View source for Amasra

{{Short description|Small Black Sea port town in Turkey}}
{{distinguish|Asmara|Amasya}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}

{{Infobox Turkey place
| type                 = municipality
| name                 = Amasra
| other_name           = 
| image_skyline        = Amasra (9310207038).jpg
| image_caption        = View of [[Amasra Castle]]
| image_shield         = 
| coordinates          = {{coord|41|44|58|N|32|23|11|E|region:TR|display=it}}
| province             = Bartın
| district             = Amasra
| leader_party         = [[Republican People's Party|CHP]]
| leader_name          = Recai Çakır
| area_footnotes       = 
| area_total_km2       = 
| elevation_m          = 123
| population_footnotes = <ref name=tuik/>
| population_total     = 6098
| population_as_of     = 2021
| postal_code          = 74300
| area_code            = 0378
| website              = {{URL|http://www.amasra.bel.tr/}}
| blank1_name          = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank1_info          = [[Oceanic climate|Cfb]]
}}
'''Amasra''' (from [[Greek language|Greek]] '''Amastris''' Ἄμαστρις, ''gen''. Ἀμάστριδος) is a small [[Black Sea]] port town in the [[Bartın Province]], [[Turkey]]. It is the seat of [[Amasra District]].<ref name=ilce>[https://www.e-icisleri.gov.tr/Anasayfa/MulkiIdariBolumleri.aspx İlçe Belediyesi], Turkey Civil Administration Departments Inventory. Retrieved 30 January 2023.</ref> Its population is 6,098 (2021).<ref name=tuik>{{Cite web |title=Address-based population registration system (ADNKS) results dated 31 December 2021|url=https://www.tuik.gov.tr/indir/duyuru/favori_raporlar.xlsx |access-date=30 January 2023|publisher=[[TÜİK]]|language=tr |format=XLS}}</ref>
[[File:Amasra 100.JPG|thumb|right]]

The town today is much appreciated for its beaches and natural setting, which has made tourism the most important activity for its inhabitants. Amasra has two islands: the bigger one is called Büyük ada ('Great Island'), the smaller one Tavşan adası ('Rabbit Island'). It was annexed by the [[Ottoman Empire]] after the [[Siege of Amasra]].

== History ==
Situated in the ancient region of [[Paphlagonia]], the original city seems to have been called Sesamus (Greek: Σήσαμος), and it is mentioned by [[Homer]]<ref>Homer, ''Iliad'', [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0134&layout=&loc=2.850 ii. 853]</ref> in conjunction with [[Cytorus (ancient settlement)|Cytorus]]. [[Stephanus of Byzantium|Stephanus]]<ref name="steph">Stephanus, ''Ethnica'', s.v. "Amastris"</ref> says that it was originally called Cromna ({{langx|grc|Κρῶμνα}}); but in another place,<ref>Stephanus, ''Ethnica'', s.v. "Cromna"</ref> where he repeats the statement, he adds, as it is said; but some say that Cromna is a small place in the territory of Amastris, which is the true account. The place derived its name Amastris from [[Amastrine|Amastris]], the niece of the last [[Achaemenid Empire|Persian]] king [[Darius III of Persia|Darius III]], who was the wife of [[Dionysius of Heraclea|Dionysius]], [[tyrant]] of [[Heraclea Pontica|Heraclea]], and after his death the wife of [[Lysimachus]]. Four small Ionian colonies, Sesamus, Cytorus, Cromna, also mentioned in the ''[[Iliad]]'',<ref>Homer, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0134&layout=&loc=2.850 ii. 855]</ref> and [[Tium]], were combined by Amastris, after her separation from Lysimachus,<ref>[[Memnon of Heraclea|Memnon]], ''History of Heraclea'', [http://www.attalus.org/translate/memnon1.html#5 5], [http://www.attalus.org/translate/memnon1.html#9 9]</ref> to form the new community of Amastris, placed on a small river of the same name and occupying a peninsula.<ref>Strabo, ''Geography'', [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0239&query=section%3D%23961&chunk=section xii. 3]</ref> According to [[Strabo]], Tium soon detached itself from the community, but the rest kept together, and Sesamus was the acropolis of Amastris. From this it appears that Amastris was really a confederation or union of three places, and that Sesamus was the name of the city on the peninsula. This may explain the fact that [[Pomponius Mela|Mela]]<ref>Pomponius Mela, ''De chorographia'', [http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/pomponius1.html i. 93]</ref> mentions Sesamus and Cromna as cities of Paphlagonia, while omitting Amastris.<ref>[[Pliny the Elder]], ''Natural History'', [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0137&layout=&loc=6.2 vi. 2]</ref>

The territory of Amastris produced a great quantity of [[buxus|boxwood]], which grew on the nearby [[Cytorus|Mount Cytorus]]. Its tyrant Eumenes presented the city of Amastris to [[Ariobarzanes of Pontus]] in c. 265–260 BC rather than submit it to domination by Heraclea, and it remained in the [[Kingdom of Pontus|Pontic]] kingdom until its capture by [[Lucius Lucullus]] in 70 BC in the [[second Mithridatic War]].<ref>[[Appian]], ''The Foreign Wars'', "The Mithridatic Wars", [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0230&query=section%3D%23561&chunk=section 82]</ref> The younger [[Pliny the Younger|Pliny]], when he was governor of [[Bithynia]] and [[Pontus (region)|Pontus]], describes Amastris, in a letter to [[Trajan]],<ref>Pliny the Younger, ''Letters'', x. 99</ref> as a handsome city, with a very long open place (''[[Plataea|platea]]''), on one side of which extended what was called a river, but in fact was a filthy, pestilent, open drain. Pliny obtained the emperor's permission to cover over this sewer. On a coin of the time of Trajan, Amastris has the title [[Metropolis]]. It continued to be a town of some note to the seventh century of our era. From Amasra got its name an important place of Constantinople, the [[Amastrianum]]. [[Arrian]] writes that the Amastris was a Greek city, which had a port for ships. He also adds that it was 90 [[Stadion (unit)|stadia]] from the river [[Bartın River|Parthenius]] and 60 stadia from the [[Erythini]]<ref>[https://el.wikisource.org/wiki/Περίπλους_Ευξείνου_Πόντου#20 Arrian, Periplus of the Euxine Sea, § 20]</ref>

The city was not abandoned in the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] Era, when the acropolis was transformed into a fortress and the still surviving church was built. It was sacked by [[Rus' people|the Rus]] during the [[Paphlagonian expedition of the Rus|First Russo-Byzantine War]] in the 830s. Speros Vryonis states that in the 9th century a "combination of local industry, trade, and the produce of its soil made Amastris one of the more prosperous towns on the Black Sea."<ref>Vryonis, ''The decline of medieval Hellenism in Asia Minor: and the process of Islamization from the eleventh through the fifteenth century'', (Berkeley: University of California, 1971), p. 14</ref> In the 13th century Amastris exchanged hands several times, first, seized by a [[Georgian Empire|Georgian]] army,<ref>Basil Ezosmodzghuari, "Tskhovrebay Mepet-mepisa Tamarisi", ''Kartlis Tskhovreba'', (2008), p. 507</ref> led by [[David Komnenos]], becoming a possession of the [[Empire of Trebizond]] in 1204,<ref>Anthony Bryer, "David Komnenos and Saint Eleutherios", ''Archeion Pontou'', '''42''' (1988-1989), p. 179</ref> then at some point in the next ten years being captured by the [[Seljuk Turks]], until finally in 1261, in her bid to monopolize the Black Sea trade, the town came under the control of the [[Republic of Genoa]]. Genoese domination ended when the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] [[Sultan]] [[Mehmed II]] conquered the whole [[Anatolia]]n shores of the Black Sea.<ref>[[Franz Babinger]] dates the conquest to autumn of 1460, although [[Halil İnalcık]] would date its capture to A.H. 863 (AD 1458/1459). Babinger, ''Mehmed the Conqueror and his Time'' (Princeton: University Press, 1978), p. 181 and note.</ref>

The ancient Greek writer Myronianus ({{langx|grc|Μυρωνιανὸς}}), was from the Amastris.<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0004.tlg001.perseus-grc1:4.2 Diogenes Laertius, Lives of the Philosophers, §4.14]</ref><ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0004.tlg001.perseus-grc1:5.2 Diogenes Laertius, Lives of the Philosophers, §5.36]</ref>

== Ecclesiastical history ==
The bishopric of Amastris was established early: according to [[Eusebius]], its congregation received a letter from the second-century bishop, [[Dionysius, Bishop of Corinth]], wherein he names their bishop, one Palmas.<ref>Eusebius, ''Historia Ecclesiastica'', 4.23</ref> The see was initially a [[suffragan]] of the [[Metropolitan bishop|metropolitan]] of [[Gangra]], capital of the [[Roman province]] of [[Paphlagonia]].

In the late 8th century its bishop obtained from the [[Byzantine Emperor]] its elevation to the rank of autocephalous [[archeparchy]]. It is listed as such in the ''[[Notitia Episcopatuum]]'' attributed to Basil the Armenian (c. 840) and in that of [[Leo VI the Wise]] (early 10th century).

In the middle of the 10th century it obtained the rank of Metropolitan see without suffragans, a rank it held until, due to the diminution in the number of Christians in the area, it was suppressed.

From the 14th century to the second half of the 15th, the town was also the seat of a bishopric of the [[Latin Church]].<ref>Michel Lequien, [https://books.google.com/books?id=0agp0mJFG_sC ''Oriens christianus in quatuor Patriarchatus digestus''], Paris 1740, Vol. I, coll. 561-566</ref><ref>Jean Richard, ''La Papauté et les missions d'Orient au Moyen Age (XIII-XV siècles)'', École Française de Rome, 1977, pp.&nbsp;236 and 246</ref><ref>Siméon Vailhé, v. ''Amastris'', in [http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6561037d/f510.image ''Dictionnaire d'Histoire et de Géographie ecclésiastiques''], vol. XII, Paris 1953, coll. 971-973</ref>

=== Latin titular see ===
No longer a residential bishopric, Amastris (Curiate Italian '''Amastri''') is today listed by the [[Catholic Church]] as a titular see.<ref>''Annuario Pontificio 2013'' (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2013 {{ISBN|978-88-209-9070-1}}), p. 830</ref>

The diocese was nominally restored in the 19th century as a Latin Catholic [[titular bishopric]] and had the following incumbents of the episcopal (lowest) rank :
* Titular Michael Francis Howley (1892.04.28 – 1895.01.05) as [[Apostolic Vicar]] of [[Apostolic Vicariate of Western Newfoundland|Western Newfoundland]] (Canada) (1892.04.28 – 1895.01.05), later Bishop of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint John’s, Newfoundland|Saint John’s, Newfoundland]] (Canada) (1895.01.05 – 1904.02.08), promoted first Metropolitan Archbishop of Saint John’s, Newfoundland (1904.02.08 – 1914.10.15)
* Titular Bishop Antonio Maria Roveggio, [[Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus|Comboni Missionaries]] (F.S.C.I.) (1895.02.08 – 1902.05.02), Apostolic Vicar of [[Apostolic Vicariate of Central Africa|Central Africa]] (Anglo-Egyptian Sudan) (1895.02.08 – death 1902.05.02)
* Titular Bishop John Joseph O’Gorman, [[Holy Ghost Fathers]] (C.S.Sp.) (1903.09.14 – death 1935.04.13), as Apostolic Vicar of [[Apostolic Vicariate of Sierra Leone|Sierra Leone]] (Sierra Leone) (1903.11.09 – 1932)

In 1929 it was promoted to [[titular archbishopric]]. It is vacant as such since decades, having had the following incumbents of the archiepiscopal (intermediary) rank :
* Titular Archbishop Efrem Hykary (1936.07.22 – death 1958.02.09), as [[Patriarchal Vicar]] of [[Antioch of the Syriacs]] (Lebanon) (1936.07.22 – 1958.02.09)
* Titular Archbishop Teopisto Valderrama Alberto (1959.09.07 – 1965.04.06), as [[Coadjutor Archbishop]] of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Caceres|Caceres]] (Philippines) (1959.09.07 – 1965.04.06), later succeeded as Metropolitan Archbishop of Caceres (1965.04.06 – retired 1983.10.20)

== Main sights ==
With its architectural heritage, Amasra is a member of the [[Norwich]]-based European Association of Historic Towns and Regions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historic-towns.org/documents/members/turkey.doc|title=Turkey|publisher=European Association of Historic Towns and Regions|access-date=13 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910004925/http://www.historic-towns.org/documents/members/turkey.doc|archive-date=10 September 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Archaeological Museum:  there is a fine medium-sized archaeological museum by the sea with remains from both land and underwater.  Of particular interest is a statue of the snake god Glykon, a fraudulent creation of a local entrepreneur during Roman imperial times.
{{wide image|Amasra pano 8 images 1260464 1260471.jpg|850px|align-cap=center| Panoramic view of the town}}

===Amasra Castle===
[[Amasra Castle]] was built during the Roman period. The walls of the castle were built by the Byzantines. The front walls and gates were built by the Genoese in the 14th and 15th centuries.<ref name="Local signage">Local signage</ref> Though located on a narrow peninsula, a tunnel under the castle leads to a fresh water pool.

===Fatih Mosque===
It was originally built as a Byzantine church in the 9th century AD. The church [[narthex]] section consists of three parts. After the Ottoman Sultan [[Mehmed II]] conquered Amasra in 1460, it was converted to a mosque. It is open to prayers. There is also a chapel on the same street but it is closed to prayers since 1930.<ref name="Local signage"/>
[[File:Amasra-church-mosque.JPG|thumb|200px|Amasra church mosque]]

===Bird's Rock Road Monument===
[[Kuşkayası Monument|Bird's Rock]] Road Monument was created between AD 41-54 by the order of [[Bithynia et Pontus]] Governor Gaius Julius Aquila. It was a resting place and monument. At the time when [[Claudius]] was the Roman Emperor, Aquila was the commander of the building army in the eastern provinces.<ref name="Local signage"/> It is located a little outside Amasra, and is easily accessed by steps leading from the roadside.
[[File:Amasra - Birds-Rock-Road-Monument.jpg|thumb|200px|Bird's Rock Road Monument]]

== Coal mine and proposed power station ==
In 2009, a coal-fired power station of 2640 MWe (or 1200 MWe) was proposed by a subsidiary of [[Hattat Holding]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hemaenerji.com/en/home/about_company.asp |title=Hema Enerji Sanayi ve Tic.A.Ş. |access-date=15 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100307031104/http://www.hemaenerji.com/en/home/about_company.asp |archive-date=7 March 2010 }}</ref> but after concerns were raised about the effect on air quality,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://energynewsletterturkey.blogspot.com/2010/04/on-amasra-new-thermal-power-plant.html |website=Energy Newsletter TURKEY|title=On new thermal power plant investment in Amasra |date=18 April 2010 }}</ref> marine ecology,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://energynewsletterturkey.blogspot.com/2009/12/new-thermal-power-plant-investment.html |website=Energy Newsletter TURKEY |title=New Thermal Power Plant investment 4x660 MWe in Amasra County of BARTIN Province |date=26 December 2009 }}</ref> and ash<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amasra.biz/haber/221-haberler-amasra39yi-seviyorumtermik-santral-istemiyorum.html |title=Amasra'yı Seviyorum, Termik Santral İstemiyorum!.. - Amasra |access-date=15 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100803171953/http://www.amasra.biz/haber/221-haberler-amasra39yi-seviyorumtermik-santral-istemiyorum.html |archive-date=3 August 2010 }}</ref> it was not built. They now propose just a coal mine.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hattat Holding'ten yeni hamle! Türkiye ekonomisi için, çok büyük bir katkı olacak! |url=https://www.imzagazetesi.com/hattat-holdingten-yeni-hamle-turkiye-ekonomisi-icin-cok-buyuk-bir-katki-olacak |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=İMZA GAZETESİ - ZONGULDAK HABER - SON DAKİKA GELİŞMELERİ ZONGULDAK {{!}} ZONGULDAK HABERLERİ |language=tr}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Wikivoyage|Amasra}}
{{Commons category|Amasra}}
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== Further reading ==
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01380d.htm "Amastris"] from the ''[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]'' (1913)
* [http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/former/t0106.htm GCatholic]
* Richard Stillwell, William L. MacDonald, Marian Holland McAllister (editors); ''[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0006&layout=&loc=&query=toc The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites]'', [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0006&query=head%3D%23155 "Amastris"], [[Princeton, New Jersey|Princeton]], (1976)
* {{SmithDGRG|wstitle=Amastris}}

{{former settlements in Turkey}}
{{Amasra District}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Amasra| ]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek archaeological sites in Turkey]]
[[Category:Greek colonies in Pontus]]
[[Category:Populated places in Bartın Province]]
[[Category:Black Sea port cities and towns in Turkey]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Turkey]]
[[Category:Genoese colonies]]
[[Category:Amasra District]]
[[Category:District municipalities in Turkey]]