Al-Mina
Al-Mina
- Jean-François Salles
- and J. F. Healey
Extract
Al-Mina, a port at the mouth of the river *Orontes in Turkey, excavated by Sir Leonard Woolley in 1936–7. It was established as a trading-post (*emporion) by 800 bce and visited by Cypriots and Greeks (mainly Euboeans and islanders). The Greek interest became dominant, with east Greeks and carriers of Corinthian pottery replacing the islanders in the 7th cent. After an interval under Babylonian domination the port revived under the Persians, now with a strong Phoenician element (coinage); it flourished until eclipsed by the foundation of *Seleuceia (2) in 301 bce. The old identification with the Greek foundation at Posideum now seems unlikely, since the latter was almost certainly at mod. Ras el-Basit, 40 km. (25 mi.) further south.
Subjects
- Near East
