Ancient City Sardis

The founding of Sardis is attributed to the Heraclid dynasty. Around 675 BC, Gyges ascended the throne and established the Mermnad lineage. He was followed by Ardys and Alyattes, before Croesus, the last Mermnad ruler, was defeated by Cyrus II around 541 BC. Sardis then became the capital of the Persian satrapy of Lydia and the starting point of the Persian Royal Road. In 499 BC, the city was destroyed by the Greeks during the Ionian Revolt. After Alexander the Great's victory in 334 BC, Sardis came under Hellenistic rule. From 133 BC, the city became part of the Roman province of Asia. A severe earthquake in 17 AD devastated Sardis, but Emperor Tiberius supported its reconstruction. In early Christian times, Sardis was one of the seven churches of the Revelation of John. With the shift of power to Constantinople, Sardis lost importance but remained a bishopric. In the 13th century, the region was frequently ravaged, and in 1402, Timur conquered the city, sealing its ultimate decline. Since 1958, extensive archaeological excavations have been conducted here.

The ancient city of Sardis is located in Sart, a district of Manisa, in the Aegean region of Turkey. It lies at an elevation of approximately 110 m above sea level.

The remains of the ancient city of Sardis are now accessible to visitors. Highlights include the reconstructed 3rd-century Gymnasium and the richly decorated Synagogue from the same period. On the south side of the street, visitors can see the remains of the Temple of Artemis, built between the 4th and 2nd centuries BC, but never completed.

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