Tralles

ancient city, Turkey

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

Tralles was an ancient city located in southwestern Turkey, near the Menderes River. It is said to have been founded by the Argives. While the modern city of Aydın is near the site of ancient Tralles, only a Roman gymnasium, a marble column, and the theatre remain of the original city. The city was once an important trading center. The area around Tralles has a rich history, with evidence of ancient civilizations like Lycia and the Roman Empire.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

5 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Aydın
…is the site of ancient Tralles, said to have been founded by the Argives. Aydın was called Güzelhisar (“Beautiful Castle”) under the Turkmen Menteşe emirs in the 13th century. Renamed for the 14th-century ruling dynasty of Aydın, it was annexed to the Ottoman Empire about 1390. Timur (Tamerlane), who conquered…
Read More
…is the site of ancient Tralles, said to have been founded by the Argives. Aydın was called Güzelhisar (“Beautiful Castle”) under the Turkmen Menteşe emirs in the 13th century. Renamed for the 14th-century ruling dynasty of Aydın, it was annexed to the Ottoman Empire about 1390. Timur (Tamerlane), who conquered…
Read More