IONIA, a country of Asia Minor, bounded on the north by Æolia, on the west by the Ægean and Icarian seas, on the south by Caria, and on the east by Lydia and part of Caria. It was founded by colonies from Greece, and particularly Attica, by the Ionians or subjects of Ion. Ion was divided into 12 small states, which formed a celebrated confederacy often mentioned by the ancients. These 12 states were Priene, Miletus, Colophon, Clazomene, Ephesus, Lebedos, Teos, Phocæa, Erythre, Smyrna, and the capitals of Samos and Chios. The inhabitants of Ion built a temple which they called Pan Ionium from the concourse of people that flocked there from every part of Ion. After they had enjoyed for some time their freedom and independence, they were made tributary to the power of Lydia by Cresus. The Athenians assisted them to shake off the slavery of the Asiatic monarchs; but they soon forgot their duty and relation to their mother-country, and joined Xerxes when he invaded Greece. They were delivered from the Persian yoke by Alexander, and restored to their original independence. They were reduced by the Romans under the dictator Sylla.