Lebedus

Lebedus-- the Latinized form of the original Greek name Lebedos-- was the most northerly of the Ionian colony cities (See Ionia and the twelve cities of the Ionian League, which came to include ancient Smyrna), located between itself and Ephesus to the south. Lebedus is a Roman Catholic Titular see of Asia Minor, in the suffragan of Ephesus.

History

Lebedos in greek times was on the coast, ninety stadia (16.65 km) to the east of Cape Myonnesus, and 120 (22.2 km) west of Colophon. According to Pausanias, the town was inhabited by Carians when the Ionian Greeks immigrated there under the guidance of Andræmon, a son of Codrus. Strabo however states it was colonized by Andropompus, and that it previously bore the name of Artis. It became a flourishing city by its commerce, and was famous for its mineral springs, and a member of the Ionian League. It was nearly destroyed by Lysimachus in 292 BC, who transported the population to Ephesus. Under Roman rule, it flourished anew, became the meeting place of the actors of all Ionia, and festivals were celebrated in honour of Dionysus.

In the Hellenistic age, around 304 BC, Antigonus I Monophthalmus tried to join the city with Teos; however, this operation was incomplete and eventually destroyed by Lysimachus, who moved its population to Ephesus. Its remains, of little interest, are seen near Hypsili Hissar, in the former Ottoman caza of Sivri Hissar, vilayet of Smyrna. Lebedus appears in "Notitiæ episcopatum" as an episcopal see, suffragan of Ephesus until the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Three bishops only are known: Cyriacus, who witnessed the Second Council of Ephesus, 449; Julian, represented by his metropolitan at the Council of Chalcedon, in 451; Theophanes or Thomas, who attended the Second Council of Nicæa in 787.

ource

*CathEncy|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09105a.htm|title=Lebedus