Lydia

Lydia is the name of an ancient region and kingdom in western Anatolia, along the Hermus River, with Sardis as its capital. The Lydian kingdom endured from the late Bronze Age into the 6th century BCE and was absorbed into the Achaemenid Persian Empire after Cyrus the Great conquered it in 546 BCE. The region stood as a crossroads between Aegean trade networks and inland routes across Asia Minor.

Lydia is often credited with early coinage, with Lydian coins dating to the 7th century BCE helping to standardize trade across Asia Minor and beyond. The Lydians were known for metallurgical skill and extensive commercial networks that connected coastal markets with interior regions.

The Lydian language, spoken in the kingdom, is part of the Anatolian branch of the Indo-European language family. It is attested in inscriptions written in the Lydian script and is now extinct, having disappeared after antiquity.

In the New Testament, Lydia is a woman from Thyatira who was a seller of purple cloth and who converts to Christianity after meeting Paul in Philippi. Her story has helped make the name Lydia familiar in Western cultures.

Lydia is also a feminine given name derived from the ancient region. It has been used since antiquity and remains common in various languages and cultures. Notable people named Lydia include author Lydia Davis, professional golfer Lydia Ko, and musician Lydia Lunch.