Aigai, located in the province of Manisa, was established on the Gün Mountain in the Yunt Mountain Range, which was named Aspordene in ancient times. Today, Yunt Mountain is administratively located within the provincial borders of Manisa and İzmir. Its total area is 3,521,70 km wide, and it is bordered by the Bakırçay (ancient Kaikos) in the north, the Gediz (ancient Hermos) river in the south, Kırkağaç and Akhisar plains in the east and the Çandarlı Bay in the west. Highest peak of Yunt mountains, which consists of 500 m-1000 m hills and plains between them, stands at 1076 m. In ancient times, the mountain was the border between Mysia and Aiolis. The most important ancient settlement on the Yunt Mountain was Aigai.

The archaeological data and border stones show that Aigai controlled most of the Yunt Mountain, especially in the Hellenistic Period. W.M. Ramsay suggests in his publication in 1890 that Aigai’s borders were covering a large area. Aiolis region, which includes an important part of the Yunt Mountain, is on the Western Anatolian shores and roughly covers the area between Gediz (Hermos) Valley and Bakırçay (Kaystros) and Lesbos Island. Aeolians living in the Aiolis region and speaking a dialect of Ancient Greek, came from the north of Greece and settled in the region. According to tradition, these immigrants coming from Boiotia and Thesselia regions to Anatolia settled in the Western Anatolian shores in the second half of 11th century BCE. Pseudo-Herodotus, the famous historian who lived in the first age, in his work “The Life of Homer”, quotes that the migration of Aeolians to the northwestern Anatolian shores started with the invasion of Lesbos Island in 1140 BCE. According to him, Kyme was founded in 1120; Neonteichos in 1112; and Smyrna in 1102. The Byzantine historian Eusebius, on the other hand, only dates the foundation of Myrina among these cities, to 1047 BCE about a century later. First group of immigrants most likely have settled along the shore. Aigai, which is 13 km inland, must have been founded later.

This can be explained by the first migrants initially taking control of the area on the shore, then colonizing the hinterlands due to the population growth. Archaeological excavations and research conducted at Aigai since 2004, show that the city was founded around 700 BCE. Ancient geographer Strabo quotes that “Kyme is the best and largest of Aeolis cities. It can be said that Kyme and Lesbos are the metropolis (founder city) of other cities, of which up to thirty and many of which were destroyed. As can be understood from this statement, some of other Aeolian cities such as Aigai, must have been established by Kyme later. Hellenistic immigration, which had started with insufficient population to utilize hinterlands of Aiolis region as farmlands or pastures, made it necessary to expand into the hinterlands with the increase in population. Also, Aeolian cities which are located on the coast and are economically developed, had to keep the hinterland under control for their protection. An important ancient route passing through the slopes of Aigai, which is located on one of the important valleys lays between Lydian land and the northwestern shores of Anatolia, was connecting Magnesia (Manisa) to Elaia, the ancient port of Pergamon, and Gryneion (Yeni Şakran). These routes clarify why the Aigaians chose the area. With the foundation of the ancient city of Aigai, Yunt Mountain region must have been controlled by the Aeolians beginning from the late 8th century BCE. The name “Aigai” is rarely encountered in ancient written sources. However, historical events that took place in the region must have directly affected the ancient city. Midas, the last king of the Phrygians, gained the trust of Greek rulers by getting married with Hermodike the daughter of the king of Kyme, the most powerful city of the Aiolis region. This marriage has been accepted as proof of direct or indirect relationship between the Phrygians and the Aeolians on the northwestern Anatolian coast in the first half of 7th century BCE. Lydians who saved Anatolia from the Kimmer threat was the most important power of the region since the 7th century BCE. The Lydian effect on Archaic pottery found at Aigai and imported Lydian pottery prove that the region was highly influenced by the Lydian culture in 7th and 6th centuries BCE. By 547/46 BCE, the western Anatolia began to be dominated by Persians. Xenophon, in his work Hellenika, mentions that Aigai and Temnos had resisted the Persian rule and maintained their independence (Xenophon, Hell. IV.8.5). Also, according to the text, Spartan commander Derkyllidas says that Aigai and Temnos had been independent since the beginning of Persian rule in order to convince his soldiers to march on the Persians at Aiolis.

Their independence may have been caused due to the fact that the cities’ location in a mountainous area and lack of Persians’ attention to the two cities. According to Plutarch (Them, 26.1-4), the famous Athenian statesman Themistocles, turned his way to the city of Aigai, while fleeing from Greece towards Kyme in 471/70 BCE, and without being seen, he was welcomed and hosted by his close friend Nikogenes. Then, he disguised as a woman, and continued on his way to Susa in a tent car. This proves the existence of wealthy and aristocratic families in and around Aigai from at least the 5th century BCE. Aigai was among the cities that did not pay tax to the Delian League, which was established in the 5th century BCE against the Persian threat. Written sources dated to the 4th century BCE do not mention Aigai. After the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE, his successors, the Diadochi fought for control over the empire’s land. Lysimachos lost his life after he was defeated at the Battle of Couroupedium against Seleucus, in 281 BCE. After the Battle of Couroupedium, in an environment of turmoil arising from the murder of Seleucus I, many cities gained their independence. A decree found in the Aigai excavations provides important information on this period. According to the decree, the Seleucid kings Seleucıs I Nicator and his son Antiochus I Soter were honored with divine attributes in the city. Also, this inscription, erected after the victory at the Battle of Couroupedium (281 BC), mentions the deeds Seleucus I and Antiochus accomplished for the city and the day Aigai gained its freedom. Pergamon Kingdom put an end to the good relations they maintained with the Seleucids during the Eumenes I Period (263-241 BCE) and extended their boundaries to the north, east and southwest.

During this period, control of Aigai must have passed to Pergamon Kingdom. During the Period of Attalus I, the defeat of Galatians (238/237 BCE) and then the Seleucid king Antiochus Hierax (229-227 BCE), the Kingdom of Pergamon has become the most important power of the Western Anatolia. The important achievements of Attalus I did not last long. After the Seleucid attacks under the command of General Achaeus (223 BCE), Attalus I had lost Aigai and shores of the Aiolis. After the murder of Achaeus, who rebelled against Antiochus II (216 BCE), Pergamon Kingdom took control of Aigai and its surroundings again. The Aiolis region and Aigai must have lived under the rule of Attalus Dynasty (Attalus I) between 218 and197 BCE. By the reestablishment of Seleucid control in the western Anatolia by Antiochus III in 197 BCE, the control of Aigai must have passed to Seleucids. Seleucids was forced to retreat to the south of the Taurus Mountains and leave the region by the Apamea Peace Treaty signed in 188 BCE. Aigai was also mentioned among the cities that gained their freedom after the Apamea Treaty. It is understood that Aigai and the whole Aiolis region has gained its independence. According to Polybius (His. XXXIII.13), Aigai was damaged during the war between Attalus II and Prusias II, King of Bithynia, in 156-154 BCE. In 154 BCE, Prusias II paid 100 talents as compensation to the cities damaged. Monumental public buildings such as Bouleuterion, Agora Building, Theater and Gymnasion were built at exactly this period, just after the middle of the 2nd century BCE. Attalus III donated his kingdom to Rome with a rational political decision, before his death in 133 BCE. After this date, Aigai and the surrounding region continued to exist under the rule of Rome. The earliest evidence of Roman rule in Aigai is from the 1st century BCE. Proconsul Publius Servilius Isauricus, a reliable man and close friend of Ceasar, helped the city and made donations for the Temple of Apollo Chresterios during his tenure as Governor of Asia (46-44 BCE). A dedicatory inscription on a sculpture base from Aigai shows that Publius Servilius Isauricus was honored in Aigai for his help. Similarly, Publius Servilius Isauricus reestablished traditional laws and independent democracy in Pergamon, and because of this, he gained the title of “savior and benefactor of the city”. According to ancient writers, one of the biggest earthquakes in Anatolian history, occurred in 17 CE. Roman historian Tacitus provides detailed information about this earthquake and gives the names of the most affected cities as Sardis (Salihli) and Magnesia (Manisa). Tacitus said, “…in the same year, the twelve important cities of Asia were destroyed at midnight by an earthquake.” Roman emperor Tiberius was not very willing to help the states. However, he had made donations to Aigai and other eleven Western Anatolian cities for the destruction caused by the earthquake. A monument to honor the emperor in response to the help he had done was erected in Puteoli by the twelve Anatolian cities.

There is no doubt that Yunt Mountain and other cities in the Aiolis region were also affected by the earthquake of 17 CE. The Goths, a nomadic tribe, destroyed and sacked many cities in the second half of the 3rd century CE. The traces of Goths threat that appeared around 260 CE, are possible to see in Aigai. The blockage by walls of the doors of the buildings dated to the 3rd century CE, show the Aigaians were aware of the approaching Goths  threat. Archaeological data obtained from the excavations prove that the city was deliberately abandoned by settlers. Coins hidden in a cistern and dated to the 3rd century CE suggest that the settlers were planning to return the city. It is not known where Aigains and other settlers who lived on the Yunt Mountain area were fled at the time of the Goth danger. However, it is clear that they could not return to their cities. After being abandoned in the 3rd century CE, Aigai was settled again after nearly a thousand years. The last period of settlement in the city dated to the late 12th century CE. Evidence of the late Byzantine castlesettlement dated to this period is limited to the Eastern Church area. Remains of Byzantine buildings and tombs were unearthed around the church which had served a small Christian community. After the 1280s, the small Byzantine settlement at Aigai must have had its share from the Turkmen attacks took over the lands of Western Anatolia. A date around 1300 at the latest is thought of for the settlement of Turkmen groups in the area.