Greek Colonial Cities: A Legacy of Ancient Expansion and Influence

Throughout antiquity, the ancient Greeks embarked on a widespread colonization campaign that left an indelible mark on the world. From the bustling shores of the Mediterranean to the distant reaches of the Black Sea, North Africa, and beyond, Greek city-states founded numerous colonies that evolved into thriving centers of commerce, culture, and governance. This expansive list captures the legacy of Greek colonization by detailing the cities established by Greek settlers across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Each city, from the legendary Alexandria in Egypt to the influential Massalia in France, played a unique role in spreading Hellenic culture and influence. These settlements served as beacons of Greek art, philosophy, and political thought, and their histories continue to shape the modern world. This compilation offers a glimpse into the vast network of cities that were founded by the Greeks, each contributing to the rich tapestry of ancient civilization.

I. Greece and Surrounding Regions

1. Athens (Attica) - Major city-state, cultural and political center.

2. Sparta (Laconia) - Prominent military city-state.

3. Corinth (Corinthia) - Major trade center.

4. Thebes (Boeotia) - Influential city-state in Greek history.

5. Argos (Argolis) - One of the oldest cities in Greece.

6. Delphi (Phocis) - Home to the famous Oracle of Delphi.

7. Olympia (Elis) - Site of the original Olympic Games.

8. Ephesus (Ionia) - Major city in ancient Ionia, modern-day Turkey.

9. Miletus (Ionia) - Important ancient Greek city on the western coast of Anatolia.

10. Smyrna (Ionia) - Ancient Greek city, now İzmir in Turkey.

II. Italy

1. Syracuse (Sicily) - Major Greek colony founded by Corinthians.

2. Neapolis (Campania) - Modern Naples, originally founded by Greeks.

3. Taras (Tarentum, modern Taranto) - Founded by Spartans.

4. Cumae (Campania) - The first Greek colony in mainland Italy.

5. Rhegium (Calabria) - Modern Reggio Calabria, founded by Chalcidians.

6. Croton (Calabria) - Known for its famous athletes, founded by Achaeans.

7. Locri (Calabria) - Founded by Locrians.

8. Selinunte (Sicily) - Greek colony on the southwestern coast of Sicily.

9. Agrigento (Sicily) - Founded by settlers from Gela and Rhodes.

10. Gela (Sicily) - Founded by settlers from Rhodes and Crete.

III. Asia Minor (Modern-Day Turkey)

1. Byzantium (Thrace) - Later became Constantinople (modern Istanbul).

2. Ephesus (Ionia) - Important center of early Christianity.

3. Miletus (Ionia) - One of the wealthiest cities in ancient Ionia.

4. Halicarnassus (Caria) - Birthplace of Herodotus, the "Father of History."

5. Sardis (Lydia) - Capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia.

6. Pergamon (Mysia) - Famous for its library, rivaled only by Alexandria.

7. Troy (Troad) - Ancient city made famous by Homer's epic.

8. Trapezus (Pontus) - Modern Trabzon, founded by the Greeks of Sinope.

9. Sinope (Pontus) - Important port and colony on the Black Sea coast.

10. Heraclea Pontica (Bithynia) - Modern Ereğli in Turkey.

IV. The Black Sea Region

1. Odessos (Thrace) - Modern Varna, Bulgaria.

2. Tomis (Scythia Minor) - Modern Constanța, Romania.

3. Chersonesus (Taurica) - Ancient Greek colony on the Crimean Peninsula.

4. Phasis (Colchis) - Modern Poti, Georgia.

5. Apollonia Pontica (Thrace) - Modern Sozopol, Bulgaria.

6. Istria (Scythia Minor) - Ancient Greek colony on the western coast of the Black Sea.

7. Olbia (Scythia) - Ancient Greek colony near modern Mykolaiv, Ukraine.

8. Theodosia (Taurica) - Ancient city in Crimea, modern Feodosia.

V. North Africa

1. Cyrene (Libya) - Founded by settlers from Thera, modern-day Santorini.

2. Naucratis (Egypt) - First and only Greek colony in Egypt.

3. Apollonia (Libya) - Port of Cyrene, now Susa.

4. Berenice (Libya) - Ancient Greek city in Cyrenaica, modern Benghazi.

5. Tocra (Libya) - Also known as Taucheira, in the region of Cyrenaica.

6. Ptolemais (Libya) - Founded by the Ptolemies, modern Tolmeita.

VI. Spain and France

1. Emporion (Catalonia) - Modern Empúries in Spain, founded by settlers from Phocaea.

2. Massalia (Provence) - Modern Marseille, France, founded by Greeks from Phocaea.

3. Nicaea (Provence) - Modern Nice, France.

4. Antipolis (Provence) - Modern Antibes, France.

VII. Sicily and Southern Italy (Magna Graecia)

1. Akragas (Sicily) - Modern Agrigento, founded by settlers from Gela.

2. Zankle (Sicily) - Modern Messina, founded by settlers from Cumae.

3. Catania (Sicily) - Founded by Chalcidians from Naxos.

4. Naxos (Sicily) - First Greek colony in Sicily.

5. Megara Hyblaea (Sicily) - Colony of Megara on the coast of Sicily.

VIII. Eastern Mediterranean

1. Amphipolis (Macedonia) - Founded by Athenians.

2. Pella (Macedonia) - Capital of ancient Macedonia.

3. Philippi (Macedonia) - Founded by Philip II of Macedon.

4. Alexandria (Egypt) - Founded by Alexander the Great, major center of Hellenistic culture.

5. Seleucia (Mesopotamia) - Founded by Seleucus I Nicator, on the Tigris River.

6. Antioch (Syria) - Founded by Seleucus I, became a major center of Hellenistic culture.

IX. Eastern Europe

1. Epidamnus (Illyria) - Modern Durrës, Albania.

2. Apollonia (Illyria) - Founded by Corinthians, modern-day Albania.

3. Byllis (Illyria) - Greek colony in modern Albania.

4. Oricum (Illyria) - Ancient Greek colony on the Adriatic coast.

5. Scodra (Illyria) - Modern Shkodër, Albania.

X. Cyprus

1. Salamis (Cyprus) - Major ancient Greek city-state on the east coast of Cyprus.

2. Paphos (Cyprus) - Ancient city known for the worship of Aphrodite.

3. Kition (Cyprus) - Modern Larnaca, founded by Mycenaean Greeks.

4. Amathus (Cyprus) - One of the ancient royal cities of Cyprus.

5. Soloi (Cyprus) - Greek city-state on the island of Cyprus.

6. Lapithos (Cyprus) - Founded by the Achaeans.

XI. Other Locations

1. Alexandria Eschate (Tajikistan) - Founded by Alexander the Great, “the furthest Alexandria.”

2. Ai-Khanoum (Afghanistan) - Greek city in Bactria, near the Oxus River.

3. Seleucia on the Tigris (Iraq) - Founded by Seleucus I Nicator.

4. Laodicea (Syria) - Founded by Seleucus I, named after his mother Laodice.

5. Apamea (Syria) - Founded by Seleucus I Nicator, named after his wife Apama.

XII. Hellenistic Period Settlements

• Pergamum (Asia Minor) - Major cultural center during the Hellenistic period.

• Antiochia ad Orontes (Syria) - Founded by Seleucus I Nicator, known for its Christian community.

• Tarsus (Cilicia) - Birthplace of Paul the Apostle, important city in antiquity.

This list provides a broad overview of Greek-founded cities across the ancient world, spanning Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Many of these cities became major centers of commerce, culture, and political power, influencing the regions around them for centuries.