Abstract:

The author gives a record on the ongoing excavations in the religous and civic parts of the city of Magnesia ad Maeandrum, in order to compare them with the excavations in the stadium. These excavations are revealing building activities simultanously in the famous Artemision, in the so called theatron – as it is now clear also by new documentary evidence – and especially in the stadium, which is unearthed since 2004. In the young imperial period many official and religious buildings were covered with new marvel blocks and new columns. These buildings are connected by the cult, festivities, processions and games to the honour of the gods, especially of the city deity Artemis. The relevance of the games as a mean of self-identification for the citizens and a mean of show-case for the outside is shown by the reliefs of the podia in the stadium, which show the competitions, prices and the gods. To their honour the games are performed, which were attractive until the Magnesians ceased to use the stadium in the 3rd cent AD, as a consequence of earth­quakes asf. This attractivity is also shown by the seat-reservations, carved on stone. These show the hierachical order of the society of the city and their guests, whether they have privileges (on proedrie-seats) or not. An interesting new item is, that also communities of chora of Magnesia could get privileged seats – as the community of Mandragoreis. This village is famous for its product (mandrake) which could be used as doping in sports. Did the representatives of the community get their privileged seats because they supported their fellow citizens to have success in the games?

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