Aigai Ancient City

Aigai Ancient City

Aigai, also known as Aigaiai, is an archaeological site located near the village of Yuntdağı Köseler in Manisa Province, Turkey. The site is situated at a high altitude, almost at the top of Mount Gün (Dağı), which is part of the Yunt mountain range.

Aigai Ancient City

Aigai was originally under the rule of the Lydian and Achaemenid Empires before falling into the hands of the Kingdom of Pergamon and later the Seleucids. The city suffered devastation under the rule of Bithynia, but after a peace treaty brokered by Rome, it was compensated with 100 talents. Under the patronage of Pergamon, a market building and temple to Apollo were constructed.

In 129 BC, Pergamon became a Roman province. Aigai was destroyed by an earthquake in 17 BC, but was reconstructed with the financing of Emperor Tiberius. Aigai was one of the 12 ancient Aiol cities in western Anatolia mentioned by Herodotus, and historical records suggest that it was an important commercial center during Hellenistic times.

Since 2004, excavation has been carried out intensively at the city, which suffered damage and was repaired following the earthquake in 17 BC. In 2018, excavations were focused on the Vomitorium, which is the entrance building to the theater. The city walls were built according to the condition of the land, and within the ramparts, there are structures such as a three-story agora, walls carrying this structure, ruins of a parliament building, a terrace-walled stadium, a theater, and a Domitian temple.