia has its own special place in the history.
In 600 BC. Phokaian colonial ships went to Marseille and found a lot of colonies named as Elea, Syracuse, Alalia, Nice, Antipolis.
The most important is Marseille. Because in an antique inscription found in the port of Marseille is written: This city is founded in 600 BC. by Phokaia’s people which came from Anatolia. Fort that reason Phokaia and Marseille are twin cities. This historical voyage will be realized again in April 2008 by a reconstructed colonial ship and which will going to go Marseille and the other antique ports. Thanks to 360 degree project team for their creative idea.
Also Phokaia is a rich ion city. For that reason its coins is made by mixture of gold and silver named as electrum. These small coins were issued by a monetary allience with an other island city lesbos (in aegean sea) near Phokaia. These coins were the most important and precious exchange tool of its period. In Phokai electrums which were named as electrum hekte, there exists a symbol in obverse and incuse the reverse side. In lesbos coins there exists symbols in both side.The older amphitheater of Anatolia is in Phokaia. Unfortunately there exists a house in its scene. Some parts of this theater is saved through archeological sondages.
Mermaid rocks, main goddess Kybele altars, the Harpagos monumental grave, antique city walls, ant with its necrapolis (city of dead) , Phokaia has a rich historical heritage. But not well presented and preserved.
These mermaid rocks were very dangerous especially in windy weathers. Mariners were influenced by the sounds coming from these rocks. These sounds were like the sounds of mermaids. These songs coming from rocks were very dangerous trap for mariners. Homeros also cited this in his book.
There exists a lot of altars for Goddess Kybele . But these hidden altars can be seen by people which are interested. Most famous altar is in the city center.
In 546 BC Persian invaders ended the golden age of Phokaia. In the spring of 334 BC Alexander the Great has reached to Anatolia and new era has started for phokaia by ending the era of Persian invaders. In this period which is named as Hellenistic period, the city continued to expand but never reached its ancient economic and cultural prosperity. After the dead of Alexander the great Phokaia is ruled by Selucids, Pergamon, Rome. In Early Christianity period the phokaia was a religious center.In 13Th century different Turkish rulers ( Çakabey, Saruhanoğulları ) came to scene. In 1455 Ottoman empire an its most famous ruler Fatih Sultan Mehmet Khan has included Foça to Ottoman territory . Foça and new foça is governed under Manisa province.
From May 15th of 1919 to September 11th of 1922 the small city is ruled by Greek invaders. In 1922 Turkish army take Foça . In September 11th of 1922 Foca reentered to Turkish territory.
