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Izmir - Sardis - Jewish Heritage
Sardis was on the top of its glory. The Persians made Sardis the capital of the western districts of their empire. They made the city also the western terminal of the Great Postal Road that started in Susa in Elam near the Persian Gulf, where are now the oil fields. This road was so well organized that it took only a week to bring important messages. Alexander the Great defeated the Persians and ancient Lydia, together with all Asia-Minor, was conquered by this Macedonian King. After his death Sardis fell into the hands of the Seleucids of Syria. The Roman Era start¬ed here in the second century B.C... In Byzantine times Sardis became the center of a bishopric. With the arrival and settling of Christianity, one of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse was founded here. The town passed into the hands of the Turks.
The most important architectural works that were discovered here were the synagogue and the Gymnasium. Both buildings date from the third century A.D... Other famous ruins are: the Byzantine Church, The House of Branzes, the Roman Stadium, the Roman and Byzantine Baths, and a Theatre built in the Hellenistic times and the Acropolis. The temple of Artemis is situated 2 kms south of the city. An Altar had existed already here since the end of the fifth century B.C... The original Temple of Artemis was built in 300 B.C... It was attached to the before-mentioned altar and had its face to the west. Sardis had reached its zenith. The Sardians were of a very soft and weak character because of their wealth and fertility. Therefore, Sardis was a very suitable place for the Christians to settle.
