Mysia

Mys'ia

(Μυσία, according to some, from the abundance of the beech-tree, μυσίς, in the neighborhood: according to others, from the Celtic moese, a marsh, showing a connection with the Danubian marshy district of Moesia; comp. Eustath. Ad Dion. Per. 809; Schol Ad Apoleon. Rhod. 1:145) a province occupying the north-west angle of Asia Minor, and separated from Europe only by the Propontis and Hellespont; on the south it joined Eolis, and was separated on the east from Bithynia by the river in Esopus. Latterly AEolis was included in Mysia, which was then separated from Lydia and Ionia by the river Hermus, now Sarabad or Jedis (Strabo, 12:562; 13:628; Pliny,

Iist. Nat. 6:32; Ptol. Geog. 5:2). It was usually divided into five parts: Mysia Minor, Mysia Major, Troas, Eolis, and Tenthrania. The greater part of Mysia was unprodutctive, being covered with mountains and marshes; but it was celebrated for the fine wheat of Assus, for quarries of the lapis Assius (which had the power of decomposing dead bodies), and for its oyster beds. It was inhabited by various tribes, mostly barbarous, until, as a part of the kingdom of Pergamus, it was ceded to the Romans, by whom it was eventually formed into a province. Paul passed through this province, and embarked at its chief port, Troas, on his first voyage to Europe (Ac 16:7-8). "They had then come κατὰ τὴν Μυσίαν, and they were directed to Troas, παρελθόντες τὴν Μυσίαν; which means either that they skirted its border, or that they passed through the district without staying there. In fact, the best description that can be given of Mysia at this time is that it was the region about the frontier of the provinces of Asia and Bithynia. The, term is evidently used in an ethnological, not a political sense." See generally Rosenmuller, Bibl. Geog. 3:32; Smith's Dict. of Class. Geogr. s.v.; Mannert, Geogr. 6:3, 403; Forbiger, Handb. 2:110; Richter, Wallfahrten, page 460; Cramer, Asia Minor, 1:30. SEE ASIA MINOR.