Byzas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Byzas
Coinage with idealized depiction of Byzas, the legendary founder of Byzantium, around the time of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (161–180).
Personal information
Born	Megara
Parents	Keroessa and Poseidon or Semystra or King Nisos

Byzas was a legendary hero in Ancient Greece. He is famous for founding the city of Byzantium. This city later became known as Constantinople and is now called Istanbul.

Who Was Byzas?

Byzas is a key figure in the founding stories of Byzantium. Ancient writers shared different tales about his origins.

His Family Story

One popular story says Byzas was the son of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. His mother was Keroessa, a daughter of Io. Io was a princess who, in myth, traveled far and wide. Keroessa was said to have been born near the Golden Horn, a famous inlet.

Another story suggests Byzas was the son of King Nisos of Megara. Megara was an important Greek city-state. Some tales even say his mother was a local nymph named Semystra.

Founding the City of Byzantium

Byzantium was an ancient Greek colony. It was built in a very special location. This spot later became the huge city of Constantinople.

The Oracle's Clue

During the 7th century BC, many Greek cities were starting new colonies. The city-state of Megara wanted to build one too. King Nisos of Megara sent his son Byzas on an important mission.

Byzas went to the oracle at Delphi for advice. The oracle told him to find "the land opposite the city of the blind." This was a puzzling clue!

Finding the "Blind City"

Byzas traveled until he reached the place where the Sea of Marmara meets the Bosporus. This is a narrow strait between Europe and Asia.

He looked across the water to the Asian shore. There, he saw a colony that had already been built. It was called Chalcedon. Byzas realized that Chalcedon was the "city of the blind." Its people had chosen a less ideal spot. They had not seen the amazing advantages of the European side.

Building Byzantium

Byzas chose the European shore to build his new city. This spot was at the southern end of the Bosporus. He named the new city Byzantium, after himself.

Later, Byzas married a woman named Fidalea. She was the daughter of King Varvizos of Thrace. The people of ancient Byzantium greatly respected Byzas. They honored him and Fidalea with a statue in their city.

Why Byzantium Was Special

Ancient people understood how important Byzantium's location was. It was much better than Chalcedon's spot.

A Perfect Location

Byzantium controlled the entrance to two major seas. It guarded the way to the Black Sea through the Bosporus. It also controlled access to the Aegean Sea through the Sea of Marmara. This made it a very powerful and wealthy city.

The "Blind People" Story

The story of the "blind people" was well-known. The Greek geographer Strabo and the Roman historian Tacitus wrote about it.

Another famous historian, Herodotos, also mentioned it. He wrote that a Persian general named Megabazus visited Byzantium. He called the people of Chalcedon "blind." This was because they had chosen the worse location for their city, even with better options nearby.