Sürmene

Sürmene (Turkish: [syɾˈmene]; Greek: Σούρμενα, Sourmena; Ottoman Turkish: ﺳﻮرﻣﻨﻪ, romanized as Sürmena[/e]) is a municipality and district of Trabzon Province, Turkey. Its area is 166 km2, and its population is 25,281 (2026). In ancient times the town of Hyssus or Hyssos (Ancient Greek: Υσσός) was nearby. The mayor is Hüseyin Azizoğlu (AK Parti). Sürmene (Humurgan) is situated some 40 km (25 mi) east of Trabzon. Known in antiquity also as Susarmia or Augustopolis, it lies on the River Kora (Manahoz Deresi) and is best known as the place where Xenophon and his Ten Thousand fell sick after eating wild honey, an event which was confirmed by the local people. In the village of Kastil, 5 km (3.1 mi) to the west of Sürmene, stands a ruined medieval castle as well as the impressively restored 18th-century Yakupoğlu Memiş Ağa Konağı mansion. This was formerly the seat of the Yakupoğlu family, who lived here as rulers (derebeys, hence its alternative name of Derebeyli Kale, the Castle of the Derebeys) of the surrounding region relatively free of interference from the Ottoman government in faraway Constantinople/Istanbul. History Sürmene (Gr: Surmena, Σούρμενα) is a seaside town and district situated approximately 30 km east of Trabzon. Before 1923, the number of Greeks living in the district was around 14,000. The settlements with large Greek communities were located close to the Monakos River (today Manahoz Stream). Some of the larger Greek settlements included Kelonsa (350 Greek families, 1 church), Tzita (350 Greek families, 2 churches), Assou (250 Greek families, 1 church) and Tsikoli (200 Greek families, 1 church). The Greek settlements Χουμουρκιάντων - Houmourkianton (the regional centre) Ασού - Asou Καρακαντζί - Karakantzi Καταβόλ - Katavol Κελόνσα - Kelonsa Μεξεζί - Meksezi Μουλκάντων (Χοτζαράντων) - Moulkanton (Hotzaranton) Πετράς - Petras Πύργη - Pirgi Τσικολή - Tsikoli Τσίτα...