Erdek, Turkey

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numerous apartment blocks have been built to accommodate them. Until 1921 the town was called Pithos and the population was mainly Greek. When the Greeks left large parts of Pithos were burned down. Erdek arose from the rubble, a new and to a large extent planned seaside town.

In antiquity Milesian settlers founded a colony called Artake on the site now occupied by Erdek. Destroyed by the Persians, it subsequently took on the modest role of a harbor for Kyzikos. Fishing for palamut, a short-finned variety of tuna, must have been of considerable importance at the time because the fish is featured on the kingdom's coinage.