To think what life must have been like in those cities. Probably hard, brutal, and short.
Here is a good page about Magnesia Through Time
Magnesia on the Maeander is an ancient city in western Turkey that was founded by Greek colonists almost three milennia ago. It grew to be a prosperous town with all the architectural trappings of Hellenistic civilization, and later, Roman Imperial grandeur. Today the site of its main temple sanctuary is crossed by a highway, but few tourists stop to visit the ruins nestled among fig orchards and small farms.
Near the end of the article, you will find information about the stadium in Magnesia.
I'd LOVE to travel there!
You would love it! The Meandres River winds it way all through the olive/fig groves near there.
I believe [ we get our word *meander* from the river's name. :) Or so, I was told by a guide.
FWIW, when you stand at the base of one of these ancient amphitheaters, you can speak in a normal tone of voice, and can be heard perfectly from the *nose bleed* seats. Rly. It's amazing.
I am most familiar with the great amphi at Ephesus; down the road a piece from Magnesia.
When we lived in Izmir, and from what I could tell from visiting these sites [late 60s], Turkey did no excavating of their own; they seemed to rely on the Germans, French, USA to do it.