Aigai in Asia Minor

The name Aigai immediately brings the city in Macedonia to mind, which is also spelled Aegae. It seems, however, that there is another Aigai in the province of Manisa in Western Turkey.

[Picture from Inspirock - photo by Selim Rutbil]

The city is located on the valley that runs from Magnesia (modern Manisa) to Elaia, the ancient port of Pergamon. Aigai has been mentioned by Herodotus but had no great power. Although Alexander marched through the area, his presence has not been recorded either. His successor Seleucos is, however, known to have been honored with divine attributes in Aigai. During the later reign of Eumenes I, Aigai fell under the rule of the Attalids of Pergamon. It seems that the city’s layout closely resembles that of Pergamon, which is not surprising based on their common historical background. In the second century BC, Aigai was entirely rebuilt, and in 133 BC, it became part of the Roman Empire.

In 17 AD, the region was hit by a severe earthquake, and Tacitus tells us how twelve cities were destroyed overnight. Among the affected towns, Sardes and Magnesia are mentioned but also Aigai. In any case, Emperor Tiberius contributed to their reconstruction. 

So far, the buildings exposed by the archaeologists all date back to that period, just after the mid-2^nd century AD. Excavations have revealed a 1.5 km long city wall. On the eastern side of Aigai, a three-story high indoor market has been uncovered. Its walls still stand up to 11 meters tall over a length of 82 meters. The upper floor of this overall Hellenistic building was renovated in Roman times. A Roman Macellum used by butchers and fishermen alike has also been excavated. The inside floor was made of stones placed on lime mortar to hold the water in which the fish could be stored safely. Also, two separate channels were unearthed, one that carried fresh water inside and one that transported the waste water outside.

[Picture from Inspirock - photo by Oran Onal]

Several other buildings have been identified as well, like the Agora and its west Stoa, a theater, a Bouleuterion, a Stadium, a Gymnasium, and three temples, one of which has been identified as belonging to Demeter. They all date back to the mid-2^nd century AD. Aigai was eventually abandoned in the 3^rd century AD.

About five kilometers outside the city proper, the remains of a sanctuary dedicated to Apollo were found. It stood on the banks of the river that ran around the ruins. It can easily be spotted because three monolithic columns and the six-meter-high cella walls are still standing. It has been dated to the 1^st century BC.