The founding of the Bithynian cities and the foundation myths

The history of the Bithynia Region dates back to the Paleolithic Period and it is known that the region had an important place in the Antiquity. Despite this, there are still some debates about the historical geography of the region. It is accepted that the most reliable sources available about this region, which acts as a bridge between Asia and Europe, are the works of ancient writers. For this reason, the fact that ancient writers present different ideas about the historical geography of the region causes differences of opinion among modern studies. However, in our study, when talking about the borders of the region, we generally act in line with the borders accepted by everyone. The Bithynia Region, which is the subject of the study, includes all of today's Kocaeli, Sakarya, Düzce, Yalova provinces; Anatolian side of Istanbul; a large part of Zonguldak and Bolu; some of the Nallıhan, Çayırhan, Beypazarı districts of Ankara; It includes the northern parts of Bilecik and Bursa. Among the cities of Bithynia mentioned in the work of Plinius, in our study; The ancient cities of Nicomedia, Nikaia, Prusias ad Olympum, Myrleia/Apameia, Prusias ad Mare/Kios, Prusias ad Hypium, Kalkhedon, Bithynion, Herakleia Pontike, Lamunia, Melangia, Dakibyza, Hadriani ad Olympum and Prainetos are discussed and the legends of the establishment of these cities are mentioned. In the study, besides the works of ancient authors, coin descriptions, archaeological data and modern sources were used.