MAGNESIA. The name of two ancient Greek cities of Asia Minor. The first was in the northern part of Lydia, near the Hermits, about 25 miles northeast of Smyrna, at the foot of Mount Sipylus, and was called Magnesia near Sipylus (Magnesia ad Sipylum), to distinguish it from the other. It seems to have been settled by Magnetes from Thessaly during the ./Eolian colonization, but, as was natural in a Greek city so far inland, early to have fallen under Lydian rule. It regained its prominence under the Sete:16d kings of Syria. and was the scene in B.C. 190 of a great battle in which the Romans utterly defeated Antioehus the Great. it was nearly destroyed by an earthquake in the reign of Tiberius, but was rebuilt, and under the Byzantine Emperors flourished greatly. After its capture by the Seljuks and later by the Ottomans, it retained its importance, and under its modern name, MANISSA, is a flourishing town with tine buildings. on the Smyrna-Alashebr railroad. In this region, near Mount Sipylus, Greek legend located the Kingdom of Tantalus and myth of Niobe. There are remains of very early settlements on the slopes of :Mount Sipylus. The second Magnesia was in Caria, in the valley of the Ma•ander, and called Magnesia on the Mte ander (Magnesia. ad Mwandruin), to distinguish it from that near Mount Sipylus. It was 15 miles from Ephesus. This city seems also to have been a colony of Magnetes. whose wanderings through Delphi and Crete to Asia were part of the legendary history of the city. It early became wealthy and powerful, hut was destroyed in the first half of the seventh century 'sc. by the Cim merian invaders. It was rebuilt and afterwards conquered by the Persians. King Artaxerxes assigned it to Themistocles as a residence, and after his death here, about B.C. 400, the inhabit ants paid him honors as to a hero. In the neigh
borhood was a celebrated temple of Artemis Len cophryne, and when about B.C. 400 the old site of the city was for some reason abandoned. the inhabitants withdrew to the higher ground around the temple, where a new city was built, which, though never very prominent, was later the seat of a bishopric. The temple was Tonic, and of great beauty. Part of its sculptured frieze was brought to the Louvre by Tesler, and the rest is in Constantinople. Excavations con ducted for the Berlin Museum by Dr. Humann in 189]-93 laid bare the temple, and also brought to light the Agora, theatre, and other buildings, as well as many inscriptions, including one con taining the lecrendary account of the founding of the city. Kern, Die Gribulungs gesehiehtc roe Magnesia am Maiandros (Berlin. 1394) ; id., Die Inschriften von Magnesia am, Mwa-nder (Berlin, 1900).
IYIAGiNESITE (from magnesium). A mag nesium carbonate that crystallizes in the hexagonal system, has a vitreous lustre, and is either white, light yellow, or brown in color. It is usually found in the form of irregular veins in serpentine and other magnesium rocks, being a deposition product either of the serpentine itself or of the original rock from which the serpentine is derived. It is found in many lo calities in Moravia. Styria. Silesia, and Norway; and in the United States in Maryland, New -Jer sey, Massachusetts, New York, California, and Washington. This mineral finds considerable use in the preparation of magnesian compounds, such as Epsom salts. magnesia. and in the manu facture of paint, paper, and fire brick: also to some extent as an adulterant for the cheaper grades of soap. A variety containing iron is called breannerite, or brown spar.