Around Ephesus
Sardis (Sart)
Key answer
Sardis, at modern Sart inland from Izmir, was the capital of the Lydian kingdom and later an important Roman and Byzantine city. Its best-known remains are the reconstructed gymnasium façade and the large ancient synagogue beside it, with the temple of Artemis in the valley nearby.
The Lydian capital
Sardis was the seat of the Lydian kings, and the region is associated in ancient tradition with the earliest use of coined money. The Pactolus stream below the city is the source of the gold that gave the kingdom its reputation for wealth.
After the Persian conquest the city continued as a regional centre, then as a Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine city, and the site preserves layers from all of these.
What survives at the site
The most striking standing structure is the marble court of the Roman bath-gymnasium complex, partly re-erected by excavators. Beside it is the ancient synagogue, with mosaic floors and inscriptions.
In the valley stands the temple of Artemis, and across the plain lie the Bin Tepe burial mounds of the Lydian rulers.
World Heritage status
UNESCO inscribed 'Sardis and the Lydian Tumuli of Bin Tepe' on the World Heritage List in 2025, as a single listing covering the ancient city and the Lydian burial mounds on the plain.
Tradition
Sardis in Revelation
Sardis is one of the seven churches addressed in Revelation, which is why it appears in faith-focused itineraries alongside Ephesus and Pergamon.
It lies inland from Izmir. Whether it fits a given date depends on your own timings, so no journey time is published here.
Common questions
At modern Sart, inland from Izmir in western Turkey.
As the capital of Lydia, for the re-erected marble court of its Roman gymnasium and its ancient synagogue, for the Bin Tepe burial mounds, and as one of the seven churches of Revelation. Sardis and Bin Tepe were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2025.