History and Location of Magnesia ad Maeandrum
Magnesia is located on the Ortaklar-Söke highway, within the borders of Tekin Village of Germencik District of Aydın Province. Although it is known that the city was first established by the Meander River, which it took its name, this first settlement has not been found yet. The new Magnesia is on the edge of Gümüşçay on the outskirts of Gümüşdağ in the 4th century BC.
Respectively; The city was under the rule of the Persians, Alexander the Great, Seleucid Kingdom, Pergamon Kingdom, the Roman Empire and Eastern Rome. It is estimated that the city was completely abandoned in the 1300s due to diseases and river raids. Some artifacts from the Ancient City were exhibited today in Paris, Louvre Museum and Berlin, Pergamon Museum.
According to the legend, the city was founded by Magnetes from Thessalia. The location of the first Magnesia established by Magnets, who came to Anatolia upon the prophecy and guidance of Apollo.
Stadium of Magnesia ad Maeandrum
The magnificent stadium for 30,000 people, which is the only reason for the Magnesia Ancient City to be known as the City of Races, seems to be enough to put this city on the list of must-visit places. One of the best preserved stadiums in the world, Magnesia Stadium, which is thought to be used until the 3rd century, has a track length of 189 meters. The reliefs on the arena and podium walls of the stadium in the southern part of the city, with a number of 150, generally describe the competitors, the awards and types of competition.
Stadium of Magnesia After the New Excavations
Today you can see the stadium of Magnesia from one end to the other. The valley between the two hills had filled up with many meters of clay from the slopes, and the seats slept under it for centuries. That clay is why the marble rows survived so well. The team dug the stadium out step by step after 2008, the big clearing of the seats came after 2020, and today it is called the best preserved stadium of Anatolia.
The seating has 27 blocks of 26 rows each, and the rows carry inscriptions that kept seats for groups: the priests and the officials at the top, then the bakers, the gardeners, the bird sellers, the delegates of other cities, and a whole section for the fans who came from Ephesus. The low wall around the track is carved with the prizes of the games, crowns and palm branches, and with the equipment of the athletes and the gladiators who fought here in Roman times.
Hermogenes of Magnesia
The area of Magnesia was surrounded by walls, covering an area of approximately 1300×1100 square meters. Magnesia city had a grid planned settlement system. The reputation of Magnesia in our time originates from the architect Hermogenes, who is known today with his designs and applications. According to the ancient writer and architect Vitruvius, Hermogenes is the first architect to determine the temple plan according to the Pseudodipteros temple plan and column spacing. Vitruvius also says that the main work of Hermogenes is Leukophryne Temple in Magnesia. Hermogenes built this temple in the Hellenistic Period upon the ruins of the first temple belonging to the archaic period. The temple has 8×5 columns in Ionic order and is the fourth largest temple of Anatolia in the Hellenistic period with a size of 67.5×40 meters.
Excavations in Magnesia ad Maeandrum
As a result of the excavations carried out in the sanctuary of Artemis between 1994 and 2001, a marble floored ceremony area was uncovered located between the altar and the Agora. The area around the ceremony area is covered with god reliefs, the size of which reaches up to 3 meters, with sacrificial rings in front of it. Floor inscriptions indicating the places where the associations or groups to attend the ceremonies will stop are located on the floor blocks which borders both sides of the area. Sections from the stoa surrounding the sanctuary were unearthed.
Temple of Artemis Leukophryene and the Place of Hermogenes
Artemis Leukophryene means Artemis of the white brow, and she was the goddess of Magnesia. In the late 3rd century BC the goddess showed herself to the people of the city. After this sign Magnesia asked the whole Greek world to honor her festival, the Leukophryena, held every four years, and to respect the city as a holy place that no army should attack. The answers of the cities were carved on the walls of the agora.
Hermogenes gave the temple its fame. He left out the inner ring of columns of a normal double colonnade, so the walk around the cella became twice as wide and gave shade to the crowds. He also fixed the space between the columns at a little more than two column widths. The Romans took up his rules, and through them the temple of Magnesia shaped temple building for centuries.
Around the temple ran a frieze of fighting Amazons, about 175 meters long. Pieces of it went to Paris in the 1840s and later to Istanbul and Berlin. On the site you see the great altar platform in front of the temple and the fallen column drums laying in the grass.
Temple of Zeus Sosipolis in the Agora
In the agora, close to the gate from the sanctuary, stood a small Ionic temple of Zeus Sosipolis, Zeus who saves the city. It was built in the early 2nd century BC, with four columns on its front and a deep porch. Pieces of it went to Berlin in the 1890s, and its front was put together again in the Pergamon Museum.
Agora of Magnesia ad Maeandrum
One of the other important structures of Magnesia is its agora, which has disappeared by staying under sand today. The agora is entered through a sacred gate from the sanctuary of Artemis. Propylon has been completely uncovered. Agora is one of the largest bazaars of the period with its 26 thousand square meter size and 414 columns.
The building, which is thought to belong to the Byzantine Period in Magnesia, is the “Basilica” belonging to the Roman period, where the titles depicted with reliefs describing the adventure of the dog-legged Skylla we know from Homer’s “Odyseia” as a result of the excavations carried out in 1989-2001.
Other structures that can be seen partially in Magnesia are 32 people capacitied Latrina (public toilet), the baths, Odeon, Stadion, Gymnasion, Roman Temple, Byzantine Wall.
Visiting Magnesia with Ephesus, Priene and Miletus
Magnesia is about 30 kilometers from Selçuk and Ephesus, half an hour by car. Drive toward Aydın, turn toward Söke at Ortaklar, and the ruins are beside the road at Tekin village. If you drive from Ephesus to Priene and Miletus, Magnesia is right on your way between Ortaklar and Söke, so the easiest plan is one hour here in the morning and the Ionian cities after it.
Please keep it in mind that Magnesia has almost no shade, and the stadium is a walk of about ten minutes from the parking place, so bring water and a hat in Summer. I like to show it to guests who have already seen Ephesus and want the quiet side of the same history. By the way, the Upper Gate of Ephesus is called the Magnesia Gate because the road from that gate led here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Magnesian Gate of Ephesus named after Magnesia ad Maeandrum?
Yes. The Magnesian Gate, the Upper Gate of Ephesus today, opened onto the road that ran about 30 kilometers southeast to Magnesia ad Maeandrum. Parts of the old road can still be followed near Germencik.
Is Magnesia ad Maeandrum the same as Manisa?
No. There were two cities called Magnesia in western Anatolia. Magnesia ad Sipylum is Manisa, north of İzmir, under Mount Sipylus. Magnesia ad Maeandrum is the ruin near Tekin village in Aydın, south of Ephesus. Both got their name from the Magnetes of Thessaly.
Tour Guide to Magnesia ad Maeandrum
Magnesia Ancient City is open every day of the week. Entrance fee of Magnesia is free of charge. Magnesia ad Maeandrum can be visited 08:30 to 17:00 in winter and 09:00 to 19:00 in summer. You can always contact me to learn more about Magnesia ad Maeandrum and write to me if you need to book a tour guide to Magnesia ad Maeandrum. See you soon, Hasan Gülday.
