Ildırı was called Erathrai in the ancient times. Erathrai refers to Erythros which red in Greek and hence was so named because of its reddish soil. Erathrai could mean the red city. Another hypothesis is that the city got its name from the founder of the city Rhadamanthes's son Erythros. Discoveries in the area prove that there was a in the area since the bronze ages. During the second colonization period it was ruled by Knopos. At first the city was ruled by kingship but was later ruled by Basileuses who belong to the royal family but elected by people. Later Eriythrai became part of the political and religious Paninion union formed by the lonians cities. During Pythagoras Tyranny was enacted and in this period Erathrai began to export iron and burrstone thus gained importance. Erathrai and Lydia was captured by Persians, but just like other lonian cities, it resisted Persian sovereignty and became independent again in 334 BC under the command of Alexander. After the death of Alexander there were many revolts and disorder in the city that it was captured by the Pergamon Kingdom. In 133 BC, the city became an independent district of the Roman Empire. In this poriod it became famous for its wine, goat, burrstone and the female soothsayers; Sibyl and Herophile. The city shaken by earthquakes, pillaged by the Roman Commanders was in ruin in 1 BC. After this year the political and trading role of the city had diminished. The region was captured by Turks in 1366 and the names of the cities of the region were changed as; Erythre, Rhtyra, Lythri after the l6th Century. Various excavations were made in and around the city, between 1963 and 1966 Prof. Hakkı Gültekin and Prof. Ekrem Akurgal. First the ancient theatre, which is thought to be built in 3c. BC was discovered in the north of Acropolis. And later remnants of Athena Temple discovered, and the fact that the city was surrounded by a 5 kilometres long wall was understood. The theatre was partly brought to daylight and restoration couldn't be completed. There are also pots and clay figures from the 6th century and 7c. BC discovered. These are the oldest foundlings of the Eriythrai city.
