Sardis

Q: What is Sardis?

Sardis was the capital of the Kingdom of Lydia (in modern-day Turkey), which continued as an important trade, administrative, and cultural center for over 2,000 years until it was abandoned c. 1402.

Q: Why is Sardis important?

Sardis is important because it was the site of many significant events including the first minting of coins in the world; mustering of the Persian army for the 480 BCE invasion of Greece; site of the 4th largest Ionic Greek temple in the world; home of Melito of Sardis; site of the Bin Tepe cemetery. The city is best known for its mention in the biblical Book of Revelation.

Q: Why is Sardis referred to as "the strongest place in the world"?

Sardis is often referenced as "the strongest place in the world" from a line in the Histories of the writer Polybius, who is being ironic. In his Histories 8.20.12, he makes clear that the citadel of Sardis was thought to be "the strongest place in the world" but could not keep its king safe.

Q: What happened to Sardis?

Sardis was sacked by the Sasanian Persians in 615 CE and never fully recovered. It declined under the Ottoman Turks and was abandoned as a ruin c. 1402.

Joshua J. Mark

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Definition

Sardis (near modern-day Sart, Turkey) was the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Lydia founded (according to Herodotus) by the Heracleidae, the Heraclid Dynasty descended from the hero Heracles (Hercules). The city was famous in antiquity for its wealth, culture, and favorable position on the central trade route from the Aegean Sea to the interior of Asia Minor.

More about: Sardis

Timeline

687 BCE - 652 BCE
King Gyges rules Lydia and expands its borders. Sardis becomes Lydian capital.
c. 685 BCE - 546 BCE
Mermnad Dynasty rules Lydia.
c. 635 BCE - 585 BCE
Reign of Alyattes of Lydia. Minting of first coins made from electrum.
560 BCE - 546 BCE
Reign of Croesus of Lydia.
499 BCE - 493 BCE
Ionian cities rebel against Persian rule.
c. 498 BCE
Ionians and Greek allies invade and burn Sardis (capital of Lydia).
334 BCE
Sardis surrenders to Alexander the Great.
May 334 BCE
Alexander the Great invades the Persian Achaemenid Empire.
322 BCE
Cleopatra of Macedon moves from the Argead court in Pella to Sardis to marry Perdiccas.
280 BCE
Lydia becomes a part of the Seleucid Empire.
215 BCE - 213 BCE
Siege of Sardis by Antiochus III of the Seleucid Empire; Sardis falls.
133 BCE
Lydia and its captial Sardis comes under Roman rule.
17 BCE
An earthquake destroys 12 cities in Lydia, including Sardis.
615 CE
Sardis is sacked by Sassanian Persians; damage is never repaired
c. 1402 CE
Sardis is abandoned as a ruin.