Phokaia

Phokaia, also known as Phocaea (Greek: Φώκαια; Latin: Phocaea), was an ancient Ionian Greek city on the western coast of Asia Minor. Its site corresponds to the modern town of Foça in İzmir Province, Türkiye. The city occupied a favorable harbour at the mouth of a gulf, positioning it as a significant maritime and commercial center in the Ionian world.

In the Archaic period, Phokaia developed into an important naval power and trading hub within Ionia. Its far-reaching seaborne network extended Greek influence across the western Mediterranean through a number of colonies. Notably, Phokaia founded Massalia (Massilia, modern Marseille) in France; Emporion (Empúries) in Catalonia; and Alalia (Aléria) on Corsica, among others. These foundations contributed to Phokaia’s reputation as a major agent of Greek colonization and maritime commerce.

Throughout the classical and Hellenistic eras, Phokaia experienced the broader political shifts affecting Ionia. It came under Persian influence in the late 6th century BCE during the expansion of the Achaemenid Empire, and later became part of the Hellenistic world following Alexander the Great’s conquests. In the Roman period the city continued to exist as a local urban center, though its prominence declined.

Today, the ancient city is identified with Foça, a coastal town in modern Turkey. Archaeological remains include inscriptions, defensive walls, and harbor facilities, which attest to Phokaia’s maritime character and its role in Greek colonial ventures. Phokaia is remembered for its contributions to Ionian seafaring and for spawning several influential western Mediterranean colonies.