Germencik

Germencik is a town and subprovince in the Ege (Aegean) region of Turkey. It belongs to the province of Aydın.

Germencik is located in the middle of the fertile Büyük Menderes ("Grand Menderes") plain. Besides being on the Aydın-İzmir highway (25 kms from Aydın), it also enjoys being in the junction point of the İzmir-Aydın-Afyon and Ortaklar-Söke railway lines.

According to 1997 census, population of Germencik is 43.931, with 12.736 living in the town.

Germencik is an old settlement, first founded by 'Hıdır Bey' of the 'Aydınoğulları Beyliği' under the name "Değirmencik". Later also called "İğneabad", the town granted "subprovince" status in 1948.

Remains of the antic city of Magnesia Ad.Meandrum (Menderes Magnesiası) are located within the borders of Germencik subprovince. According to the legend regarding the origins of the city, it was first founded by people who came from Teselya and called "Magnets".

Magnesia was commercially and strategically at an important location in the triangle of Prien, Ephesus and Tralles. The first excavations at the archaeological site were made in 1891 by Carl Humann of the Berlin Museum. 21 Month long excavations revealed (partially or fully) the theatre, Artemis temple, agora, Zeus temple and prytaneion. Excavations have resumed at the site, after almost 100 years in 1984, by Prof.Dr. Orhan Bingöl on assignment from Ankara Üniversitesi and Turkish Ministry of Culture.

Findings at the archaeological site are now displayed at museums of Istanbul, as well as Berlin and Paris where they were illegally smuggled. The most important and the biggest piece smuggled outside Turkey is the whole façade of the Zeus temple (smuggled by the German archeological team), which is currently in possession of the Berlin "Pergamon" Museum. Turkish government has made several unsuccessful attempts to this date, to return it back.