Map 6: Sardis

 Urban Plan of Ancient City of Sardis

• 1). Bath-Gymnasium
• 2). Synagogue
• 3). Byzantine Shops
• 4). Lydian Gate
• 5). Cybele Altar, Lydian Gold Refinery and Byzantine Churches
• 6). Temple of Artemis
• 7). Stadium
• 8). Theater
• 9). Temple of the Imperial Cult
• 10). Temple?
• 11). Temple?
• 12). Bath
• 13). Tower
• 14). Sanctuary of Demeter
• 15). Byzantine church
• 16). Terrace

Floor plan of the Bath-Gymnasium Complex at Sardis

• 1). Palaestra
• 2). Marble courtyard
• 3). Frigidarium
• 4). Tepidarium
• 5). Caldarium
• 6). Latrine
• 7). Synagogue
• 8). Forecourt
• 9). Twenty-seven Byzantine shops
• 10). Marble road

© 2020 Dr. David E. Graves 

___________

For Journal articles and papers see  Follow me on Academia.edu or Selected Works

For Books see Amazon or Amazon

For all books by Dr. David E. Graves

The ECM Video Introduction

 

Rumble Channel

 

Updated Dec. 1, 2023

Figure 109

© Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. (CNG).
(Photographs courtesy of www.cngcoins.com)

Cistophoric Tetradrachm coin from Sardis. Struck after AD 128. Obv.: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS P P. The image of Hadrian (AD 117–138) with a bare head. Rev.: COS III. The cult image of Kore wearing a high head-dress; on the left, a stalk of grain, on the right, a stalk of grain and a poppy. (RIC 2.510; RSC 279).

Figure 107

© Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. (CNG).
(Photographs courtesy of www.cngcoins.com)

A Lydian one-third stater (“standard”) electrum coin from Sardis minted by King Alyattes (610–565 BC). Obv.: The head of a roaring lion with a rising sun with multiple rays on his forehead in the background. Electrum continued to be the only metal used in coinage until the process of refining gold and silver was perfected. Rev.: Double incuse punch (maximum dimension 13 mm. and 4.71 gm; BMC Lydia pg. 2, 6; SNG Kayhan 1013).

Figure 106

© 2017, David E. Graves, ECM

The Torah shrine (aediculae) that would have housed the copy of the Torah used in worship in the synagogue.

Figure 105

© 2017, David E. Graves, ECM

The bēma of the third cent. AD synagogue in Sardis (modern Turkey), which was used as the reading platform in the synagogue. Some believe that the lion statues and the eagles carved on both sides of the altar (table) are evidence of syncretism to appease the Roman authorities.

Figure 104

© 2017, David E. Graves, ECM

The Temple of Artemis in Sardis (330 BC). The scrolled (Ionic) capitals on the top of the columns add to the beauty of this temple. However, because these capitals were never fluted, it indicates the temple was never finished. The small red brick building in the foreground is a fourth cent. AD Byzantine church. The acropolis of the city is visible on the mountain in the distance. The only remains visible on the summit are Byzantine structures.

Figure 103

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, New York
Photograph by Matthew Bisanz, PD

Marble column from the Temple of Artemis at Sardis.

Figure 102

© 2017, David E. Graves, ECM

Floor plan of the Bath-Gymnasium Complex at Sardis. 1). Palaestra; 2). Marble courtyard; 3). Frigidarium; 4). Tepidarium; 5). Caldarium; 6). Latrine; 7). Synagogue; 8). Forecourt; 9). Twenty-seven Byzantine shops; 10). Marble road.

See reconstruction Fig. 101

Figure 101

© 2017, David E. Graves, ECM

The Bath-gymnasium complex at Sardis, late section dates to the early third cent. AD.

For the floor plan see Fig. 102.

Figure 100

© 2017, David E. Graves, ECM

Ruins of the Byzantine era shops at Sardis along the marble avenue. The synagogue is behind the stone wall and the Bath-gymnasium is visible in the distance.

Figure 99

© 2017 David E. Graves, ECM

Urban plan of the city of Sardis. 1). Bath-Gymnasium; 2). Synagogue; 3). Byzantine Shops; 4). Lydian Gate; 5). Cybele Altar, Lydian Gold Refinery and Byzantine Churches; 6). Temple of Artemis; 7). Stadium; 8). Theater; 9). Temple of the Imperial Cult; 10). Temple?; 11). Temple?; 12). Bath; 13). Tower; 14). Sanctuary of Demeter; 15). Byzantine church; 16). Terrace.

Figure 98

© Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. (CNG).
(Photographs courtesy of www.cngcoins.com)

Coin from Sardis. Obv.: ΣEBAΣTOΣ KAIΣAΡEΩN ΣAΡΔIANΩN (SEBASTOS KAISAREWN SARDIANWN). Tiberius (AD 14–37) standing raising up a kneeling Tyche of Sardis. Rev.: ΣEBAΣTH IOYΛIOΣ KΛEΩN KAI MEMNΩN Livia, the goddess Demeter, is seated holding a scepter and ears of grain. This coin marked the imperial relief efforts at Sardis after the devastating earthquake in AD 17 (RPC 1.2991; BMC Lydia 98; SNG Cop. 515).

Figure 95

© Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. (CNG).
(Photographs courtesy of www.cngcoins.com)

Drachma coin minted at Sardis under Alexander III “the Great”, struck under Philip III, (ca. 323–319 BC). Obv.: Head of Heracles wearing a lion’s skin. Rev.: ALEXANDROU, Zeus Aëtophoros seated holding an eagle; in left field, monogram above bee.