Sardis or Sardes was an ancient city best known as the capital of the Lydian Empire. After the fall of the Lydian Empire, it became the capital of the Persian satrapy of Lydia and later a major center
The Greek gymnasium of Sardis
View of the citadel from below
This 6th-century BC coin reflects the Sardians' interest in glyptic art.
The lydion was an everyday pottery shape used for cosmetics.
Croesus was the last king of Lydia from 585 BC to 546 BC. He was renowned for his great wealth, as well as his ultimate defeat by the Persian king Cyrus the Great following the siege of Sardis.
Sardis
…beginning with Agron, 1220 BC, and ending with Candaules, 716 BC. They were followed by the Mermnades, which began with Gyges, 716 BC, and ended with Croesus, 546 BC. The name "Sardis" appears first in the work of the Archaic era poet Sappho. Strabo claims that the city's original name was "Hyde…
Depiction of Croesus, Attic red-figure amphora, painted c. 500–490 BC
Gold coin of Croesus, Lydian, around 550 BC, found in what is now modern Turkey
Aesop in front of Croesus
Croesus showing his treasures to Solon. Frans Francken the Younger, 17th century