SARDIS
Sardis lies in the territory of ancient Lydia,
at the foot of the Tumulus Mountains and overlooking the Hermus River plain,
where evidence has been found of human activity as early as the Paleolithic
period (ca. 50,000 B.C.). Recent excavations have focused on the Archaic
era, particularly the 7th and 6th centuries B.C., when Sardis was the capital
of the Lydian empire and at the height of its power,
and on the Late Roman era, when the city was still flourishing.
Archaeological highlights of Archaic date include the royal burial mounds
at Bin Tepe, city wall, and gold-working installation on Pactalus River;
important monuments of Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine
date include the temple of Artemis, bath-gymnasium
complex, synagogue, and row of shops adjoining the synagogue. Over 11,000
objects have been inventoried by the Archaeological Exploration of Sardis
since its founding in 1958; a selection of the more important finds are
on display in the Archaeological Museum of Manisa.
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 Heracles" 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.
During the
Merman 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 (ca. 6th c BC.) 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.
During the early Christian period Sardis
became one of the Seven Churches which were mentioned by St. John in The
Book of Revelation.