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. Ionia was divided into 12 small states, which formed a celebrated confederacy often mentioned by the ancients. These 12 states were Priene, Miletus, Colophon, Clazomenae, Ephesus, Lebedos, Teos, Phocæa, Erythrae, Smyrna, and the capitals of Samos and Chios. The inhabitants of Ionia built a temple which they called Pan Ionium from the concourse of people that flocked there from every part of Ionia. After they had enjoyed for some time their freedom and independence, they were made tributary to the power of Lydia by Croesus. 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. Ionia has been always celebrated for the salubrity of the climate, the fruitfulness of the soil, and the genius of its inhabitants.