Magnesia ad Sipylum

Coordinates: 38°37′N 27°26′E / 38.617°N 27.433°E / 38.617; 27.433
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Magnesia ad Sipylum
Mαγνησία ἡ πρὸς Σιπύλῳ
Mαγνησία ἡ ἐπὶ Σιπύλου
Magnesia ad Sipylum is located in Turkey
Magnesia ad Sipylum
Shown within Turkey
LocationTurkey
RegionManisa Province
Coordinates38°37′N 27°26′E / 38.617°N 27.433°E / 38.617; 27.433

Magnesia ad Sipylum (

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 region of Magnesia
.

The first famous mention of the city is in 190 BC, when

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.[2] Magnesia was one of the few towns in this part of Anatolia
which remained prosperous under the Turkish rule.

Landmarks

Early 20th century postcard image of the Hittite statue of the Mother Goddess Kybele in Mount Sipylus

There are two famous relics of antiquity. The first is the 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 Suratlu Tash, a colossal stone carving allegedly portraying Cybele, about 100 meters up the mountain about 6 km east of the town. This is a colossal seated image cut in a niche of the rock, of Hittite origin, and perhaps that called by 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'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.[2]

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 magnets and magnetism. Some suggest that it was Magnesia ad Sipylum, others that it was the Magnesia regional unit in Thessaly; this has been debated both in modern times and in antiquity without resolution.[3][4]

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 fl 879

See also

References

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Magnesia". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 319.

Footnotes
  1. ^ Tacitus, The Annals 2.47.
  2. ^ a b George Akropolites, "The History" (Ruth Macrides, ed), Oxford, University Press, 2007, p. 171.
  3. ^ Chamber's Encyclopedia, 1891[dead link]: Magnesia and Magnetism.
  4. ^ "MAGNET. : languagehat.com". languagehat.com. Retrieved 2024-01-14.