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The Faithful Christians of Sardis
Although the church in Sardis is strongly criticized in the Book of Revelation, St John makes it clear that not all Christians in the...
Unexcavated Remains of Sardis
A part of ancient Sardis still remains hidden underground. One section of the city has not yet been excavated and lies about two metres...
Croesus and the Persian Threat
In the middle of the sixth century BCE, King Croesus of Lydia became ambitious and greedy for lands beyond the Halys River, known today...
Smyrna in the Byzantine and Medieval Periods
The modern city of İzmir is built directly on top of ancient Smyrna. Because of this, only limited archaeological excavation is possible today. Many...
Ancient Smyrna The Beginnings of the City
The earliest settlement of Smyrna was located at the Tepekule tumulus in modern Bayraklı, on a small peninsula along the Aegean Sea. Archaeological evidence...
The Cemetery Above the Grotto of the Seven Sleepers
The ruins of a large cemetery can be seen above the Grotto of the Seven Sleepers in Ephesus. Together with the many graves around...
Rivers and Trade Routes
Western Anatolia is shaped by several important rivers that flow from the interior toward the Aegean Sea. These rivers are dry for most of...
The Lydians and Their Influence
In addition to their strong skills in sailing and trade, the Greek cities of western Anatolia faced an important political power to the east:...
From Villages to City-States
Literary sources and archaeological evidence suggest that many early settlements in western Anatolia began as small villages ruled by hereditary kings. Over time, especially...
Latin Inscription and Its Meaning
A Latin inscription carved into the Inner Wall of Constantinople reads:
"PORTARUM VALID FIRMAVIT LIMINE MUROS, PUSAEUS MAGNO NON MINOR ANTHEMIO."
This can be roughly translated...
