sardis and the lydian tumuli
states: [turkey]
category: cultural
year: 2025
region: Europe and North America
latitude/longitude: 38.4819444444, 28.0452777778
unesco id: 1731
world heritage site: 1731
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Sardis and the Lydian Tumuli of Bin Tepe, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Turkey, represent the legacy of the ancient Lydian civilization, with Sardis serving as its capital and the birthplace of coinage under King Croesus. The city features remarkable ruins, including a grand Ionic Temple of Artemis, a Roman bath-gymnasium complex, and the largest ancient synagogue known, showcasing a blend of Lydian, Persian, Hellenistic, and Roman influences. The nearby Bin Tepe necropolis, with over 100 monumental tumuli, includes the colossal Tomb of Alyattes, rivaling the scale of Egypt’s pyramids.