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In Greek mythology, Mount Sipylus northeast of Smyrna in Lydia (southwestern Anatolia, now Turkey) was the region ruled by Tantalus. His daughter was the tragic Niobe. Electrum, a natural compound of gold and silver, found in the region made the cities of Lydia rich. Here before the first coins were minted, ingots and rings of fixed weights circulated.
In historic times, Mount Siplylus rose above the site of Magnesia ad Sipylum (modern Manisa is close by), on the Hermus River which was (190 B.C) the scene of the defeat of Antiochus III "the Great" by the Romans, at the Battle of Magnesia in 190 BCE.
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