SINOPE, a seaport of Asiatic Turkey, in the pashalic of Anatolia, on the shore of the Black Sea, 75 miles W.N.W. of Samsoun. It stands on a neck of land, connecting with the mainland a steep rocky peninsula, called Cape Sinope, which forms on its south-east side one of the best harbours
on the north coast of Asia-Minor. The town is defended by walls and batteries; but these have been nearly ruined by the Russian bombardment. There is here a ship-building yard, some fishery, and a considerable trade in timber, wax, silk, &c. Sinope is a station for the steamers between Constantinople and Trebizond. It is built for the most part out of the ruins of the old Greek city of the same name, which occupied the same site. It was a colony from Miletus, doubly so; for after the original settlers had been dispossessed by the Cimmerians, a second company was sent out, who recovered the town, in 632 B.C. Soon after its second colonization, Sinope rose to great power and wealth. It continued independent until, towards the end of the third century, its wealth and prosperity excited the cupidity of the kings of Pontus. Mithridates IV. assailed it unsuccessfully in 220, but his successor, Pharnaces, made himself master of the town in 183 B.C. From this time Sinope was the capital of the kings of Pontus, and was much embellished and strengthened by Mithridates the Great. The Romans conquered the town under Lucullus; and it was made a colony by Julius Caesar. No other important historical event in ancient times is connected with the name of Sinope; but it has recently become notorious for the destruction of the Turkish fleet, and bombardment of the town, by the Russians, November 30, 1853, an act which precipitated the outbreak of war between this country and Russia. Pop. 12,000.