Iznik

Iznik is a city located at the eastern end of Lake Iznik in the Bursa Province of northwestern Turkey. It was known as Nicaea during the Hellenistic and Roman period.
Nicaea became part of the Roman Empire in 74 BCE and was in the Province of Bithynia.

Nicaea was an important city that competed with Nicomedia to be the capital of Bithynia.

The city holds an important place in Christianity for being the location of the First Ecumenical Council to resolve the differences of Doctrine.
Known as the First Council of Nicaea, it adopted the Nicene Creed, which forms the basis of many Christian Churches today.

Hadrian rebuilt the Hellenistic Walls after an earthquake in 123 CE.
Nicaea was sacked by the Gothic Army in 258 CE and the walls had to be rebuilt by Gallienus (253-268 CE) and Claudius II Gothicus (268-270 CE).y
The original Greek and Roman walls were then extensively rebuilt during the Byzantine Empire, after damage sustained during sieges by the Ummayyad Caliphate in 716 and 727 CE.
They were rebuilt again after subsequent sieges and earthquakes over the centuries.

Walls and Towers of Nicaea
- The walls form a 3 mile (5km) pentagon enclosing the old city, with four main gates, 12 minor gates and 114 towers. They stand in places at a height of between 33-43 feet (10-13m).
Roman Theatre
- It had the capacity to seat 15,000 spectators.
Arch of Hadrian
- incorportaed into a city gate.
Arch of Trajan
- incorporated into a city gate.

Iznik Museum
- Located at Esrefzade, Muze Sk. No:11, Iznik.
- The museum holds a collection of Roman Sarcophagi and Tombstones.

Iznik (Nicaae)