Cilla or Killa ( grc, Κίλλα) was a town of ancient Aeolis and later of ancient Mysia, mentioned by

Homer Homer (; grc, Ὅμηρος , ''Hómēros'') (born ) was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'', two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the ...

in the ''

Iliad The ''Iliad'' (; grc, Ἰλιάς, Iliás, ; "a poem about Ilium") is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by modern audiences. As with the ''Odysse ...

'', alongside the cities Chryse and Tenedus. The city is mentioned by other Greek writers.

Herodotus Herodotus ( ; grc, , }; BC) was an ancient Greek historian and geographer from the Greek city of Halicarnassus, part of the Persian Empire (now Bodrum, Turkey) and a later citizen of Thurii in modern Calabria ( Italy). He is known f ...

counted Cilia as one of the eleven old Aeolian cities of Asia.

Strabo Strabo''Strabo'' (meaning "squinty", as in strabismus) was a term employed by the Romans for anyone whose eyes were distorted or deformed. The father of Pompey was called "Pompeius Strabo". A native of Sicily so clear-sighted that he could see ...

places Cilia in the Adramyttene: He says, "...near to

Thebe Thebe may refer to: * Any of several female characters in Greek mythology - see List of mythological figures named Thebe * Thebe (moon), a moon of Jupiter * Thebe (currency), 1/100 of a Botswana pula * Thebe, an Amazons, Amazon * Thebe, alternate ...

is now a place named Cilia, where the temple of Apollo Cillaeus is; there flows by it the river Cillos which comes from

Ida Ida or IDA may refer to: Astronomy * Ida Facula, a mountain on Amalthea, a moon of Jupiter *243 Ida, an asteroid *International Docking Adapter, a docking adapter for the International Space Station Computing *Intel Dynamic Acceleration, a techn ...

; both Chrysa and Cilla are near

Antandrus Antandrus or Antandros ( grc, Ἄντανδρος) was an ancient Greek city on the north side of the Gulf of Adramyttium in the Troad region of Anatolia. Its surrounding territory was known in Greek as (''Antandria''),Aristotle, ''Historia Anim ...

; also the hill Cillaeum in Lesbos derived its name from this Cilla; and there is a mountain Cillaeum between

Gargara Gargara ( grc, Γάργαρα) was an ancient Greek city on the southern coast of the Troad region of Anatolia. It was initially located beneath Mount Gargaron, one of the three peaks of Mount Ida, today known as Koca Kaya (). At some point in th ...

and Antandrus; Daes of Colonae says that the temple of Apollo Cillaeus was first built at Colonae by the Aeolians, who came from Hellas; and they say that a temple of Apollo Cillaeus was also built at Chrysa, but it is uncertain whether this Apollo was the same as Smintheus, or another." According to fragmentary inscriptions from the

Acropolis An acropolis was the settlement of an upper part of an ancient Greek city, especially a citadel, and frequently a hill with precipitous sides, mainly chosen for purposes of defense. The term is typically used to refer to the Acropolis of Athens, ...

, Cilla was a member of the

Delian League The Delian League, founded in 478 BC, was an association of Greek city-states, numbering between 150 and 330, under the leadership of Athens, whose purpose was to continue fighting the Persian Empire after the Greek victory in the Battle of Pl ...

. The river mentioned by Strabo is identified with the modern

Zeytinli Dere Zeytinli is a neighbourhood of the municipality and district of Edremit, Balıkesir Province, Turkey. Its population is 3,431 (2022). Before the 2013 reorganisation, it was a town (''belde Belde (literally "town", also known as ''kasaba'') means ...

, but the site of the town itself has not been discovered.

References

Populated places in ancient Aeolis Populated places in ancient Mysia Former populated places in Turkey Lost ancient cities and towns Locations in the Iliad Members of the Delian League {{AncientAeolis-geo-stub