Sardis is an ancient city located in the Salihli district of Manisa and was the capital of the Lydian civilization. The Lydians ruled this region between the 13th and 6th centuries BC. C. and is an important civilization of the Iron Age. Sardis is the place where the first coins were minted for the first time according to known history and also the starting point of the famous King’s Road in history.
Near the area is the royal Lydian cemetery, which consists of about 85 mound-like tombs, and there is also the Temple of Artemis, one of the most important temples in Western Anatolia, near the ancient city. Other than that, the ancient city is home to a gymnasium, a gymnasium and bath complex dating back to the 2nd century AD, shops dating back to Byzantine times, and a synagogue dating back to the 4th century AD.
It also has an important place in the history of religions, as it is one of the Seven Churches of Asia mentioned in the Book of Revelation in the New Testament. The city was home to a significant Jewish population from the 3rd century BC.
The first Jewish settlement here is believed to have taken place in the 3rd century BC. C., since Antiochus III, the emperor of the Seleucid Empire, transported the Jews to Sardis from several countries, including Babylon. The Jewish historian Josephus Flavius, born in Jerusalem in the first century AD. C., mentions in his works the Jewish presence in this city. Excavations in the city have continued since 1958 with the sponsorship of Harvard and Cornell universities. During these excavations, one of the most impressive synagogues in the Western Diaspora was unearthed. Furthermore, unearthed Hebrew inscriptions prove that the city’s Jewish community was integrated into everyday life and had an important voice in the city.
– Where is Sardis located?
Sardis is located in Salihli, Manisa in western Türkiye.
– What is the importance of Sardis in Christianity?
It is mentioned as one of the Seven Churches of Asia in the Book of Revelation in the Bible.
- How is Sardis known?
Sardis is the place where money was minted for the first time according to known history and also the starting point of the famous King’s Road in history.
