The Siege of Sardis was the last decisive conflict after the Battle of Thymbra, which was fought between the forces of Croesus of Lydia and Cyrus the Great. In the battle, Croesus was defeated and was
Remains of the acropolis of Sardis, where Croesus was finally captured
Defeat of Croesus at the Battle of Thymbra, 546 BC
Inside the citadel of Sardis
The siege of Sardis, 19th-century engraving
Cyrus II of Persia, commonly known as Cyrus the Great, was the founder of the Achaemenid Empire. Hailing from Persis, he brought the Achaemenid dynasty to power by defeating the Median Empire and embr
Siege of Sardis (547 BC)
…Siege of Sardis (547/546 BC) was the last decisive conflict after the Battle of Thymbra, which was fought between the forces of Croesus of Lydia and Cyrus the Great. In the battle, Croesus was defeated and was forced to retreat to his capital at Sardis. Cyrus promptly followed Croesus to his city, laid siege to it…
Winged genie relief at Pasargadae, with braided hair and a Hemhem crown, which an old theory identified as Cyrus
The four-winged guardian figure that may depict Cyrus, known from a bas-relief on a doorway pillar from Pasargadae. An inscription says "I am Cyrus the King, an Achaemenian." Scholars doubting that it depicts Cyrus note the inscription was inscribed in a later period and that the same inscription is found on other palaces in the complex.
"I am Cyrus the King, an Achaemenian" in Old Persian, Elamite and Akkadian languages. It is known as the "CMa inscription", carved in a column of Palace P in Pasargadae. These inscriptions on behalf of Cyrus were probably made later by Darius I in order to affirm his lineage, using the Old Persian script he had designed.
Painting by Jean-Charles Nicaise Perrin of king Astyages sending Harpagus to kill young Cyrus