Mount Spil (elevation 1513 m), the ancient Mount Sipylus (in Turkish Spil Dağı) is a mountain rich in legends and history situated near the city of Manisa in Turkey’s Aegean Region. It towers over the city of Manisa as well as over the road between Izmir and Manisa. The contiguous mass of Mount Yamanlar, overlooking the Gulf of Ä°zmir and also rich in history, actually an extinct volcano with a crater lake on its top and a distinct geographical formation, is sometimes considered as an extension of the Mount Sipylus massif, and even named "Western Sipylus".

History

A late-Hittite statue of Cybele is found in Mount Sipylus and the mountain was considered a favorite haunt of the mother goddess. Later called "Sipylus in Lydia" in Greek mythology, who knew the goddess as Meter or Meter oreie ("Mountain-Mother"), or, with this sacred mountain in mind, as Sipylene.

In proto-Lydian times, Mount Sipylus was ruled by Tantalus, who cut up his son Pelops and offered him to the gods. His daughter was the tragic Niobe, who is associated with the "Weeping Rock" ("AÄŸlayan Kaya" in Turkish) natural formation facing the city of Manisa. The rock was also frequently cited, including in international literature, under another name in Turkish, that is, as "TaÅŸ Suret" (meaning "The Stone Complexion")

Today Spil Dağı National Park attracts both tourists and locals. The famous "Weeping Rock" of Niobe (Ağlayan Kaya) still can be seen with the richly forested and beautiful scenery area surrounded with flowers, especially with wild tulips. The mountain is also a good spot for camping, parachuting, hiking and other mountain sports with excelent accomodation facilities.