Founding of Byzantium: What Happened
Around 667 BC, according to tradition, Greek settlers from the city of Megara founded Byzantium on the European shore of the Bosporus, the narrow strait linking the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. Legend says their leader, Byzas, consulted the Oracle of Delphi and was told to settle opposite the land of the blind. When he arrived, he saw the earlier colony of Chalcedon on the Asian shore and concluded its founders must have been blind to miss such a perfect site. Byzantium sat on a triangular peninsula protected by water on three sides, with the deep natural harbor later called the Golden Horn. From this position, it could control shipping between the Black Sea and the Aegean, including the grain trade vital to Athens and other Greek cities. For centuries, it was a prosperous but modest Greek city. Everything changed in 330 AD, when the Roman emperor Constantine made it his new capital, Constantinople. It went on to become the heart of the Byzantine Empire and, as Istanbul, one of the world's great cities.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Byzantium founded?
According to tradition, Byzantium was founded around 667 BC by Greek settlers from Megara, although some sources give slightly different dates.
Who founded Byzantium?
Legend says the city was founded by Byzas of Megara, who gave the city its name. He is said to have consulted the Oracle of Delphi before choosing the site.
Why was Byzantium's location important?
Byzantium stood on the Bosporus, the strait linking the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. It could control shipping, including the grain trade vital to Athens, and had a superb natural harbor, the Golden Horn.
What is Byzantium called today?
Byzantium became Constantinople in 330 AD, when the Roman emperor Constantine made it his capital. Today it is Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey.
Why is the Byzantine Empire named after Byzantium?
Historians later named the Eastern Roman Empire the Byzantine Empire after the original Greek name of its capital. Its people, however, always called themselves Romans.
