City
Sardis
SAR-dis · Modern Sart, Turkey
Sardis is a city of the biblical world, known today as Sart, Turkey.
What is known
- One of the seven churches of Revelation, rebuked as having "a reputation of being alive, but you are dead" (Revelation 3:1-6)
- Home to one of the largest ancient synagogues found in the Jewish diaspora, evidence of a substantial Jewish community
History
- Founded
- Ancient capital of Lydia, a major Roman city by the NT era
- Population
- Estimated 50,000–100,000 residents in the 1st century AD as Roman provincial capital of Lydia
- Coordinates
- 38.4883° N, 28.0403° E
Archaeology
Excavations uncovered a monumental bath-gymnasium complex that includes the largest ancient synagogue yet found in the Jewish diaspora, with mosaic floors and Greek/Hebrew inscriptions. The site also preserves the Hellenistic-Roman Temple of Artemis, one of the largest temples in the ancient world.
Scripture references
- Revelation 1:11
- Revelation 3:1-6
On a modern map
Further reading
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