Massive Sardis Synagogue with Vast Mosaics Reveals Jewish Presence in Roman Anatolia
One of the largest synagogues of the ancient world still stands at Sardis—its vast mosaic floors stretching across nearly 1,400 square meters, quietly preserving the footprint of a once-powerful Jewish community in Roman Anatolia. Set within one of the city’s most prominent public complexes, the structure does more than impress with its scale. It reveals
Night Museum Experience Begins in Sardis, the Ancient City Where Money Was First Minted
The ancient city of Sardis, once the glittering capital of the Lydian Kingdom and the birthplace of the world’s first coinage, is stepping into a new era. Following its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2025, the site has completed an extensive illumination project that now allows visitors to explore its ruins
Two skeletons of Lydian soldiers found under the monumental city wall in the ancient city of Sardis
Two soldier skeletons belonging to the Lydians were unearthed in the ancient city of Sardes, which was the capital of the Lydian (Lydia) state near the town of Sart in Salihli district of Manisa in western Türkiye. Sardes is the place where the first gold coin was minted in history. Because of this feature, it
The largest synagogue of the ancient world, located in the ancient city of Sardis, is being restored
The ancient world’s largest synagogue, unearthed in the ancient city of Sardis, the capital of the Lydia Kingdom where the first coin was minted under state guarantee, is undergoing restoration. The Lydia Kingdom was a kingdom that existed in the western region of Anatolia approximately between 1200 BC and 546 BC. Excavations have been ongoing