What is the ancient name of Istanbul?

Among the names of Istanbul, the most notable are Byzantium, Constantinople and Stamboul, although the city has been known through the ages under various other names. Each of them is associated with different phases of its history and with different languages. read more

The name is believed to be of Thracian or Illyrian origin and thus to predate the Greek settlement. It may be derived from a Thracian or Illyrian personal name, Byzas.: 352ff Ancient Greek legend refers to a legendary king of that name as the leader of the Megarean colonists and eponymous founder of the city. read more

The origin of Istanbul can be traced down to Byzantion, an ancient city located in what is now Istanbul in the 7th century B.C. The name Byzantion is later turned into Byzantium by the Romans in an attempt to latinize it in the 1st century A.D. read more