(Ἄσσος)
An ancient Greek city on the Adramyttian Gulf, in the south of the Troad. Originally an aeolic colony, it was re-founded, under the name of Apollonia, by the Pergamenian kings, whose dominions were converted into the Roman province of Asia in 133 b.c. Its situation was one of the most commanding in all the Greek lands. ‘It is a strong place,’ says Strabo, ‘and well fortified with walls. There is a long and steep ascent from the sea and the harbour.… Cleanthes, the Stoic philosopher, was a native of this place.… Here also Aristotle resided for some time’ (xiii. i. 58). The walls are still well-preserved, and the harbour mole can be traced by large blocks under the clear water. The summit of the hill was crowned by the Doric temple of Athene (built c. [Note: . circa, about.] 470 b.c.), the panels of which-now mostly in the Louvre-are among the most important remains of ancient Greek article The modern town, Behram Kalessi, is still the chief shipping-place of the southern Troad.
On a Sunday afternoon, probably in the spring of a.d. 56, St. Paul, having torn himself away from the Christiana of Troas, walked or rode the 20 miles of Roman highway which connected that city with Assos, first passing along the western side of Mt. Ida, then through the rich Valley of the Tuzla, and finally reaching the Via Sacra, or Street of Tombs, which still extends a great distance to the N.W. of Assos. In the haven he joined his ship, which had meanwhile taken his companions round the long promontory of Lectum (Acts 20:13 ff.).
Literature.-J. T. Clarke, Assos, 2 vols., Boston, 1882 and 1898; C. Fellows, Travels and Researches in Asia Minor, London, 1852; Murray’s Handbook of Asia Minor.
James Strahan.