MILETUS, nil-fetus, Asia Minor, an an cient city opposite the mouth of the Meander on the Latmic Gulf, which, inhabited by Carians, was in existence prior to the coloniza tion of the coast by the Ionians. The Ionians are said to have taken forcible possession of the town, massacred the men and taken the women as their wives. The extent of the harbors of Miletus, one of which could contain a lmze fleet, soon raised the town in the hands of the Ionians to a place of importance, and it became one of the.first cities and republics of Asia Minor. Its commerce covered the Medi terranean and extended to the Atlantic. It had upward of 75 colonies, most of which were on the coasts of the Euxine. On the rise of the Lydian kingdom repeated attempts were made to conquer it. It finally recognized the sov eignty of Crcesus, and paid tribute. A similar arrangement was made with Cyrus, which saved it the calamities of a contest with the Persians. Civil dissension, however, had long been rife. The Persians were compelled to intervene, and committed the government to the most peace able landowners. The city revolted against the
Persians 500 B.C. It was taken by storm 494 a.c., was plundered and the inhabitants massa cred or transported. It recovered its independ ence in 479 B.c., after the battle of Mycale. It yielded for a time to the supremacy of Athens, but ultimately threw off the yoke. It stood an assault by Alexander the Great 334 ac., part of the city was destroyed, but the conqueror did not interfere with its government. From the time of its subjugation by the Persians it had never recovered its early importance; but it still continued to enjoy some commercial prosperity under the Romans until the time of Saint Paul, who visited it twice, as recorded in Acts xx, 17 and 2 Tim. iv, 20. It was finally taken and destroyed by the Turks. From the change made on the coast by the deposits of the nver the site of the city was with difficulty excavated b' the Berlin Museum in 1899, and the foundations of various parts of the city exposed.