Sardis

🏛 Ancient City of Sardis (Sart) – The Wealth of Lydia

📍 Location: Sart, Manisa, Turkey
🏛 Founded: 7th Century BC
👑 Famous Rulers: King Croesus (Kroisos), Persian Satraps, Alexander the Great
💰 Significance: The birthplace of coinage, once one of the richest cities in the ancient world

🏛 Main Attractions in Sardis

1️⃣ Temple of Artemis
One of the largest temples in the ancient world.
Built during the Hellenistic period, later expanded by the Romans.
Dedicated to Artemis, the Lydian goddess of fertility and the hunt.

2️⃣ Sardis Synagogue (Havra)
One of the largest & most impressive ancient synagogues ever discovered.
Built during the Roman period (3rd century AD), proving Jewish presence in Sardis.
Beautiful geometrical mosaics & inscriptions in Hebrew & Greek.
Located next to a Roman gymnasium & bath complex.

3️⃣ Roman Gymnasium & Bath Complex
Built by Emperor Tiberius after an earthquake in 17 AD.
A grand bathing & exercise complex, symbolizing Roman influence.
Features stunning columns & sculptures.

4️⃣ Pactolus River – The Source of Gold
According to legend, King Midas of Phrygia washed his hands in this river to remove his golden touch.
The river contained natural gold specks, making Lydia incredibly wealthy.
Sardis became the first city to mint coins, thanks to its rich gold deposits.

📍 How to Visit Sardis?

🚗 By Car:

1.5-hour drive from Izmir
1.5-hour drive from Pergamon
2.5-hour drive from Ephesus

🚍 By Tour:

Many tours include Sardis, Pergamon, and Ephesus in a day trip.

📌 Why Visit Sardis?
✅ Explore the birthplace of the first coins ever minted
✅ Visit one of the best-preserved ancient synagogues in the world
✅ Marvel at the grand Roman gymnasium & bath complex
✅ Walk through history, from the Lydian, Persian, Greek & Roman eras

📌 A must-see for history lovers, biblical scholars & those fascinated by ancient civilizations!