An in-depth archaeological report featuring graffiti found during a recent excavation at the Ancient Greek city of Smyrna. The graffiti published in this richly-illustrated volume were discovered during an excavation of the Roman basilica in the Ancient Greek city of Smyrna, known today as Izmir, which is situated on the Aegean coast of modern Turkey. The project, which began in 2003, has unearthed a multitude of graffiti and drawings encompassing a wide range of subjects and interests, including local politics, nautical vessels, sex, and wordplay. Each graffito artifact holds the potential for vast historical and cultural data, rescued in this volume from the passage of time and razing ambitions of urban development. Given the city’s history, the potential wealth of knowledge to be gleamed from these discoveries is substantial: Smyrna has an uninterrupted history of settlement since the Neolithic–Copper ages, and remains today a major city and Mediterranean seaport at the crossroads of key trade routes. The present volume provides comprehensive editions of the texts, descriptions of the drawings, and an extensive introduction to the subjects of the graffiti, how they were produced, and who was responsible for them. A complete set of color photographs is included.

The dynamic city of Smyrna, Georgia, situated a scant fifteen miles northwest of Atlanta, has a fascinating history. In July 1864, two significant battles were fought within the confines of present-day Smyrna as General Sherman's Federal juggernaut converged on the "Gateway City" of Atlanta. The town was incorporated in 1872 with a population of fewer than three hundred residents and high expectations that rapid suburban development would ensue. It was the coming to the area of the aeronautics industry in the post-World War II period that finally generated sustained growth. Then, in the 1990s, the city reinvented itself through an aggressive urban renewal program spearheaded by its dynamic mayor, Max Bacon, and a progressive-minded city council. Join author William P. Marchione, PhD, as he recounts the fascinating history that created Smyrna.

With the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad linking the two cities in 1850, more people began to build houses and claim land south of Nashville. The railroad added a way station in the community called Stewartsboro, which was incorporated in 1869 as Smyrna after the nearby Smyrna Presbyterian Church. The towns location along the railroad placed it in the path of both armies during the Civil War, and skirmishes were fought throughout the town. Confederate scout Sam Davis, honored for sacrificing his own life rather than betraying a friend, became a well-known figure. Smyrna residents primarily grew corn, wheat, and cotton until the mid-1900s, when industry began to outpace agriculture. In 1941, the Smyrna Army Airfield, known later as the Stewart Air Force Base, opened as a training facility for World War II soldiers. The early 1980s saw further industrial growth when Nissan of North America selected the town for a new manufacturing plant. Today, the town combines agriculture with industry as it continues to grow and prosper.

New Smyrna Beach is beloved by residents and visitors alike for its small-town charm and fascinating 250-year history. In the last century, the city has evolved from a sleepy Southern beach town to a vibrant seaside destination.

Smyrna, Clayton, and Woodland Beach, Delaware, share a history born from early settlers with big dreams, landowners who helped grow their importance on the regional stage, and industries that shaped the local economy. The story of these communities is wrapped around transportation, great location, and fertile agricultural soil. Smyrna, beginning as the settlement of Salisbury and then Duck Creek Village, sprang up on its river namesake before moving to Duck Creek Crossroads, where it continued to thrive. Large steamers regularly docked in Smyrna Landing to take shipments of grain, fertilizer, and even passengers to Philadelphia. The installation of the train depot, called Smyrna Station, cemented the importance for a renewed generation of history by almost instantly creating the town of Clayton. To the east, Woodland Beach enjoyed a surge of popularity, boasting a Ferris wheel, dance hall, and beer garden.

In 1768, Scottish physician Andrew Turnbull arrived in Florida with more than 1,200 indentured servants. He and his partners dreamed of establishing a plantation settlement that would make them wealthy. Despite some successes, New Smyrna was not the financial windfall they had hoped for, and after only nine years, the settlement failed. Disgruntled workers appealed to East Florida governor Patrick Tonyn, who granted them their freedom. Many of the now free settlers took residence in St. Augustine. In the succeeding years, New Smyrna has seen Civil War skirmishes, the addition of "Beach" to its name, a merger with Coronado Beach, the rise and fall of the rail industry, and a marked increase in local and out-of-state tourism. The "World's Safest Bathing Beach" is no longer a local secret.