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Magnesia The City History records little regarding the city of Magnesia. It is notable that it is one of two cities identified as Magnesia in Asia Minor of the 2nd Century AD. Properly, it would be called Magnesia ad Maeandrum, as it was located on the Meander river, unlike Magnesia ad Sipylum, which rested on the river of the same name. This is particularly confusing, as Magnesia ad Sipylum was the site of a decisive battle between Scipio Asiagenes and Antiochus III, ending the latter's rebellion. Magnesia ad Maeandrum was founded by Ionians during the Greek colonizations of circa 500 BC on a tributary of the Maeander, just inland from thier larger colony of Ephesus. It was located at the head of a rich and fertile river valley, greatly increasing the city's wealth. The city was host to a shrive of Artemis Leucophryene, a local version of the Greek goddess. Magnesia became Roman territory along with the other territories controlled by Attallus III. During the wars with Mithridates VI, Magnesia chose to side with Rome. Consequently, after victory was achieved and Sulla seized power in Rome, he rewarded the citizens by declaring Magnesia to be a free city. Magnesia remained a wealthy imperial city through the principate, although it couldn't compete with its larger cousins, such as Ephesus, and Pergamum. Ignatius's Epistle to the Magnesians has some interesting aspects for us to consider. It is notable that he extolls the Christians of the city to do three things: 1) to obey thier bishop, 2) to avoid heretics, and 3) to refrain from Judaizing, that is following the Jewish laws. The first two are largely par for the course, as far as Ignatius is concerned, but the third is noteworthy. There was a great deal of concern expressed by early Christians, particularly Paul, that some believers were trying to associate themselves overmuch with the Jews to obtain special social priveleges. Perhaps Ignatius's sentiments are a development of that same concern. The Text |