Sardis

Sardis is an ancient city at the site of modern Sart, in western Turkey. It was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia and sits on a high plateau overlooking the Hermus River valley, controlling routes between Anatolia and the Aegean.

In the 7th and 6th centuries BCE Sardis gained prominence under the Lydians, with coins minted there; Croesus reigned and became famous for wealth. In 546 BCE Cyrus the Great captured Sardis, and it became part of the Persian Empire. Later it passed to Hellenistic kingdoms, and eventually to Rome.

Archaeological remains include a monumental acropolis with temple complexes, including the Temple of Artemis, a gymnasium, baths, and city walls. The late antique Sardis Synagogue is among the best-preserved examples of its kind.

The site today is the Sardis Archaeological Site, administered by Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, located near the town of Sart in Manisa Province. Excavations since the 19th century have revealed extensive ruins spanning multiple eras, making Sardis an important resource for studies of Lydia, ancient Persia, and early Christianity.