Aigai Archaeological Site

Aigai stands on a volcanic hill some 360 metres above sea level in the Yunt Mountains, near the village of Köseler, forty-nine kilometres from the centre of Manisa. Its name means 'the goat city' in one reading and is close to the Greek word for the Aegean. It was one of the twelve Aeolian cities mentioned by Herodotus, and the locals also know the place as Nemrutkale or Köseler Castle.

The Aeolians came to the coast of western Anatolia around 1100 BC, and Aigai's settlement history can be followed back to at least the 8th century BC. It had its best time under the Kingdom of Pergamon, when it was reorganised on the model of Pergamon itself and became an important trading town, known for parchment made from goatskin. An earthquake in AD 17 shook the whole Aegean region and damaged Aigai badly. Systematic excavation has been under way since 2004.

On a visit you can pick out the vaulted theatre entrance, the city walls, the three-storey agora, the council house, the stadium and the Temple of Demeter. Because the site is still being uncovered, it feels less crowded and more like a working dig than a polished attraction.