. . "Nicomedia (/\u02CCn\u026Ak\u0259\u02C8mi\u02D0di\u0259/; Greek: \u039D\u03B9\u03BA\u03BF\u03BC\u03AE\u03B4\u03B5\u03B9\u03B1, Nikomedeia; modern \u0130zmit) was an ancient city in what is now Turkey, founded in 712/11 BC as a Megarian colony and was originally known as Astacus (/\u02C8\u00E6st\u0259k\u0259s/; Ancient Greek: \u1F08\u03C3\u03C4\u03B1\u03BA\u03CC\u03C2, \"lobster\"). After being destroyed by Lysimachus, it was rebuilt by Nicomedes I of Bithynia in 264 BC under the name of Nicomedia, and has ever since been one of the most important cities in northwestern Asia Minor."@en .