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Travel Ephesus |
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Around Ephesus |
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Sardis |
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 Sardis
lies in the territory of Lydia, at the foot of the
Tmolus Mountains and overlooking the Hermus River
plain, where evidence has been found of human
activity as early as the Palaeolithic period (ca.
50,000 B.C.). By the late second millennium B.C., a
modest community existed at the foot of the
acropolis.
According to the ancient Greek historian
Herodotus, the "sons of Herakles" founded a dynasty
that remained in power for "505 years, son
succeeding father from generation to generation till
the time of Candaules" (from ca. 1185 to ca. 680
B.C.). By the early 7th century B.C., Sardis was the
capital of a growing empire, with a distinct
archaeological record.
Suring the Mermnad dynasty (ca. 680-547 B.C.), the empire reached its
greatest geographical extent, stretching from the
Aegean Sea to central Anatolia.
Herodotus credits the Lydian kings with the invention of coinage and the
construction of the great royal burial mounds at Bin
Tepe, some 6 miles to the northwest of the
acropolis. Kings Gyges and Croesus were particularly
renowned for lavish gifts dedicated in Greek
sanctuaries. In 547 B.C., Sardis was sacked by Cyrus
the Great and remained under Persian control until
334 B.C., when it was captured by Alexander the
Great.
The city continued to flourish during
Hellenistic and Roman times, when ambitious
construction projects were initiated, including the
temple of Artemis and bath-gymnasium complex. A
section of the bath-gymnasium complex was later
remodeled to accommodate a synagogue. This
synagogue, now partially restored by the
Harvard-Cornell Expedition, is the largest early
synagogue yet excavated in the Mediterranean world.
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Ephesus Yesterday & Today |
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