Aydin, city in western Turkey, the capital of Aydin province. The city is located 90 km (60 mi) southeast of Izmir and 50 km (30 mi) inland from the ruins of Ephesus, an ancient Ionian city on the Aegean Sea. Aydin is in the center of the agriculturally rich Büyükmenderes (Menderes) River valley, surrounded by the Aydin Mountains to the north and the Mentese Mountains to the south. Aydin figs are famous, and olives, cotton, grains, and fruit are also grown nearby. A highway and railroad connect Aydin to Izmir and Denizli. Formerly called Tralles, Aydin flourished during the Roman Empire (27 BC-AD 476). Several mosques remain from Ottoman times (14th century to early 20th century) but, due in part to the city's location in an active earthquake zone, many ancient buildings have been lost. Furthermore, at the end of the Turkish War of Independence (1918-1923) the occupying Greek forces burned much of the city to the ground upon their retreat. Population (1990) 107,011.
