Sardis

By Brian Freeman

"And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead .Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. " (Revelation 3:1-4). KJV

Known biblically as the home of the church that received the fifth of letters to the seven churches in Revelation, Sardis was the capital of the Lydian empire and one of the greatest cities of the ancient world.

The last Lydian king, Croesus (560-546 BC), famous for his extraordinary wealth, is said to have panned gold from the nearby river Pactolus.

In 17 AD Sardis experienced a devastating earthquake, after which Emperor Tiberius rebuilt the city.

Sardis was dominated by Persia from 546 BC, when King Croesus and Sardis fell to Cyrus. The ancient historian Herodotus records the shock of the Lydian defeat, as they considered the city impregnable. Sardis was captured by Antiochus the Great at the end of the 3rd century BC.

A great colonnaded marble road of 4600 feet in length divided the Roman city, whose population was estimated as large as 120,000 in the time of the Apostle John.

Interesting ancient custom of Sardis- Herodotus mentions the curious practice which permitted their women to chose their own husbands.

Ancient Sardis had a very large and prosperous Jewish community, which produced the largest ancient synagogue outside of Palestine. It is found in the center of the urban center, instead of on the periphery as synagogues typically were. This attests to the strength and wealth of the Jewish community in the city. This synagogue came into use in the 3rd c. A.D.

The ruins of the synagogue include splendid mosaic floors, some walls and columns, and over 80 Greek and seven Hebrew inscriptions.

Construction on the Temple of Artemis began in about 334 BC by the ancient Greeks, the temple was renovated by the Romans in the 2nd century AD. During the Roman period it served also as a temple of the imperial cult.

Temple of Artemis was the main goddess of the city and the temple dedicated to her in Sardis was one of the seven largest Greek temples (more than double the size of the Parthenon).

Most of what remains today dates from the Roman rebuild in the 2nd century. Only two complete columns and a few partial ones still stand.

Sources

McDonagh, Bernard. Blue Guide Turkey The Aegean and Mediterranean Coasts. New York: Penguin Books, 1989.

Mcray, John. Archaeology and the New Testament. Michigan: Baker Book House, 1991.