View source for Magnesia ad Sipylum

{{Short description|Ancient Greek city in Asia Minor}}
{{other uses|Magnesia (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox ancient site
  |name = Magnesia ad Sipylum
  |native_name = Mαγνησία ἡ πρὸς Σιπύλῳ <br> Mαγνησία ἡ ἐπὶ Σιπύλου
  |native_name_lang = grc
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  |map_type = Turkey
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  |map_size = 270
  |location = [[Turkey]]
  |region = [[Manisa Province]]
  |coordinates = {{coord|38|37|N|27|26|E|region:TR_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
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'''Magnesia {{Not a typo|ad}} Sipylum''' ({{langx|el|Mαγνησία ἡ πρὸς Σιπύλῳ}} or {{lang|el|Mαγνησία ἡ ἐπὶ Σιπύλου}}; modern [[Manisa]], [[Turkey]]) was a city of [[Lydia]], situated about 65&nbsp;km northeast of [[Smyrna]] (now [[İzmir]]) on the river [[Hermus]] (now [[Gediz river|Gediz]]) at the foot of [[Mount Sipylus]]. The city should not be confused with its older neighbor, [[Magnesia on the Maeander]], both founded by colonists from the Greek [[Magnesia (regional unit)|region of Magnesia]].

==History==
The first famous mention of the city is in 190 BC, when [[Antiochus the Great]] was defeated in the [[battle of Magnesia]] by the [[Roman consul]] [[Lucius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus]]. It became a city of importance under Roman rule and, though nearly [[17 AD Lydia earthquake|destroyed by an earthquake]] in the reign of [[Tiberius]],<ref>Tacitus, The Annals [[wikisource:The Annals (Tacitus)/Book 2#47|2.47]].</ref> was restored by that emperor and flourished through the Roman Empire. It was an important regional centre through the [[Byzantine Empire]], and during the 13th-century interregnum of the [[Empire of Nicea]]. Magnesia housed the Imperial mint, the Imperial treasury, and served as the functional capital of the Empire until the recovery of [[Constantinople]] in 1261.<ref name=History171>George Akropolites, "The History" ([[Ruth Macrides]], ed), Oxford, University Press, 2007, p. 171.</ref> Magnesia was one of the few towns in this part of [[Anatolia]] which remained prosperous under the Turkish rule.

== Landmarks ==
[[File:KybeleStatue19thCenturyPostcardMountSipylusManisaTurkey.jpg|right|thumb|Early 20th century postcard image of the [[Hittites|Hittite]] statue of the Mother Goddess [[Cybele]] in [[Mount Sipylus]]]] 
There are two famous relics of antiquity. The first is the [[Niobe|Niobe of Sipylus]] (Aglayan Kaya), a natural rock formation, on the lowest slopes of the mountains in the middle of town. The second is the [[Manisa relief|Suratlu Tash]], a colossal stone carving allegedly portraying [[Cybele]], about 100 meters up the mountain about 6&nbsp;km east of the town. This is a colossal seated image cut in a niche of the rock, of [[Hittites|Hittite]] origin, and perhaps that called by [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] the very ancient statue of the Mother of the Gods, carved by [[Broteas]], son of [[Tantalus]], and sung by [[Homer]]. It can be seen by driving into a parking lot at a children's playground.

Near the carving lie many remains of a primitive city, and about a kilometer east is the rock-seat conjecturally identified with [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]]'s Throne of [[Pelops]]. There are also hot springs and a sacred grotto of [[Apollo]]. Parts of the major fortifications built during the Empire of Nicea remain evident.<ref name=History171/>

=== Magnetism ===
One of the regions colonized by the [[Magnetes]] was a primary source for mysterious stones that could attract or repel each other, possibly leading to the modern term for [[magnet]]s and [[magnetism]]. Some suggest that it was Magnesia ad Sipylum, others that it was the [[Magnesia (regional unit)|Magnesia regional unit]] in Thessaly; this has been debated both in modern times and in antiquity without resolution.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=VGIWAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA796 Chamber's Encyclopedia, 1891]{{dead|date=June 2020}}: ''Magnesia'' and ''Magnetism.''</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=MAGNET. : languagehat.com |url=https://languagehat.com/magnet/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=languagehat.com}}</ref>

==Bishopric==
The town had a bishop in late antiquity, suffran to the bishop in Ephesus. Known bishops include:
*Eusebius, at the Council of Ephesus (431)
* Alexander, at the [[Council of Chalcedon]] (553)
* Stephen at the Council of Constantinople (680) 
* Basil at the second council of Nicæa (787)
* Athanasius at Constantinople (869)
* Luke [[floruit|fl]] 879

== See also ==
* [[List of ancient Greek cities]]

==References==
{{EB1911|wstitle=Magnesia|volume=17|page=319}}

;Footnotes:
<references/>

{{Ancient settlements in Turkey}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hellenistic colonies in Anatolia]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Turkey]]
[[Category:History of Manisa Province]]
[[Category:Populated places in ancient Lydia]]
[[Category:Catholic titular sees in Asia]]