 Later Greek authors mentioned the Macrones and the Chalybes as native peoples.One of the dominant Caucasian groups to the east were the Laz, who were part of the monarchy of the Colchis, together with other related Georgian peoples.According to Greek sources the city was founded in classical antiquity in 756 BCE as Tραπεζούς ("Trapezous"), by Milesian traders from Sinope.