ATTICA-DELOS NAVAL UNION AND CYZICUS

Abstract

The Attica-Delos Naval Union is the largest union that the Greeks created in the political arena. It was founded on Delos, the holy island of Apollo, between 478-477 BC, under the leadership of Athens. The Union consisted of the Aegean Islands, the Balkans and the cities on the western coasts of Anatolia. Cyzicus became a member of the union when he came under the rule of Athens in 478 BC. The city is obliged to pay 9 talents of tax annually to the Attica-Delos Marine Union. The amount of tax paid by Kyzikos is an indication that it is a rich city. Cyzicus did not pay regular taxes to the union. Cyzicus revolted in 410 BC and left the union. The city, which threatened the Black Sea trade of Athens, was taken under control by Athens with a great war. In the middle of the 5th century BC, Athens banned the minting of coins in the cities within the union. The internationally valid coins of Kyzikos are excluded from this prohibition. The cities in the Hellespontos region paid their taxes to the Delos Union with the electron coins of Cyzicus. Athenians used Cyzicus coins both for their local and international payments. The grain trade of Greece with the Black Sea was carried out with the coins of Cyzicus. Cyzicus. Cyzicus became a member of the 1st and 2nd Delos Union, which Athens formed against the Persians and then the Spartans. However, Cyzicus, an important trade city in Asia, left these unions when he did not find them suitable for his interests