Dardanus (city) facts for kids

Troas, showing where Dardanus and Dardania were

Dardanus was an old city in a region called the Troad. Sometimes it was also called Dardania. The area around it was also known by this name.

Where Was Dardanus Located?

The city of Dardanus was located about one mile south of a place called Dardanis. This spot is where the Dardanelles (which used to be called the Hellespont) starts to get narrow. The Dardanelles are actually named after this ancient city!

Another city, Abydos, was about 13–14 kilometers (or 70 stadia) to the north. Rhoeteum was about the same distance to the south. Experts believe the highest part of the city, its acropolis, was on top of a hill called Şehitlik Batarya.

The Dardanelles are a narrow waterway between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. This area has been important for thousands of years, often seeing conflicts.

The Story of Dardanus

The Dardanus that people knew later was a new city built by a group called the Aeolians. It was different from the much older Dardanus mentioned in the famous story, the Iliad. The Iliad's Dardanus was said to be at the foot of Mount Ida. It was believed to be named after a hero called Dardanus, who founded it even before the city of Ilium was built.

The historical city of Dardanus saw many important events:

• In 497 BC, the powerful Achaemenid Empire (the Persian Empire) took over Dardanus. This happened during their efforts to stop the Ionian Revolt, a rebellion by Greek cities.
• Almost 200 years later, in 411 BC, the Spartan navy was surprised near Dardanus. This led to the Battle of Abydos, where the Athenians won a big victory.
• Dardanus was also the place where a very important peace agreement was made in 85 BC. Two powerful leaders, Sulla and Mithridates VI of Pontus, met there and signed the Treaty of Dardanos.

In Spanish: Dardania (Anatolia) para niños