Sardis

Roman bath complex and shops at Sardis (© Dick Osseman); location of modern Sartmahmut; location of ancient Sardis in Lydia.

Sardis (modern Sart) was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia and home King Croesus (560-546 BC), famous for his wealth.

Liberated from the Persians by Alexander the Great in c.340 BC, Sardis became a Greek city with an impressive Temple of Artemis. In the Roman era, the temple was expanded and used also for the imperial cult, and a huge bath-gymnasium complex was built.

Ancient Sardis had a very large and prosperous Jewish community, which produced the largest ancient synagogue outside of Palestine. Christianity arrived in the 1st century AD and Sardis was one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Sardis now lies entirely in ruins and is an archaeological site in the village of Sartmahmut with ongoing excavations.

Sardis Maps Our own interactive satellite map of Sardis. Brief History of Sardis An overview of Sardis' history from the Kings of Lydia to the present day. Sardis Tours & Excursions Sightseeing tours in Sardis and day trips to nearby sights. Izmir Car Rentals Rent a car in Izmir and explore Sardis and many other nearby cities on your own (air-conditioned) timetable. Izmir Hotel Bookings Find and book a hotel in Izmir, the closest major city to Sardis. Izmir Hotel Reviews Unbiased reviews, ratings and price comparisons on hotels in Sardis. Izmir Travel Forum Travel advice and insider tips on Izmir and nearby areas like Sardis from fellow travelers.

Altar of Cybele An ancient altar from the time of the Lydian King Croesus (6th cent. BC), the Altar of Cybele (the Mother Goddess) is located next to the gold refineries and features two crouching lions. Sardis Synagogue Dating from the 3rd century AD, the ancient synagogue of Sardis was the largest outside Palestine. Some walls still remain and it has a splended floor mosaic. Temple of Artemis Originally built in 334 BC, this was one of the largest Greek temples in the world. In Roman times it was extensively rebuilt and shared with the imperial cult.

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